Handwritten Games

 

 

... is an award-winning game and narrative design consultancy

with hundreds of thousands of words and deep worldbuilding in fan-beloved universes such as

Battlestar Galactica and Warhammer 40,000.

 

A simple story told well.

Stories are at the heart of all great player experiences.

As a game designer and writer with over a decade of industry experience, I can unlock the narrative potential of your game. No project is too small, and no production is too early (or late!) to bring in professional assistance.

Whether you need:

  • finely crafted character drama,

  • complex systems for a thriving story engine, or

  • help with nailing the ninety-three different ways to say “Objective Complete”,

… you’ve come to the right place!

Read below to find out more about my services, or contact me for a chat.


Story in the age of interaction.

I provide a specialist approach to scriptwriting for games of any size, whether you require a dozen barks, or thousands of lines of dialogue.

One of my core pillars when working with story is authenticity. Die-hard fans can tell if a game is authentic to its setting within seconds. It all starts with getting the tone right, and developing the player’s trust from there.

I also provide narrative implementation services that suit your game’s asset pipelines. Scripts can be delivered in traditional screenplay format for proofing and performance capture, and/or in spreadsheet format for bulk implementation and localisation.


“The voice acting (and writing!) here manages this effortlessly, whisking me away to a place that shows — like Black Lab did with Deadlock — that a real love of the source material went into this game”

— Luke Plunkett, Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector: The Kotaku Review


Not just distant mountains…

Do you need a one-stop resource that contains every detail about your world and characters?

A story bible is an extremely valuable asset for the whole team. This all-inclusive document will get everyone on your team on the same page. We will document important plot decisions, character matrices, and deliver it all in a format that you can easily share your vision with investors, future collaborators, and external stakeholders.

A story bible isn’t just about world-building; it’s about lighting the torch that will guide your whole team for the rest of your game’s journey.


Comprehensive narrative design. Bring your world to life.

Every project is different. What works for one game won’t necessarily work for another. Some projects need a truckload of content, others require a lighter touch. Not all games need cinematics, not all games need deep lore.

My approach with every project is to find the perfect amount of storytelling that will make your game resonate with its audience. From procedural event systems to hand-crafted cinematic drama, whichever is best for your project is what we’ll do.

This is a collaborative process that will empower everyone on your team to make creative storytelling decisions. The intent is to find the best storytelling options that suit your team, goals and scope.


“…its visual flair and dark sense of humor, combined with the ingenious ways that it turns abstract ideas like betrayal into tangible, comprehensible, and thrilling game mechanics, make it irresistibly playable.”

-Ed Smith, Solium Infernum review - the best new strategy game in years


Bring the words to life.

When capturing voice overs, you want to maintain the integrity of the writing. And there’s no better way than having the actual writer in the recording session!

I can work with your audio production team to get the most authentic performances out of your voice talent. While your noise wizards focus on microphone levels and bit rates, I can guide your actors through the script to extract every last drop of dramatic juice from their lines.

Great performance goes hand-in-hand with meaningful writing. Let’s hit your players right in the feels with unforgettable story moments.


Phew! You made it to the end. Great job!

Since you’ve made it this far, you probably want to know more. So let’s chat.

Whether you need a quote for a fully voiced twenty-hour campaign script, or you just have a couple of questions about in-game text, I am just an email away!

I can’t wait to hear your narrative and design questions.

Talk soon!

 
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