How does the writing stage work

[DragonSilhouette]

In most of these games, developers have a 'writing' step. I understand this as a basic concept however I was wondering how writing in a game with multiple endings work, or am I still completely incorrect about this particular step.

[Broodelin]

Well, what I do is decide the turning points (choices) in the story first. For example, if Eileen wants a snack, does she choose the apple, the orange, or the bag of chips?

Then I figure out what the advantages and disadvantages of each choice are in context of the narrative. Maybe the bag of chips gives Eileen something to share with Lucy, but it also costs more.

From there, I make changes to the basic story for each choice or combination of choices where relevant. By sharing with Lucy, Eileen may get an important tip about the mystery she's trying to solve when Lucy lets something slip. But by buying the chips, she doesn't have enough change later to call her mother by pay-phone to check up on her before the mysterious pineapple thief strikes their home - thereby losing out on the chance to establish a particular point in the timeline of events.

After all that, I just make sure that the choices and paths follow through logically to a plausible ending. If Eileen failed to get enough information or picked up on random bits and pieces, she won't be able to bring the thief to justice.

That's how I do it, anyways.

[DragonSilhouette]

Well, what I do is decide the turning points (choices) in the story first. For example, if Eileen wants a snack, does she choose the apple, the orange, or the bag of chips?

Then I figure out what the advantages and disadvantages of each choice are in context of the narrative. Maybe the bag of chips gives Eileen something to share with Lucy, but it also costs more.

From there, I make changes to the basic story for each choice or combination of choices where relevant. By sharing with Lucy, Eileen may get an important tip about the mystery she's trying to solve when Lucy lets something slip. But by buying the chips, she doesn't have enough change later to call her mother by pay-phone to check up on her before the mysterious pineapple thief strikes their home - thereby losing out on the chance to establish a particular point in the timeline of events.

After all that, I just make sure that the choices and paths follow through logically to a plausible ending. If Eileen failed to get enough information or picked up on random bits and pieces, she won't be able to bring the thief to justice.

That's how I do it, anyways.

Oh sweet, thanks for the easy to understand explanation of this. I'll keep this in mind for the future.

[Broodelin]

No problem.

I hope it helps you out someday.