Planned Story VS Spontaneous Develepment?

[Fisherson]

So I recently managed to finally make a version of VX install that I DLed for kicks and unbelievably I was instantly changed my opinion about VX. That little "Insta Event" thing with preprogramming and built in multi-event ID is very, very helpful. I messed around with no real story in mind other than spoofing Xena then suddenly actual game play and a story started to emerge. OoO So I decided to try finishing a real game before my thirty day trial was up titled: The Exceptional Journeys of Ulrika. It was going along pretty smoothly and effectively! I started out basically making each dungeon, town and quest as I got to it...then suddenly I decided to pre-plan some stuff and it was like it got stuck in tar. T_T Rather irritating but it make me think maybe it's a bad idea to pre-plan at all? I mean it's what has slowed down Dentverse games and countless other projects...and yet Origins and Misadventures most defiantly have benefitted from pre-planning int he game play content area and story development. So I ask you! Which is better and why?

[DragonBlaze]

Generally your game's plot, flow, and progression will be better if you think through it ahead of time. If you know what you want to happen down the road in your plot, you can set up the stage and develop events that lead up to that point. It's very easy to make a game that makes little sense, dull, and seems like a series of random events. That being said, I found that making things up as I go is much more fun. Unless you're a professional, I'd recommend just doing what you enjoy best. If you enjoy weaving intricate plots, think them through first. If you just enjoy creating, make it up as you go.

I always took the hybrid approach where I would have a direction I wanted to take the game, but would deviate or completely change my direction as I came up with new ideas.

[drenrin2120]

Many writers take a hybrid approach. You have a general over arching idea how things will go; setting, main story arch, some character bios, but not everything. I think this can help the story grow more organically and thus feel more organic.

It can help you avoid getting bogged down in lore or overwriting things.

[Prpl_Mage]

It sounds like you over think when you plan. Also, is preplanning even a word? Anyway. Some people put their goals to high when they plan. Sometimes you need to realize that done is better than perfect. And that failing fast is failing cheap. Phrases like that.

Anyway, I tend to have a start and a goal and then some stuff that leads the start to the goal. I draw these up as boxes with some text in them. Then along the line I tend to come up with new ideas that I place in circle between my boxes. If the events of a circle becomes too forced or don't seem rewarding - I remove it and continue without it.

[Moosetroop11]

I usually make it up as I go along but just recently I started planning a book with every part of the plot worked out ahead of time. The lore's all written down, I know what's going on everywhere and all that. It's an interesting way to work because you can write a plot that serves the story rather than your own desires (it's easier to kill off characters you like if you plan it out first, that sort of thing)

I always remember a quote someone wrote about The Old Man and the Sea which went something like "Not a single word is unnecessary". I like the idea that you haven't wasted a moment, that the entire thing, whatever it is, is working towards one goal. I think planning helps with all that.

But the downside is that it can end up feeling a bit like painting by numbers and you could get bored. But I'll see how this book goes.

[zuhane]

I think it kind of depends on the type of game. Jonathan Blow (Braid maker) and quite a few developers say the best approach is
to create a fun and playable concept first, then work a story into it. The problem with writing story first is that it can limit your
gameplay options, as they have to adhere to the story you've presented, and if they don't, can make the story seem stupid.

As people say, though, doing both in parallel can be nice, because you can strike that perfect balance between zany and realistic.