Narrative News March 2024: Jobs, Resources, Jams and More!

Pressing forward in an aggressively anti-worker games climate.

Hello fellow narrative designers!

It is not a good time to be in games, we all know that. Many of us have been laid off multiple times in the last two years, and others are struggling to get their foot in a door that is viciously jamming shut.

This is not because audiences have suddenly gone off games — people love games, people are buying games, and there is still money in games. So, what’s the problem? Companies are pandering to shareholders by tightening their purse strings. All the people they hired in order to look robust in the booming market are now being shed in order to look lean in the waning market.

“But these are people’s lives we’re talking about, not just line items on a spreadsheet!” you might protest. The companies do not care. They have no souls. They will never put the workers’ best interests ahead of even the most minor of boosts in profit. They will let families suffer and go hungry in order to tidy up their balance sheet.

I say this because we need to band together and advocate for workers’ rights, and because it’s important to remember: this is not your fault, and you deserve better.

There is plenty of money in games. We just don’t have access to it. Our dreams aren’t dead, we just need to dream bigger— and more dangerously.

With that said, let’s keep at it this month. Whether it’s jamming or job apps, we’ll change this industry for the better yet. This month, there are GDC tips, NarraScope, the Text Adventure Literacy Jam, and a variety of job listings.

Events

Meetups + Conferences

The Game Developers Conference is hitting San Francisco March 18th-22nd! There will be many fascinating narrative talks but sadly the high price is a barrier to entry for many. If you’re in the area, consider heading to some of the surrounding parties and events (with a friend, as these events call for a safety buddy, especially if you’re young and femme). If you’re attending for the first time, my advice is:

• Buddy up for events and don’t ditch your buddy.

• Enjoy the talks but make sure to put eating and hydrating first.

• Make fewer, deeper friendships over making lots of acquaintances. Friends help other friends get jobs, acquaintances usually don’t.

Mark your calendars for NarraScope 2024, a conference for those interested in interactive narrative, adventure games, and interactive fiction! It’s taking place in Rochester, NY this year at the Strong National Museum of Play from June 21st to 23rd.

The SF Bay Area Interactive Fiction Group is meeting March 9th and will play games from ShuffleComp 2023 or the 2023 IFDB Awards. The great thing about this event? It’s hybrid, so you can join from anywhere in the world!

Jams + Competitions

Text Adventure Literacy Jam runs this month. “The aim is to write a text adventure that is suitable for players with little or no prior experience of playing text adventures,” and the theme this year is ‘Fairy Tale.’

Revival Jam runs from March 9th to 20th. “Intrigued by a [narrative] Game Jam... but it happened months ago? or even years?! Revive it now!”

Spring Thing entries are due by March 29th, for all those who submitted their intent to enter. By April 1st, they’ll be available. to play. For those unaware, this is a long-running and esteemed interactive fiction competition held as a less formal counterweight to the Interactive Fiction Competition.

Resources + Inspo

Check out these concise tips by a mobile game narrative veteran: 5 Tips on Writing with Lead Narrative & Game Designer Liudmyla Mischenko.

Game narrative veteran/legend Edwin McRae is offering mentoring sessions! Sign up here.

Watch of the Week: Brianna Lei is so talented. Take in some wisdom from her learnings in creating her work, which includes the beautiful Butterfly Soup.

Jobs

Narrative Designer at Ubisoft: Lyon, France-based. “Join our team at Ivory Tower to work on a new unannounced project, as a Narrative Designer.”

Narrative Dialogue Manager at That’s No Moon: Preferably LA-based. “We are looking for a Dialogue Manager to lead the management of all dialogue content in our upcoming AAA third-person action-adventure game.”

Associate Narrative Director at LightSpeed: LA-based. “As an Associate Narrative Director at LightSpeed Studios, your role will be to define and execute the narrative strategy for an ambitious open-world RPG.”

Senior Narrative Designer at PlayStation: LA-based. “Santa Monica Studio is seeking a Senior Narrative Designer for the development of a new unannounced title!”

Senior Game Writer at CD PROJEKT RED: Boston-based. “In this role, you will be responsible for crafting captivating narratives, compelling dialogues and innovative quests in Project Orion - the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077.”

Senior Game Writer (Star Wars Jedi) at Respawn Entertainment: Los Angeles-based. Average pay rates listed. Work on an unannounced Star Wars title.

Senior Narrative Designer at Yotta Games: “We are on the lookout for a narrative designer who could help us create a new criminal world for our AAA game project in the LA studio.”

Senior Writer at 2K: Montreal-based. “Cloud Chamber is looking for a talented Senior Writer to join our hard-working Narrative Team to bring the world of BioShock to life once again!”

Senior Narrative Designer at Space Ape Games: London-based. “As a Senior Narrative Designer at Space Ape, you’ll own the narrative design of one of our games.”

Narrative Director at Ubisoft: Shanghai-based. “As Narrative Director, you will be key in defining and executing the game’s narrative strategy.”

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Thanks for reading! Pass on the good vibes and share this newsletter with other narrative designers.

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About the Writer:

Rose Behar is a narrative designer at Scopely working on a new IP. Her previous work is featured in Longleaf Valley and Ashe Cove by Double Loop Games, among other projects. She puts out the free Narrative News roundup every month.

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