Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Engineering the Story
This chapter is most relevant to
programmers
of various special-
ties, including those focused on AI, physics, systems, and develop-
ment tools. Throughout, we will use the terms “programmer” and
“engineer” interchangeably.
When one thinks about storytelling in games and the people who make it
happen, it's rare that programmers spring to mind.
However, throughout this topic we have emphasized that everyone on
the team ends up helping to implement the narrative and therefore be-
comes a storyteller. Engineers are no different in this regard, even if their
contributions may not be as glaringly obvious as those of some other team
members.
After all, engineers make the game—and all its clever design con-
cepts—
actually happen
. And the story is told through the game. Thus, to at
least some degree, engineers make the story happen.
