SAMPLE 1
GAME DIALOGUE
This is a sample of quest dialogue written for Once Human, an open-world survival game set in a strange post-apocalyptic future.
In this quest, the player has been sent to get a vital piece of equipment from Eddie, a gruff, reclusive old engineer who lives out in the desert. Eddie proves willing to help the player, but only if they recover an old pin-up girl poster (nothing too risque in the image itself) for him.
A note on terms: within the game world, Deviants are mutated monsters similar to zombies, while Rosetta and the Vultures are two different enemy factions.
Also, please note that this sample has been provided in confidence and is not meant to be shared outside the context of this application.
Triggered when the player speaks to Eddie at Eddie’s shack.
Player: Are you Eddie?
Eddie (flat): Yeah.
Player: Claire sent me. She said you could help build something for me.
Eddie (not hostile, but not engaging): What?
Player: A trigger mechanism. For explosives.
Eddie (now he’s getting curious): What for?
Player: The Vultures stole some dangerous technology from Rosetta. I'm trying to destroy it.
Eddie: Don't like Vultures, don't like Rosetta, and don't much like visitors either.
But if Claire sent you, it must be serious.
Player (serious): It is.
Eddie: Alright. So what are you going to do for me in return?
Player: What do you need done?
Eddie (thinking it over for a moment): Hm. There's a poster I want.
Player: Yeah? You want me to go raid an art gallery?
Eddie (unspoken: "Dumbass."): Not a painting. A poster. Though it is a real work of art.
Player: Okay. Where do I find this work of art?
Eddie: It's in my childhood bedroom. Should be anyway. Parents never did change it after I moved out.
Eddie: Gotta warn you, though. My hometown's full of Deviants now.
Player: Great. So what is this poster I'm risking my life for?
Eddie (as if in a reverie): Lara Lockwood.
Eddie (said with a wink): Don't you worry, you'll know her when you see her.
***
Triggered when the player speaks to Eddie after having returned with the poster.
Player: You're in luck. I found your poster.
Eddie (genuinely excited): Nice work! I've missed that gorgeous smile of hers for a long time. I tell ya, they don't make 'em like that anymore.
Player (VERY eager to change the subject): Right. So about that trigger.
Eddie: Yup. Already got one for you. I whipped up a proximity trigger while you were gone.
Player: How does it work?
Eddie (enjoys his work): Just like the name says. After you set the explosives, all you need to do is get far enough away and – kablammo! They'll blow all on their own.
Player: Sounds good. Thanks for the help, Eddie.
Eddie: Believe me, it was all worth it to be reunited with Lara here.