The Triangle of Weirdness
I am sure you have heard of the famous production triangle, shown here:
One of the best things about video games is that, technical restraints of your chosen platform aside, you are limited only by your imagination.
Developers can craft virtual worlds that feature unrealistic physics, bizarre characters, and absurd quests. However, it is possible to go crazy with creativity, especially when writing the game story. This is why I created the “Triangle of Weirdness.” Notice the difference in the choices on the triangle of weirdness: characters, activities, and world.
Unlike the production triangle where you can have any two points, you can choose only one corner on the triangle of weirdness. Choose any more than that and you risk alienating your audience.
Let’s look at three examples of how to apply the Triangle of Weirdness to your story and world.
While the Wizard of Oz features weird characters such as a Tin Man, a Lion, and a Scarecrow...