Game Narrative Kaleidoscope Podcast

Microbranching: Big Reactivity with Small Effort We're joined by Kate Gray (Moonstone Island, Hello Kitty Island Adventure) who tells us about microbranching in dialogue. Small decisions without long-term impacts can free up the player to funnier in a comedy and more sympathetic in a dating sim. But what do we do with the players who don't engage without a visible pay-off? For more info the GNK book, and to buy, visit the website: https://www.inklestudios.com/kaleidoscope/

Swiss Cheese and Soda Cans: Writing for Proc-Gen Systems Novelist and narrative designer Stark Holborn joins us to talk about the procedural generation systems of Shadows of Doubt. How do you ensure a generated world has character and style? How systematic do you need to be about writing it? And can we apply those learnings back to more linear fiction? For more info the GNK book, and to buy, visit the website: https://www.inklestudios.com/kaleidoscope/

Josh Scherr, a narrative designer and writer formerly at Naughty Dog and now running Cautionary Tales, talks about reactive dialogue in games. He explores using names over time, balancing scripted moments with procedural systems, and when silence or combat barks best serve storytelling. Conversation touches on hint design, avoiding accidental humor, and how animation and sound shape character.

Mary Kenney, narrative director and senior writer behind Marvel: Wolverine and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, reflects on recovering from online harassment and its toll on creative work. She discusses players as co-authors, balancing indie and mainstream audiences, rebuilding trust, practical healing methods, and using authentic research to deepen characters and community-driven stories.

A lively intro to a series exploring the craft of writing for games. The hosts explain why a book of short, personal essays was created and how it highlights diverse industry voices. They discuss the wide variety of narrative forms in games and the value of focusing on specific, personal topics. The tone is invitational and aimed at fellow writers and curious listeners.

Sagar Beroshi, narrative designer and writer at The Chinese Room known for As Dusk Falls and Helldivers 2, argues for starting light with outlines and blockouts. He discusses when writing overwrites design, using blockouts to show not tell, and where lightweight exploration fits across studio sizes. The conversation covers integrating narrative into teams and treating writing as craftful problem-solving.

Darby McDevitt, veteran game writer known for Assassin's Creed, shares ideas on character arcs and his 'Flawless Victory' essay. He explores making mechanics reflect character flaws and using opportunity cost to create stakes. He discusses crafting believable supporting characters and when to limit player choice to protect dramatic impact.