As a sub-note to Aleks' post a while back on the importance of narrative in videogames, the Writers Guild of America has just announced that it will be welcoming videogame script writers into its arms, alongside their TV and movie compatriots.
"There are now three major categories of screen-based entertainment: TV, movies, and games," said WGAw secretary-treasurer Patric Verrone. "We feel that new media writers and writer-designers deserve the same support and recognition that the guild offers other professional screenwriters."
Is this final conclusive proof that plot matters? And what kind of rights will guild membership afford to game writers? Will they be able to claim compensation if a piece of dialogue they wrote is axed from a game? Will they be able to go on strike to demand more verbiose cut-scenes? And if there was legal action, would it be like when TV writers go on strike? Would we get dozens of videogames in which the characters just sit around and reminisce about previous episodes?
I can picture it now...
Resident Evil 5
The Scene Claire Redfield is in a hospital bed, recovering after sustaining a zombie bite wound. Leon arrives with flowers.
Leon: Hi Claire, how are you?
Claire: Oh, hi Leon, I was just thinking about that time back in Raccoon City train station where we had to do battle with Tyrant.
Leon: Ha ha, yes, I remember it as though it were yesterday...
FLASHBACK to corresponding boss encounter in Resident Evil 2
And so on...
