Writers Guild of America to recognise game writing

The Writers Guild of America is to celebrate the craft of game writing with an award at next year’s Writers Guild Awards, Variety has reported.

The writing needn’t have been done under a WGA contract, but the writer must be a member of the WGA’s New Media Caucus, which itself is responsible for the addition.

“Videogames are written, and many are written very well,” said WGA West president Patric Verrone.

“By recognizing the skill and craft of videogame writing, the Writers Guild intends to raise the profile of these writers so that they can get WGA contracts and benefits for this work. We aim, we shoot, we score.”

Eligible writers must have worked on a title between December 1st 2006 and November 30th 2007, and must have received a separate credit for writing – a contentious issue within the game writers community, with the IGDA’s Game Writers SIG currently working on establishing standards with regards to crediting writers.

The winner will be selected by a panel comprised of New Media Caucus or WGA members with experience in the video game writing field, and will be announced at the awards ceremony on February 9th.