I’m curious why we don’t see more video game studios hiring authors from the novels they’re based on to write the game’s story. Wouldn’t this make for a richer narrative instead of just adapting the book? It seems like a logical step, but is there a reason it doesn’t happen?
3 Answers
Good point! Writing for video games requires different skills than writing a novel. Games are collaborative projects involving directors, animators, and budgets, which is a stark contrast to the more solitary life of a novelist. There’s a lot more back-and-forth in game writing, where changes can happen all the time due to various constraints. Some book authors may prefer the freedom that comes with writing novels, leaving game writing to those who are more accustomed to that environment. It doesn’t mean they couldn’t do it, but maybe they just don’t want to be tied into game development.
What’s also interesting is that there have been instances where book authors worked on games, like Karen Traviss who wrote for Gears of War. However, even if they have the experience, sometimes the company culture doesn’t support that crossover. There might be this elitist mentality where game writers see themselves as above novelists, despite the fact that many fans feel the book narratives are stronger. It’s definitely more complicated than just swapping authors!
Just because someone can write a great book doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be able to write a video game story. The two types of writing are very different. Books allow for a lot of creative freedom, while games involve collaboration with various teams and adhering to what can actually be brought to life in the game engine. A classic example is when a movie writer, even one who has won an Oscar, couldn’t save the story in a game like Call of Duty: Ghosts. Some people dream of seeing a Halo game written by Greg Bear, but it’s not as simple as just bringing in a book author.
