National Screen Institute Offers Game Writing Internship

The National Screen Institute has launched a creative competition, the prize for which is a game writing internship with a game development studio. Canadian social media company Zeros 2 Heroes is also behind the effort. The playWRITE program will bring 10 successful applicants to Vancouver, all expenses paid, to take part in an intensive training program at Vidfest in May 2008. Applicants will have two months after that training session to design their own game concepts, which will be assessed by a jury of studio representatives. The best game pitches will determine the internship recipients. In addition to the studio representatives looking to fill intern spots, an online community of fans will be watching the competition, ranking and rating the merits of each contestant’s pitch. Competitors will able to upload profile information, images, critiques of game narratives, video blogs, and other samples of written work. Film or television writers, novelists, short story writers, and playwrights with a passion for video games are encouraged to apply. The program is not intended for those who already have a design credit in the game industry. Those who have previously worked as a game designer and have a design credit on a shipped title will not be considered for participation in NSI playWRITE. Applications must be made by Monday, April 28, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. Central Time. For details, visit nsiplaywrite.zeros2heroes.com.