Daniel González
@danielcreativity.bsky.social
Creative Director at @gametopia.bsky.social
Writter, game design and pixel art.
🌊 Play Verne: The Shape of Fantasy on Nintendo Switch and Steam.
Writter, game design and pixel art.
🌊 Play Verne: The Shape of Fantasy on Nintendo Switch and Steam.
This is our workflow for creating narrative games that spark players' curiosity. We hope you found these design steps useful! What do you think? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
August 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
This is our workflow for creating narrative games that spark players' curiosity. We hope you found these design steps useful! What do you think? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
8) From script to level design
We draw maps to ensure that the narrative and gameplay flow smoothly. Often we have to adjust parts of the script or redesign parts of the map to improve the narrative. We use Illustrator to create the maps and we paint the pixel art on them.
We draw maps to ensure that the narrative and gameplay flow smoothly. Often we have to adjust parts of the script or redesign parts of the map to improve the narrative. We use Illustrator to create the maps and we paint the pixel art on them.
August 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
8) From script to level design
We draw maps to ensure that the narrative and gameplay flow smoothly. Often we have to adjust parts of the script or redesign parts of the map to improve the narrative. We use Illustrator to create the maps and we paint the pixel art on them.
We draw maps to ensure that the narrative and gameplay flow smoothly. Often we have to adjust parts of the script or redesign parts of the map to improve the narrative. We use Illustrator to create the maps and we paint the pixel art on them.
7) Analyze the characters
Once the entire story is finished, we focus on each character for a final review. We want to ensure they all have their own agenda and motivations, undergo transformation, and serve the story. This review helps you fill in any holes in the plot.
Once the entire story is finished, we focus on each character for a final review. We want to ensure they all have their own agenda and motivations, undergo transformation, and serve the story. This review helps you fill in any holes in the plot.
August 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
7) Analyze the characters
Once the entire story is finished, we focus on each character for a final review. We want to ensure they all have their own agenda and motivations, undergo transformation, and serve the story. This review helps you fill in any holes in the plot.
Once the entire story is finished, we focus on each character for a final review. We want to ensure they all have their own agenda and motivations, undergo transformation, and serve the story. This review helps you fill in any holes in the plot.
6) Interactive dialogues
Every dialogue has to serve the story, like presenting a problem, opening a new mission, or getting key information. We write the dialogue with all its options and decisions separately from the main script. We use Draw.io.
Every dialogue has to serve the story, like presenting a problem, opening a new mission, or getting key information. We write the dialogue with all its options and decisions separately from the main script. We use Draw.io.
August 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
6) Interactive dialogues
Every dialogue has to serve the story, like presenting a problem, opening a new mission, or getting key information. We write the dialogue with all its options and decisions separately from the main script. We use Draw.io.
Every dialogue has to serve the story, like presenting a problem, opening a new mission, or getting key information. We write the dialogue with all its options and decisions separately from the main script. We use Draw.io.
5) Writing the video game script
When writing all the branches and possible endings, we focus on intention and obstacles—in other words, the conflicts the character must overcome to achieve their goal. Each scene must have its own. We use Final Draft.
When writing all the branches and possible endings, we focus on intention and obstacles—in other words, the conflicts the character must overcome to achieve their goal. Each scene must have its own. We use Final Draft.
August 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
5) Writing the video game script
When writing all the branches and possible endings, we focus on intention and obstacles—in other words, the conflicts the character must overcome to achieve their goal. Each scene must have its own. We use Final Draft.
When writing all the branches and possible endings, we focus on intention and obstacles—in other words, the conflicts the character must overcome to achieve their goal. Each scene must have its own. We use Final Draft.
4) Worldbuilding
We create a comprehensive document detailing the world's rules and a timeline of events that occurred before the game begins. This information doesn't necessarily appear in the story, but it helps us to understand why things happen and ensures consistency.
We create a comprehensive document detailing the world's rules and a timeline of events that occurred before the game begins. This information doesn't necessarily appear in the story, but it helps us to understand why things happen and ensures consistency.
August 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
4) Worldbuilding
We create a comprehensive document detailing the world's rules and a timeline of events that occurred before the game begins. This information doesn't necessarily appear in the story, but it helps us to understand why things happen and ensures consistency.
We create a comprehensive document detailing the world's rules and a timeline of events that occurred before the game begins. This information doesn't necessarily appear in the story, but it helps us to understand why things happen and ensures consistency.
3) Outline
After the documentation comes the first step of the writing process: writing an outline. In my case, this means summarizing the story from beginning to end and reflecting the main events of the plot. To write the outline, we use Scrivener (@scrivenerapp.bsky.social).
After the documentation comes the first step of the writing process: writing an outline. In my case, this means summarizing the story from beginning to end and reflecting the main events of the plot. To write the outline, we use Scrivener (@scrivenerapp.bsky.social).
August 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
3) Outline
After the documentation comes the first step of the writing process: writing an outline. In my case, this means summarizing the story from beginning to end and reflecting the main events of the plot. To write the outline, we use Scrivener (@scrivenerapp.bsky.social).
After the documentation comes the first step of the writing process: writing an outline. In my case, this means summarizing the story from beginning to end and reflecting the main events of the plot. To write the outline, we use Scrivener (@scrivenerapp.bsky.social).
2) Exhaustive documentation
One of the main comments we receive from our players is that they like to learn new things while playing. That is our motivation for writing, but first, we need to read a large amount of material and search for information.
One of the main comments we receive from our players is that they like to learn new things while playing. That is our motivation for writing, but first, we need to read a large amount of material and search for information.
August 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
2) Exhaustive documentation
One of the main comments we receive from our players is that they like to learn new things while playing. That is our motivation for writing, but first, we need to read a large amount of material and search for information.
One of the main comments we receive from our players is that they like to learn new things while playing. That is our motivation for writing, but first, we need to read a large amount of material and search for information.
1) Why do I want to write about...?
For us, it is essential to know why we want to tell a story In Verne: The Shape of Fantasy, I wanted to evoke nostalgia for the extraordinary, pay tribute to Jules Verne—who captured my imagination as a child—and introduce players to his works.
For us, it is essential to know why we want to tell a story In Verne: The Shape of Fantasy, I wanted to evoke nostalgia for the extraordinary, pay tribute to Jules Verne—who captured my imagination as a child—and introduce players to his works.
August 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
1) Why do I want to write about...?
For us, it is essential to know why we want to tell a story In Verne: The Shape of Fantasy, I wanted to evoke nostalgia for the extraordinary, pay tribute to Jules Verne—who captured my imagination as a child—and introduce players to his works.
For us, it is essential to know why we want to tell a story In Verne: The Shape of Fantasy, I wanted to evoke nostalgia for the extraordinary, pay tribute to Jules Verne—who captured my imagination as a child—and introduce players to his works.