A script development model for the creation of computer games / Cecile van Zyl

• Main Author: Van Zyl, Cecile
• Published: North-West University 2011
• Subjects: Computer games; Writer; Game development model; Script development model; Non-functional prototype (thin slice)
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10394/4196

The concept of game development has traditionally not implemented the skills of professional writers to develop the scripts for a computer game. However, due to the growth in complexity and size of the computer game development process, as well as the growing teams of people involved in the development of computer games, the need to employ skilled writers has emerged in modern computer game development. It has, however, become clear that the role of the writer within the collaborative game development process is still ill-defined. And therefore, the writer who wishes to start writing for the games industry, is faced with a great deal of obstacles. It was therefore deemed necessary to develop a script development model for the creation of computer games that can assist the writer of a computer game by means of thorough guidance. The aim of this research project is therefore to develop such a model. The first step towards the establishment of a script development model, would be to determine the position of the writer in the collaborative game production communication process. In order to establish this, a communication model was developed for the communication process of the computer game development process, based on Roman Jakobson's communication model. After the position of the writer in the communication process was established, a game development model was developed to determine the position of the writer within the entire game development process. This was done so that the functions and responsibilities of the writer - within a greater collaborative development process - could be determined. This model was developed based on existing software development models, as well as two different models from the games industry that focus on different aspects within the game development process. With the position, functions and responsibilities of the writer determined, it was possible to postulate a script development model for the creation of computer games. This model was developed with an emphasis on the game context, creative strategies and analytical frameworks available to the writer. Furthermore guidelines were provided on the actual scripting of the computer game script, based on elements from drama theory. To test the script development model, a non-functional prototype (thin-slice) computer game script was developed based on the Fritz Deelman-series (Leon Rousseau). The script development model was used as guideline to establish whether the script development model could in future be used to develop a full-scale, implementable computer game script. === Thesis (M.A. (Afrikaans and Dutch))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.