[Writing Challenge] Competition #1 - Prototype Prowess!

Competition #1 - Prototype Prowess!

As a warm up exercise in our new Writing Challenge series, this month we will be stretching our imaginations on games being made by forum members. This is a short exercise so get used to writing briefly and expressively!

Select a game prototype that has been posted on the MGSA forums. (nothing that has been released or is about to be released - a prototype! And not your own!)

Based on what you see and experience write the following:
  • Story premise - What is the story about, what happens, why, how does it end?
  • Setting - where does the story take place? Describe the world and situation.
  • Characters - describe the main characters. Who are they, what drives them?
  • Script sample - Write one scene of Dialogue, or if there is no call for dialogue, write a set of barks (call outs by characters), or in game text. Or do all three.
Rules:
  • Competition starts on June 2nd, 02-06-2014.
  • Deadline for entries is July 1st, 01-07-2014.
  • Keep it short!
  • Choose a game prototype made by someone else in the community. It will add to the fun to see what we make of each other's games.
  • Keep it short!
  • Silly is great, but well written silly is hard... keep this in mind.
  • Keep it short! No really... try to write only a paragraph or two on each section. Focus on expressing your ideas well and succinctly. You can go up to a page on the Script sample, but don't overdo it. Your reader should be able to 'get it' quickly and easily.
  • The use of copyrighted material will not be tolerated. Do not steal!
  • Ask for help when you get stuck.
  • You can enter as many different works as you like.
  • Challenge is open to entry for South African citizens, current residents of South Africa and South African passport holders.
  • The judges' decision is final and no negotiation will be entered into. All risk or liability in case of copyright infringement or other legal issue resides with the entrant, MGSA takes no responsibility for entered games. (Other legalese included, implied and not intended to hurt)
Entering:
To enter the competition, start a thread titled "WC#1 : NameOfTheGame by YourForumName" and post your ideas and stories there. As you release files, edit your first post to point to the most recent versions available.

Other people WILL reply to your post with their feedback and ideas. Any offensive comments will be removed, that said please do your best to take any and all feedback as positively as you can and use it to make your writing better.

Judging Criteria:
  • Meshing with the game - does it suit the game you selected? Sticking 'Hamlet' onto 'Pac Man' may be fun, but will it work?
  • Expressing your ideas - do we 'get it'?
  • Writing style - is it well written?
  • Story quality - does it have appeal, make us want to read more, would we play it?
Judges: Good luck and enjoy the challenge!
Thanked by 1Tuism

Comments

  • edited
    This is probably a very simplistic one and copies a lot of other stories I've seen/heard before but here it is anyway.

    I made it based off [url = http://www.makegamessa.com/discussion/2065/prototype-french-ship-week-2-of-ogaw#Item_1]this prototype(French Ship)[/url].

    Please give me any feedback you can. I don't really identify as a writer, but I do love stories and storytelling. So I would love to improve on that in any way I can. I like the idea of having strong motivations for characters. In this case I kept it fairly short(as prescribed :P) but it would be awesome if I could get some focused feedback on my characters.

    Here's to reading more awesome stories! :)

    EDIT: Woops, sorry I didn't read the part about a separate thread thing. I [url = http://www.makegamessa.com/discussion/2106/wc1-french-ship-by-rigormortis]have created one now[/url]. :)
    pdf
    pdf
    French Ship.pdf
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  • edited
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    Thanked by 1Tuism
  • Updated the first post with bullet points, how to post your writing for the challenge & legalese.

  • I think this is a brilliant idea and I'm glad it is up and running.
    Well done to the organisers.

    @bensonance Thanks for asking me to be a judge!
  • Added to the rules, you can enter as many different works as you like
  • I write code and don't really want to wing this thing. Any good resources to look in to?
  • Fengol said:
    To help participants here are some prototypes taken from the Projects category

    SpaceBoy Dreams by @JediN1nja
    image
    My game has changed slightly, or maybe a lot haha
    Think space delivery company, hyper drive and etc. Keep checking the thread, will uodate changes soon. Spaceship design already up :)

    Looking forward to seeing what people come up with!
  • edited
    Hey guys I was waiting for this competition to start, I am amped to participate!
    For those that are interested here is an updated version vid of my cube miner prototype, use it at your leisure :).
  • Amazing idea, love it love it! :D The not your own is especially important :) I'm gonna do it! :D
  • This may be a dumb question (forgive me I'm new here), but what prizes are there to be won for this competition? Thanks guys :)
  • Doberman said:
    This may be a dumb question (forgive me I'm new here), but what prizes are there to be won for this competition? Thanks guys :)
    1. The experience of doing something you wouldn't have otherwise done,
    2. The pride of having finished something,
    3. The feedback of others on your work,
    4. Learning from other people who did things similar to the thing you did,
    5. Levelling up on time management skills,
    6. Potential portfolio piece,

    Need more? :)
  • 7. Exposure. If we know you EXIST, and like what you've written (see Tuism's portfolio comment), chances are you'll be approached when a game needs a writer. You know how a lot of guys on these forums (including me) ended up landing their dev jobs? They showed their stuff in competitions. :)
    Thanked by 1WriterYolanda
  • "Choose a community game prototype by someone else. It will add to the fun to see what we make of each other's games"

    I dont understand, do you need to choose a prototype and a write a story around that specific prototype? :)
  • @juaberg Yup, that's exactly correct! :)
  • edited
    Hi, everybody.

    I finally sat down and wrote the attached submission. It is based off JediN1nja’s ‘SpaceBoy Dreams’.

    I’ve run with his quote of
    Think space delivery company, hyper drive and etc. Keep checking the thread, will uodate (sic) changes soon. Spaceship design already up
    .

    I might have been ambitious with the direction I’ve taken the story here but, yeah, I hope this is enjoyed.
    pdf
    pdf
    Submission.pdf
    357K
  • @PraxisZA Cool! Make sure to make a thread though! :P
    start a thread titled "WC#1 : NameOfTheGame by YourForumName" and post your ideas and stories there. As you release files, edit your first post to point to the most recent versions available.

    Other people WILL reply to your post with their feedback and ideas. Any offensive comments will be removed, that said please do your best to take any and all feedback as positively as you can and use it to make your writing better.
  • Oh, how I wish now I had the time to have entered! When is your next one?
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