Portfolio Requirements

Applicants to USV's Game Writing concentration within the Game Design Art major are required to submit two original pieces of creative writing: one short story and one script sample.

The short story must be an original work, double-spaced and between 800 and 1,000 words in length. It can feature entirely new characters or it can be based on an existing, well-known intellectual property of the student's choice (e.g. Harry Potter, X-Men, The Walking Dead, etc.). If the latter option is chosen, please identify the IP in question. The piece should be a complete, self-contained story, with a beginning, middle and end.

The script sample must be an original work, employing standard "Hollywood"-style script format, and must be no more than 15 pages in length. It can feature entirely new characters or it can be based on an existing, well-known intellectual property of the student's choice. It may be a complete standalone story, or a scene from an implied larger tale (for example, a "lost scene" from a popular movie or game). In the latter case, please briefly "set up" the script so its context is clear.

Both writing samples will be judged based on structure, dialogue writing, command of the English language, and general demonstration of narrative capability.