ICAGAM405A Write story and content for digital games

Release: 1

ICAGAM405A Write story and content for digital games

Modification History

Release	Comments
Release 1	This Unit first released with ICA11 Information and Communications Technology Training Package version 1.0

Unit Descriptor

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to develop stories and related content for interactive digital games.

Application of the Unit

This unit applies to game concept developers, script writers, storyboard artists, game designers and other personnel working in the game development industry.

Licensing/Regulatory Information

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.

Pre-Requisites

Not applicable.

Employability Skills Information

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content

Element	Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.	Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Identify and develop storylines with game potential	1.1 Identify potential storylines for game development 1.2 Modify and enhance storyline to suit game environment 1.3 Determine appropriate game genre
2. Write plot synopsis and background story	2.1 Determine character profiles 2.2 Develop environment profiles consistent with storyline 2.3 Develop background story 2.4 Develop initial plot profile 2.5 Develop plot synopsis and options and link to specific game levels
3. Develop story components	3.1 Source initial concept artwork 3.2 Develop level specifications and storylines 3.3 Initiate development of storyboards showing plot development, cinematic and level outlines
4. Finalise story components for inclusion in the game design brief	4.1 Seek feedback on story and concept 4.2 Finalise story concept, profiles and other specifications for inclusion in the game design brief

Required Skills and Knowledge

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills

communication skills to:

communicate narrative concepts and related design requirements to designers and concept artists

seek and respond to feedback from target audience representatives, clients and colleagues

planning and organisational skills to:

meet project deadlines

organise own time to meet milestones

research skills to:

research and identify appropriate game genres

source appropriate textual and visual data to inform storylines

source concept artwork

writing skills to develop:

background story, storyline and plot elements for levels

character, environment and plot profiles.

Required knowledge

budgeting and scheduling considerations for game development

copyright and intellectual property protection for written narrative and concept graphics

different story requirements for particular game genres

role of story writing in game development and the quality of the final product

research methods used to stay abreast of the latest changes and developments in narrative development for games

tools and techniques for developing game narrative.

Evidence Guide

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	Evidence of the ability to: develop storylines for games according to current industry standards develop storylines that are innovative, competitive and apply processes and procedures to facilitate quality script writing identify the role of narrative development in game development and what this brings to the quality of the final product seek and respond professionally to feedback on concept and storylines.
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Assessment must ensure access to: range of current computer games across all platforms and genres range of the latest consoles and hand-held game devices internet access for research purposes computer hardware, software, games engines and file storage copyright and intellectual property legislation OHS legislation and enterprise policy appropriate learning and assessment support when required modified equipment for people with special needs.
Method of assessment	A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: work samples or simulated workplace activities observation of storyline development activities verbal questioning concerning aspects of narrative development for games, including: game genres sources of stories and narrative sourcing concept graphics respecting the intellectual property rights of other writers.
Guidance information for assessment	Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate. Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed. Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support. In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.

Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Storylines may originate from:	celebrity activities comics and graphic novels cultural traditions fairytales film and television historical events novels and short stories performing arts: ballet dance opera sporting activities ‘what if’ scenarios.
Modify and enhance storyline may involve:	background story concept development creating new stories featuring existing characters developing storyline from first, second or third person perspective introducing new characters and settings modification of plot outcomes reducing the number of characters relating the narrative from another point of view.
Game genre may include:	adventure alternative reality ancient casino cyberpunk educational edutainment fantasy first person shooter flight shooter flight simulation futuristic god simulation massively multi-player online game massively multi-player online role-playing game medieval modern multi-player post-apocalyptic puzzle racing shooter racing simulation real-time strategy role-playing game science fiction side-scrolling shooter single player sports strategy, including: action strategy turn-based strategy tactical combat.
Character profiles may include:	basic details: age appearance clothing and accessory preferences colour of eyes gender hair languages spoken location motivation names nationality and race occupation preferences for day or night missions target demographic the character appeals to weapon choices biographies characteristics of associates and enemies heroes main characters non-player characters protagonists secondary characters villains.
Environment profiles may include:	alien environments fantasy environments foreign environments historical environments natural environments, for example: arctic desert jungle mountainous post-apocalyptic environments urban environments.
Background story may include:	cinematics (cut scenes) experiences, events and missions occurring prior to game action that have a bearing on the proposed game narrative.
Plot profile may involve:	action adventure combat crime fantasy history and background of the environment missions murder mystery premise psychological quests romance science fiction.
Plot synopsis and options may consist of:	choices made by the player that influence the direction of the narrative concise outlines of story narrative, including: secondary plotlines character story and motivation climax or cliffhanger key interactions along the way objective of the story plot profile resolution - what is gained or lost drama outline for cinematics (cut scenes) executive summary flowcharts one page synopsis one paragraph synopsis one sentence synopsis pitch version of synopsis.
Sourcing initial concept artwork may involve:	knowledge of copyright and intellectual property protection using visual research techniques to identify exemplary environments, character types and themes consistent with storyline concept working collaboratively with artist and designers to develop original concepts for characters and environments in formats, such as: 2-D computer graphics collages hand rendered illustrations pencil and ink sketches physical models.
Level specifications may include:	level-specific components: allies base building and location cinematics (cut scenes) colours enemies graphics health lighting non-player characters resources and their harvesting sounds and music weapons location stages transportation devices: buttons doors keys teleporters tunnels and passageways.
Storyboards may include:	animatics, such as technical previsualisation computer-generated illustrations existing comic strips, comic books or graphic novels hand-drawn illustrations illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of previsualising a motion picture, animation, motion graphic or interactive media sequence, including website interactivity photomatic, e.g. photographic storyboard thumbnails.
Feedback may involve:	accepting and responding to comment, critique and suggestions from: clients colleagues target audience representatives.

Unit Sector(s)

Game development