SynopsisVideo-game writer Walt Williams had a knack for pissing off coworkers and getting kicked off projects, earning him a reputation for confrontation alongside an impressive résumé from working on hit games like Star Wars Battlefront, Spec Ops: The Line, BioShock, Civilization, Borderlands, and Mafia, among others, in this "entertaining and provocative" (Kirkus Reviews) memoir, Williams shares stories of his unlikely and at times inglorious rise within one of the world's top gaming companies and offers a clear-eyed critique of the creative process while championing the role of storytellers like himself. Significant Zero is a must-read not just for those in the gaming industry but for anyone who dares to create with imagination and emotion. Book jacket., From the award-winning video game writer of such hits as Star Wars Battlefront and BioShock comes an exclusive "compelling look into a world that doesn't like to spill its secrets to outsiders" (NPR): the video game industry. When his satirical musings in a college newspaper got him discharged from the Air Force, it became clear to Walt Williams that his destiny in life was to be a writer--he just never thought he'd end up writing video games, including some of the biggest franchises today. A veteran video game narrative designer, Williams pulls back the curtain on an astonishingly profitable industry that has put its stamp on pop culture and yet is little known to those outside its walls. As Williams walks you through his unlikely and at times inglorious rise within one of the world's top gaming companies, he exposes an industry abundant in brain power and out-sized egos, but struggling to stay innovative. Significant Zero also provides clear-eyed criticism of the industry's addiction to violence and explains how the role of the narrative designer is crucial for expanding the scope of video games into more immersive and emotional experiences. Significant Zero is a rare and illuminating look inside "the video gaming industry in all its lucrative shine and questionable morality... and] provides a refreshing and realistic portrayal of succeeding at attaining a dream via an unforeseen career trajectory" ( Booklist )., From the award-winning video game writer of such hits as Star Wars Battlefront and BioShock comes an exclusive "compelling look into a world that doesn't like to spill its secrets to outsiders" (NPR): the video game industry. When his satirical musings in a college newspaper got him discharged from the Air Force, it became clear to Walt Williams that his destiny in life was to be a writer--he just never thought he'd end up writing video games, including some of the biggest franchises today. A veteran video game narrative designer, Williams pulls back the curtain on an astonishingly profitable industry that has put its stamp on pop culture and yet is little known to those outside its walls. As Williams walks you through his unlikely and at times inglorious rise within one of the world's top gaming companies, he exposes an industry abundant in brain power and out-sized egos, but struggling to stay innovative. Significant Zero also provides clear-eyed criticism of the industry's addiction to violence and explains how the role of the narrative designer is crucial for expanding the scope of video games into more immersive and emotional experiences. Significant Zero is a rare and illuminating look inside "the video gaming industry in all its lucrative shine and questionable morality...[and] provides a refreshing and realistic portrayal of succeeding at attaining a dream via an unforeseen career trajectory" ( Booklist ).
LC Classification NumberGV1469.3.W57 2017