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There are plenty of ways writers can find inspiration or ideas for their story, and one of the most helpful for me is gaming. By gaming, I’m referring to console gaming. Whether you’re playing a game or watching someone else play, you can study the storyline, the characters, the systems of play, how characters level up, and how powers are explained. Hopefully, they bring out ideas for your story.
1. Storyline
The storyline of a game is very similar to a book. Not all games focus on battle – some revolve around interactions with other characters, difficult choices a character has to make, building a family and a house, sneaking past dangerous obstacles, or even collecting items to solve a mystery. Just as there’s something to learn from every book you read, there’s something to learn from every game.
While playing, consider the opening scene, the first big discovery which sets the rest of the events into motion, the turning point or incident which destroys the morale, how hints towards the conclusion are laid out, and how the conclusion integrates gamer interaction with the plot. By analyzing these aspects of a game, you can learn a lot about story writing and plot.
2. Characters
Characters in games are interesting to observe for more than their appearance – something you can only imagine in books, and which is dependent on the readers interpretation. The decisions game characters make and their reactions to unexpected situations are intriguing because the gamer often doesn’t know what they’re thinking. The character might throw out a comment like, “Must find the ____” to help direct you through the game, but it’s less common for a game character to externalise thoughts behind decisions which influence the plot. Of course, every game is different, and I’ve found more recent games close the gap between gamer and character more than older games, but it’s still a different experience to reading a first-person novel. Sometimes games have you make decisions on behalf of the protagonist, but often you’re viewing the character in third-person and are never completely aware of their thinking, even as you control their actions.
Observing characters can also help you better convey character movements and physical actions through your writing. Different characters will have different physical reactions to certain scenes or environments. Character models in games can be incredibly lifelike, and their actions don’t look as robotic as they once did. Consider how the character physically responds to unexpected events. Do they walk confidently, or huddle close to the walls? How does their movement change when they’re injured?
3. Powers
Gaming isn’t just about fighting and clicking buttons, but to be honest, even this can be helpful for writers. Every button in a game has a purpose, and the characters’ powers are limited by the number of button combinations available. Similarly, a character in a story must have limits to their power. The reader needs to understand the potential of the character’s abilities, or at least the characters’ perception of their own abilities. Buttons limit power, and characters need power limits, so give them buttons. Maybe one of the buttons allows them to see through walls, and another gives them wings to fly. It’s completely up to you.
Also study how powers are explained in the game. Is there a tutorial at the start of the game or do you learn skills as you play? Is there a certain way of sharing gameplay information you prefer over another? Why do you prefer this way?
4. Environment
One of the greatest differences between a game and a book is the visual representation of the story. You’re able to see and not just imagine what’s happening. For me personally, when I’m reading a book I’m mainly aware of the characters and their movements within an environment. I know the environment is there, but it’s blurred in comparison. In a game, the environment and how characters interact with it plays a big part in how the game is perceived. Instead of evocative language, other devices are used to convey the atmosphere of an environment – devices such as lighting, colours, sound (a huge influence but not so comparable to books), movement, and even sometimes a vibrating controller.
Take note of when the music becomes more threatening (usually when weapons and ammo also become more available) or when it seems more ambient. Do different areas of the game have different environments? Are there some areas you can return to and some you can’t? How does the character use their environment? Do they climb vines, or peek around corners?
5. Inspiration
In my first novel, there are definitely influences from games I played growing up, especially to help me visualise cities. There are so many games out there that I’m sure you’ll find something in at least one of them to help you if you’re stuck for ideas. As mentioned above, there are so many different aspects of gaming that can help you worldbuild and plot your story. Books immerse you in their world using imagination, and games do exactly the same thing, but with visual and audio effects too.