Video game technical writer
What is the first thought that comes to mind regarding technical writers and video games? People often think about user guides for the former and cool interactive special effects for the latter. Interestingly, it’s not too common to think about these two topics together, when in fact, they go hand in hand. While developers, animators, audio engineers, and pro gamers are more known career paths in this industry, tech writers are just as instrumental in the game development process, if not more important.
According to recent studies, by 2026 the gaming industry will exceed almost $300 billion on a global scale. In the U.S market alone, the value is already $90 million, and it’s expected to reach $100 billion by 2024. Similarly, as technological advancements continue to boom and influence the gaming sector, the need for technical writing will only increase. So, let’s explore the responsibilities of a video game technical writer.
What is a Video Game Technical Writer?
A video game technical writer creates a variety of clear and readable technical documentation to help lead management and key personnel understand how each gaming feature will work, and how to use them throughout the game development process.
With the help of SMEs, a technical writer may contribute to the game’s storyline, script, characters, visualization, quality assurance, and so on. Furthermore, they are responsible for keeping all documentation up to date for team members across all departments, making it easier for developers and designers to organize, analyze, and manage gaming components. They also maintain existing documents for revisions to accurately reflect the functionality and meet the goal of developing the video as a whole.
What Do You Need to Know About Video Gaming Writing?
While some gaming organizations may focus solely on the technical side, some organizations want writers to produce a wide range of content as well. This may include blog posts that cover the latest industry trends, gaming platforms, gameplay reviews, and other topics. As for the technical content, one of the most important documents tech writers will create is the Game Design Document (GDD). Moreover, this document will outline, describe, and organize every aspect of a video game to ensure it is completed as was planned. Here is the basic rundown of what a GDD should include:
- Game concept/theme or storyline
- Characterization
- Script: Dialogue and other in-game text
- Visualization
- Music Production
- Prototyping
- Development cost
- Marketing strategies
- Scheduling
- Testing
Additional documents include instructions, user guides, manuals, tutorials, API documentation, and more.
Conclusion
In conclusion, technical writers are needed throughout the process of developing a video game. At first, it may seem logical to have the developers write the documentation. However, they already have enough responsibilities, and their skill set may not include writing. A better choice would be to employ a technical writer. Here at Essential Data Corporation, we can help you find the perfect person for the job.
Whether you need a team of consultants to produce a complete line of documentation or a single technical writer for a brief project, Essential Data’s Engagement Manager will lead the project from start to finish. At Essential Data Corporation, we guarantee the quality of our work. Contact us today to get started. (800) 221-0093 or sales@edc.us
Written by Kimberly Jones