Writing Tutorials, or Press Start. . . to Start - Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing - page 113

12

Writing Tutorials, or
PressStart...toStart

Andrew S. Walsh

12.1 To Begin at the Beginning—What Is a Tutorial?

A tutorial is the section of a game that teaches the player how to play. So, what does
this have to do with a writer? Surely teaching the player about gameplay falls into the
purview of the game designer. Well, you're a writer, 1

so put yourself in the player's

shoes for a moment.
You're Tommy, a twelve-year-old male and gaming newbie. You like skates and
have only ever kissed one girl in your life. 2 Finally, after months of pestering,
you have a shiny, new, exciting console that your one parent, waitress mother, has
scrimped and saved to buy. You're excited. You're ready to play.
The game opens, and the tutorial throws fifty control sets at you, which your
hormonally overdriven, uncoordinated fingers will take a week to grasp, the controls
are described in on-screen text that you don't read (because (a) you're twelve and (b)
you're male), and fifteen seconds in your dream has turned to a nightmare. The
game's not fun, and your minimum-wage mom won't be able to get you another one
for six months without sacrificing food, or turning the heat off. The gamer has had
a bad experience. The tutorial has botched its job. The game has failed. So, how
can this be prevented? It's obvious, really: the game designer makes the opening level
really easy, adds tutorial elements slowly, and gives the player the chance to learn at a
steady,basicrate.There. Simple.Only...it'snot.
Empathy exercise number two: meet Kevin. Kevin is 34, married, 3 and has been
playing games since two paddles moving simultaneously made the moon landings

1 Ifyou'renotawriter,pretendyouare...youhavetostartsomewhere, right?
2 And she was your cousin, but you were six and only playing doctors and nurses. . .
3 For four years. He loves his wife, but forced to choose between making love with his beloved and
playinglevelsix,thenhey...hiswifelivesonthisplanet,too,andshe'snotgoingtolikealienoccupation,
so he's going to finish this level, give her a quick squeeze, and hope she doesn't steal the duvet again.