Greetings TIG community.
My team and I are developing a game called Odd and Useless.
More information on it here
http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=27462.0.
We're looking for a talented writer who could make a story for the game. We're going to take our time to find the right person for the job. As long as this topic remains open you can apply.
What we offer:At your option.
You want money? That's fine with us, we're ready to pay fair for quality work. Just name your price.
You want to join the team and help us pushing the project forward? That's cool. If you do so then you will get a share of any benefit we will make. But you must be aware that there is absolutely no guaranty that we will ever make any. Also, joining the team means you will have to stick with us until the project is done and help us with all the aspects of its development. This is a lot of fun but also tough at times.
Anyway you will be given proper credit within the game, that goes without saying.
What we need:Our game is not story based, it's focused on gameplay and action. Story must be there to set the player in the mood at the beginning of the game, make him want to go forward during it, and give him a sense of accomplishment at the end. The story doesn't have to be very complicated and full of twists. A simple but well crafted story will do fine.
Keep in mind that the game is meant to be multiplayer and, naturally, we want players to be able to play together even if they aren't as advanced in the game. However players can't move to the next zone until they've completed the one they're currently in (similar to chapters in Diablo 2) so there is still an order in progression.
It's very important that the story doesn't break the flow of the game, therefore the means to tell it are limited. No cutscenes or scripted game events popping up anytime. No walls of text to read.
Preferred ways of telling the story would be:
* Intro and endings scenes
* Short game events or scenes at the end of boss fights
* Audio messages (similar to Glados in Portal or tapes in Bioshock)
* Talking to NPCs (but again no walls of text)
* Quests
* Scenery elements
Obviously you don't have to combine all these methods. Just use whatever does the job.
We need at least two different endings.
We need everything to be written in proper English, free of typos or grammar mistakes. If, like me, you're not a native English speaker then make sure to have your writings checked by somebody who is. We need it to be easily translatable so no word joke.
What we want:We will let you free hands as much as possible so you can use your writing creativity to its full potential.
The game is called Odd and Useless and that perfectly summarizes what we want it to be. We need a story of absurdity, destruction and uselessness. Something that's more about emotion than explanation. It's not a problem it it doesn't make perfect sense. We don't mind if it doesn't end well.
We would like to stay away from video game clichés (ie saving the world from evil and such). If you want to use some then make sure to address them in an interesting way.
There are almost no limitation to the matters you can address in the story. Sure you don't have to, but if you want to talk about sex, drugs, violence, insanity, suicide, religion or kitten killing, well, you can. Obviously though we won't accept anything racist, sexist or too politically engaged on controversial matters. If in doubt just ask us.
Settings:Here are the things that are in the game today. We won't change any of them, your story must be built around them. From here you're free to imagine anything.
* The playable characters:
There 3 of them. For the need of name we call them Sadness, Loneliness and Madness, but it doesn't matter if you want to name them something else. They are strong, trained, armed, determined, merciless and very specialized at inflicting a quick yet painful death to anything that stands on their way. They work together. They fight berserk. They have ninja moves. They have a goal and will stop at nothing to reach it.
They have a wide range of weapons at their disposals including more or less futuristic guns, giant swords, flamethrowers, circular saws and few other funny things.
The player selects one of them when he starts a new game and stick with it till the end.
* The monsters:
Don't ask, we have no idea what these guys are. Some of them are stupid, some of them are dangerous, some of them are both. They can attack the players physically or with magic or sometimes with less conventional ways such as suicide bombing or vomiting.
There will be a boss at the end of each zone. They're not designed yet. As you would expect killing the last boss is finishing the game.
* The zones:
8 in total. The player have to do them in order, it's not possible to go to the next zone without killing the boss of the current one. But we haven't decided of the order yet.
We don't plan to have quests in the game but if you think this is an appropriated way to tell your story then we can use it.
The in game menu looks like a smart phone. Aside from allowing the player to manage the game settings or the equipment of his character, it can be used to locate other players and have them teleport near you. This could also be a way to receive audio messages while playing.
* Leveling and crafting:
Characters and weapons leveling will all be done with collectible items. Some of these items will be fond in levels (think heart quarters in Zelda) or randomly drop by monsters. Either ways, when the player have a certain amount of a certain item then he can get a new aptitude or upgrade a weapon.
We don't plan to have NPCs but, just as quests, if they are needed to tell your story then we can make some and give them gameplay purpose. For example we could have a weapon crafter, a healer and an aptitude teacher. If the story requires no NPC then these gameplay roles will be given to other entities, maybe vending machines, or will simply be integrated to the in game menu.
How to apply:Just contact me on nicolas dot baillard at gmail dot com.
Before accepting your application we need proof you are capable of doing what we need. We don't need someone who can just have great story ideas, anyone can do that. We need someone who is capable of turning his great story idea into a completed great story.
Please send us some previous work you've done (even if not related to video games). Tell us what story you're imagining for our game, how you plan to develop it and what mechanisms will be required to tell it within the game. The more developed your proposal is the more chance you have to get the job.
And if you have any questions don't hesitate
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