Game Design Consultancy

Reviewing design documents, prototypes or full games, looking at things like usability, playability, feedback loops, information curves. Delivering these findings in the form of a report with perceived problems and suggestions for improvement, rather than straightforward criticism. I like to think of this as ‘writing a review before it’s too late’.

Some notes:

• The game development team is usually so deep into their game, that a fresh, analytical perspective can do wonders.
• Especially if that perspective is—uniquely—halfway between the experiental gamer’s perspective and the technical developer’s perspective.
• Preferably, I analyse a game halfway through development, where most of it is in place, but there’s still room in the schedule to move things around.

Writing for Games

Creating storylines and characters. Writing dialogue and screen text. As a novelist and long time journalist, I have my way with words. I work with English proof readers, making sure it’s no problem that Dutch is my primary language.

One note:

• My greatest joy is in testing a game with my writing implemented, then having another stab at finetuning. Trying to step into the players’ shoes and perfecting a game’s writing based on actual implementation is where the final 10% of quality is added.

Game Journalism, Copy Writing, Editing and Translation Work

Writing reviews, articles, product information, promotional copy. Translating manual, packaging and in-game text. My added value lies in extensive knowledge about games and gamers, but I’ve also written about other fields of technology and entertainment, as well as having translated, edited and written copy for these fields.