
The Advanced Game Narrative Toolbox
Tobias Heussner(Editor)
CRC Press
2nd Edition
Will be published approx. on 18. August 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
252 pages
978-1-041-09048-9 (ISBN)
Description
The Advanced Game Narrative Toolbox 2nd Edition is an updated version of The Advanced Game Narrative Toolbox, continuing where The Game Narrative Toolbox left off. While the Game Narrative Toolbox covered the basics of writing and narrative design for games, The Advanced Game Narrative Toolbox will cover techniques and approaches for the intermediate and professional writer. The book will cover topics such as how to adapt a novel to a game, how to construct transmedia worlds, and how to bring your content into the game. The second edition adds a chapter on the Unreal Engine, how to work with material for children, and how to overcome and work with communication biases. Each chapter is written by a professional with exceptional experience in the field of the chapter and ends with an exercise encouraging you to try out what you learned.
Key Features:
Learn from industry experts how to tackle today's challenges in storytelling for games
A learn by example and exercise approach, which was praised in the Game Narrative Toolbox and the 1st edition
An in-depth view of advanced storytelling techniques and topics, and how to bring them into a game
Expand your knowledge in game writing as you learn and try for yourself to design quests, write romances, build worlds, and implement them as you would as a writer or narrative designer in a game studio
Improve your own stories by learning and trying techniques used by professionals of game writing
Key Features:
Learn from industry experts how to tackle today's challenges in storytelling for games
A learn by example and exercise approach, which was praised in the Game Narrative Toolbox and the 1st edition
An in-depth view of advanced storytelling techniques and topics, and how to bring them into a game
Expand your knowledge in game writing as you learn and try for yourself to design quests, write romances, build worlds, and implement them as you would as a writer or narrative designer in a game studio
Improve your own stories by learning and trying techniques used by professionals of game writing
More details
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Professional Reference
Illustrations
3 farbige Tabellen, 31 farbige Abbildungen, 31 Farbfotos bzw. farbige Rasterbilder
3 Tables, color; 31 Halftones, color; 31 Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 246 mm
Width: 189 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-041-09048-9 (9781041090489)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Tobias Heussner
The Advanced Game Narrative Toolbox
E-Book
approx. 08/2026
2nd Edition
CRC Press
€69.99
Not yet available

Tobias Heussner
The Advanced Game Narrative Toolbox
Book
approx. 08/2026
2nd Edition
CRC Press
€185.50
Not yet published
Tobias Heussner
The Advanced Game Narrative Toolbox
E-Book
approx. 08/2026
2nd Edition
CRC Press
€69.99
Not yet available
Person
Tobias Heussner is a principal game content/narrative designer, producer, and writer. He has been working for over 25 years in the game industry and with his teams; he has successfully developed and published more than 20 titles including the award-winning AAA RPG Drakensang, the Action-RPG Drakensang Online, and NBA Playgrounds. He has worked in various design roles and led teams as a designer as well as a producer. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity of working with a wide variety of professionals, gaining knowledge and acquiring experience in various project management philosophies and approaches. He has spoken at game developer conferences various times and likes to share his expertise with fellow developers and learn from their experience and feedback. In 2015, he published The Game Narrative Toolbox with CRC Press, co-authored by Ann Lemay, Toiya Kristen Finley, and Jennifer Hepler. A second edition of The Game Narrative Toolbox was released in 2024. His personal website and resume can be found at http://www.theussner.com.
Contributors: Alexander Bevier, Brian Kindregan, Cash Decuir, Chris Skaggs, Craig Sherman, Danny Salfield Wadeson, Heidi McDonald, Matt Forbeck, Tanya DePass, Toiya Kirsten Finley, and Tobias Heussner
Contributors: Alexander Bevier, Brian Kindregan, Cash Decuir, Chris Skaggs, Craig Sherman, Danny Salfield Wadeson, Heidi McDonald, Matt Forbeck, Tanya DePass, Toiya Kirsten Finley, and Tobias Heussner
Content
List of Contributors, Chapter 1: Introduction, Chapter 2: Building A Universe, Chapter 3: Get It into the Game: Writing and Implementation, Chapter 4: Cinematics and Dialogue, Chapter 5: Get This, Kill That, Talk with ... Mission and Quest Design, Chapter 6: Planning Your Work, Chapter 7: Yes, Videogames Need Story Editors!, Chapter 8: Why Authentic Diversity, Consultants and Research Are Needed in Narrative Design, Chapter 9: Writing Romance and Sexuality in Games, Chapter 10: Writing for Nondigital Games (Board Games), Chapter 11: From Novel to Game and Back Again, Chapter 12: From Movie to Game (and Back Again?), Chapter 13: Working with Licensed Worlds and Content for Children, Chapter 14: Freelancing in Games: Narrative Mercenaries for Hire, Chapter 15: Working with Communication Biases, Chapter 16: Unreal Engine for Narrative Designers, Chapter 17: Conclusion, Chapter 18: Resources and Groups, Glossary