Former Bioware Writer Blasts Company’s Treatment Of Narrative Team

gameranx.com:

The topic of writing is very poignant in the entertainment industry today. This is because many industries are questioning the “worth” of writers and “how much experience” you need to be a certain kind of writer. You likely know of the writer’s strike that’s going on in Hollywood right now that threatens to shut down that entire industry. Unfortunately, however, the gaming space isn’t much better. There has been a movement to make less single-player narrative-focused games and replace them with “more profitable” live service games. Many aren’t happy with that, including some of the former members of Bioware.

At one point in time, Bioware was easily one of the greatest video game developers on the planet. They started out small with classic RPGs that banked on narrative mixed with great gameplay. Then, they go the chance of a lifetime by getting to create a unique RPG set in a galaxy far, far away. After that, they made their own series via Mass Effect and Dragon Age. Both series were praised for their deep narratives, compelling characters, and great sales success, especially at their start.

However, the creator of the latter series, David Gaider, and former lead writer at the company, dropped a bombshell regarding how Bioware views writers nowadays. On Twitter, he said:

Even BioWare, which built its success on a reputation for good stories and characters, slowly turned from a company that vocally valued its writers to one where we were… quietly resented, with a reliance on expensive narrative seen as the "albatross" holding the company back.

That’s not only some harsh words. It’s ones that many people honestly need to hear. While writing might simply be viewed as “putting down words,” it’s so much more than that. It’s