We're excited to have Erin Hoffman join us this fall to lead a workshop entitled "
Interactive Narrative and Game Design". This workshop explores the fundamentals of video game design through the use of interactive fiction, exploring the places where interactivity and storytelling overlap. No technology or game training is necessary, though a laptop computer is highly recommended. Attendees will be provided with advance reading and will create a small interactive fiction game using the Inform7 Engine. Ms. Hoffman notes that the 2007 IFC winner was written in Inform6.
She says, "(I'm) interested in using Inform as a teaching tool because it is extremely user-friendly for people who haven't programmed before -- it's one of the most remarkable tools I've seen for instant implementation of game design ideas, which is what the workshop will focus on. I'm definitely open to (other software tools), and I'll be talking about several methods for game development."
Ms. Hoffman has been working in video games since 1999 on an assortment of genres from massively multiplayer online games (MMORPG) to Nintendo DS titles for young audiences to action-RPGs for PC, XBox, and PlayStation2.
More specifically, she has worked as a game designer at 1st Playable Productions, was an assistant game designer at Simutronics, and acted as Director of Online Communities at GoPets, Ltd. She does independent game design through
Philomath Games.
The specific video game titles she's done design work on include
DragonRealms, Black9,
Shadowbane: The Lost Kingdom, GoPets, Cabbage Patch Kids: Patch Puppy Rescue, and GoPets: Vacation Island. She has also written on gaming and game design topics for publications such as
Gamasutra, Best Software Writing I and
Escapist Magazine.Labels: 2008 guests, game
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More and more, Context is exploring the intersection of gaming and literature in our programming. Aside from the all-hours gaming at Context, these are some of the game-related panels offered in 2007:
"Writing for Interactive Media"
Shawn Sines, Erin Hoffman, James Daniel Ross
Are there really differences between writing a story and writing a video game? What about role playing vs. interactive? Come join our panelists as they discuss and compare game writing processes.
"Getting the Most Out of Gaming"
Erin Hoffman, James Daniel Ross, Shawn Sines, Ferrett Steinmetz
How do you make your gaming experiences fun and enjoyable for yourself and the other players? Panelists also discuss their favorite games and any new games you should know about.
"The Game as Literature"
Jim C. Hines, Shawn Sines, Erin Hoffman, Chun Lee, James Daniel Ross
How many role playing and video games play out like a SF/F novel? Are games lower class or do they stack up against published literary works?
Labels: game, programming
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