Writing Strategy Guides - Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing - page 133

Ultimately, it might be the shortness of your deadline that dictates the method.
Taking screenshots as you go can save valuable time you may need at the end.

What to Take Screenshots Of
You'll want a thorough representation of game elements in your screenshot collection.
This will not only help the player but will add to the visual appeal of the guide itself.
You will definitely want to get images of the following:

•

the heroes in action;

•

all villains;

• important items to complete quests;

• key story points (like meetings with quest-giving NPCs);

•

key locations;

• strategic locations to stand or hide during boss fights;

•

confusing areas the player must navigate through;

•

hidden areas.

Acquiring Art to Accompany Your Screenshots
To further jazz up the visual appeal of your guide, you'll want to acquire some concept
art from the game company itself. Sometimes your editor will send you sheets of
sample concept art, allowing you to choose the pieces that would fit your guide best.
Other times you may be talking directly to the artists at the game company.
Choose pieces that will fit well with sidebars you have written, pieces that are
dramatic, and pieces that show off areas or characters that don't come through as
sensationally in the screenshots.

13.5 Maps
Time and game design play important roles in how your maps turn out. A writer
with a longer deadline (a month or more) will likely have time to send maps to the
layout people in time for them to add stylized icons, depth, shadows, and so on. A
topic with a very short deadline will end up using maps no different than how the
writer turned them in.
The ease of map creation will vary depending on if there is an existing in-game
map or not. Many games have maps built into the HUD, while others use separate
map screens. These you can adapt for use in the guide. However, some games will
have no maps at all, and you'll have to create them from scratch.