The Writer’s Guild of America has announced that a new award has been created to recognize the efforts of videogame writers. The guild describes the Videogame Writing Award as a means "to encourage storytelling excellence in videogames, to improve the status of writers, and to begin to encourage uniform standards" in the videogame industry.
Said WGAW president Patric Verrone, "Videogames are written and many are written very well. By recognising the skill and craft of videogame writing, the Writers Guilds intend to raise the profile of these writers so that they can get WGA contracts and benefits for this work."
"Writers are finally being recognised and valued in the videogame industry. Both artistically and financially, videogames matter – and videogame writers matter to the WGA," added WGAW New Media Caucus member Jay Lender.
"This is the first time game writers have been honored by their peers in the writing community, and it’s an important step toward the WGA’s goal of covering everything that moves on a screen," noted Micah Wright, another caucus member.
The Videogame Writing Award will be a part of the Writers Guild of America West Awards in Los Angeles, taking place on February 9, 2008.
