Level Up.pdf

44 LEVEL 3 Writing the Story
The Triangle of Weirdness
I am sure you have heard of the
famous production triangle (see
opposite).
One of the best things about video
games is that, technical restraints of
your chosen platform aside, you are
limited only by your imagination.
Developers can craft virtual worlds that
feature non - Newtonian physics, bizarre
characters, and absurd quests. However,
it is possible to go crazy with creativity,
especially when writing the game story.
This is why I created the “Triangle of
Weirdness. ” Notice the difference in
the choices on the triangle of weirdness:
characters, activities, and world.
Unlike the production triangle where
you can have any two points, you
can only choose one corner on the
triangle of weirdness. Choose any
more than that and you risk alienating
your audience.
Let ’ s take a look at three examples of how to apply the Triangle of
Weirdness to your story and world: