The writing is awful. How does one become a writer for DC games?

[Raz]

As a dedicated fan of DC, I ignored the naysayers and tried to be optimistic for this game's potential to deliver an engaging narrative. Yet, it quickly became evident that the game's writing fell short of capturing the essence of beloved characters and lacked any semblance of a meaningful overarching story.

One of the most striking issues lies in character representations. In the DCAU crafted by Bruce Timm every hero was depicted with such depth and nuance that even in defeat, there was something unique about them through their personalities that allowed them to still be popular with fans. Whether it was Flash sitting down to listen to his villains mental health problems rather than beating him into a pulp like Batman would or for Batman sitting with a dying girl dealing with her mortality in a way Superman or Wonder Woman couldn't, each character was treated with the utmost respect in a way that made them all unique, and increased their stock/brand value as a character.

In contrast, this game absolutely wrecks the brand value of every character and falls into the all-too-common trap of resorting to tired tropes, such as evil versions of iconic heroes. The concept of 4 street level characters with guns taking down seemingly invincible foes could have been great with proper writing, but here all it does is further diminish the integrity of the DC IP.

Furthermore, the killing of Wonder Woman in the lead-up to her own standalone game, only serves to lower her stock as a character which will now likely see that game take a hit in sales. This is a big reason the DCEU died due to people including big characters in their movies who weren't actually fans of those characters and in the process just kept shrinking the DC fans. Marvel would never have allowed Dr. Strange to be killed as a supporting character in one of Dwayne Johnson's vanity pieces, but there seems to be no editor in DC protecting their brand?? It's a disheartening pattern that seems to prioritize shock value over genuine storytelling, leaving audiences disillusioned and disengaged.

While I can forgive shortcomings in character portrayal if the overarching narrative offers substance, this game also fails to deliver on that front also. Unlike the societal commentary and character-driven exploration found in well written DC stories like "The Dark Knight," this game offers nothing of substance beneath its surface-level plot. Instead, it presents a disjointed series of events devoid of any meaning and plays out like fanfic from a writer who only knows about a dozen or so DC characters and is making the rest up from wiki pages.

As someone who is deeply passionate about storytelling and the DC universe, I can't help but wonder how such a disappointing product came to fruition. It begs the question: how does one secure a role in writing for DC video games or media of this nature? While the cheesy dialogue is certainly a concern, the real issue is the story outline itself is absolutely dreadful.

I don't want to be overly negative as I'm sure people tried their best, but it just feels like DC continually get the wrong people for the job who don't know how to handle an ensemble of characters that each have a dedicated fan-base. How do they find writers because I really think I could knock it out of the park. The game-play isn't all that restricting for storytelling so there really is no excuse for not having something amazing. I'd do it unpaid for the first one just to show how you actually tell a narrative that appeals to fans of various characters and newcomers alike.

[nobalkain]

DC is just viewed as a Brand by its Parent Company to use to Sell Merchandise now. They no longer care about Consistency in Characters or Stories. All that matters is that they keep selling Figures, Shirts, and anything else they can slap the Bat Symbol on. They gave up on the Comics long ago, they think they can just Reboot it at any time and Fans will return.

As for "Editors" making sure to keep things in check, remember this. In Heroes in Crisis they let Harley Beat-up, Outwit, and Escape Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman right in front of all Three of them. DC Comics got Booted from their Deluxe Business Building, to a Shared Office with Minimal Staff. Their Parent Company no longer cares about the Comics.

[Starry]

Be gay and identify as a member of LGBTQ+ community.

[Space is the Place]

You must be confused. This game was made by Rocksteady, not DC. Rocksteady makes videogames, DC makes comics. DC, the comics company, has no right or controlling part in which writer a company unreleated to them hires, even if it´s to write DC characters. And no, the fact both are owned by Wanrer Bros doesn´t mean there´s some short of synergy or someone that controls both companies so the shared products are in canon or whatever.

[Garath]

Creativity was killed so they could check as many boxes off as possible. Its not even "woke" or not, its just pandering to far to many groups, thus diluting the product. They are trying to sell comic book characters to the masses by dumbing down and simplifying the characters, which just ends up turning off both groups, comic fans because they ruin the characters, and the masses because the characters are not interesting anymore.

[5ean5ean]

The problem with these writers is thier egos. They have no respect for source material, no respect for the characters, no respect for the actual good stories that came before them.

They just want to do "thier thing" and thats why we get scenes like King Shark using a Latern ring like its a piece of jewlery becuase "They think its cool" eventhough its NOT lore acurate at all.

[Termix]

Originally posted by Raz:

As someone who is deeply passionate about storytelling and the DC universe, I can't help but wonder how such a disappointing product came to fruition.

I don't want to be overly negative as I'm sure people tried their best

Honestly, we have the right to be negative and no obviously the writers didn't try their best, because they wouldn't have written what they did.

It's not like they made some minor mistakes, they killed comic lore that existed for 30 years and made iconic characters look like complete idiots.

Lex Luthor in power suit - blitzed. They made one of the smartest man look dumber than Captain Boomerang.

Evil Green Lantern giving the Suicide Squad a tour through Metropolis while calling them 4 metahumans.

Shark using the ring, Boomerang peeing on Flash getting compliments for his size... man

And this never stopped, no respect for the source material.

Yes, I have seen the DC series, even Batwoman, but that was still "acceptable".

[Space is the Place]

Only 4 messages before someone change this discussion into the "woke" conspiracy, great.

For people who want "politics out of videogames" you lot really make sure that it´s the only topic around any videogame uh? Can´t no longer talk about the game with anyone without any of these imbeciles to come in and start foaming over "wokeness".

It´s really getting really tiresome.

[5ean5ean]

Originally posted by Space is the Place:

Only 4 messages before someone change this discussion into the "woke" conspiracy, great.

For people who want "politics out of videogames" you lot really make sure that it´s the only topic around any videogame uh? Can´t no longer talk about the game with anyone without any of these imbeciles to come in and start foaming over "wokeness".

It´s really getting really tiresome.

I didnt say anything about wokeness.

- It's Lore Inaccurate
- We have people peeing on dead bodies.
- Non stop jokes
- Im not even going to mention the Batman stuff bc it legit makes me angry that was green lit.

This game has serious writing problems without even going into Lex Luthor talking about "Toxic Masculinity" while Harley Quinn grabs Deadshot's a** without consent.

This game is a mess.

[Starry]

Originally posted by JRS:

Idk but all the crap i've seen online has that blue hair/ugly/fat energy, I would like to see a picture of the writers if someone can find it :)

How much do you wanna bet that they also have the "She/They" and a Pride Flag on their profile?

[Outline]

Political slant is irrelevant: whether one agrees with the message, disagrees or doesn't care either way, consultants were brought in to amend the story, script and scene direction who cared more about grinding a particular axe than reflecting the characters that already exist. This is worth opposing.

[Krona🥶]

There's no editorial from DC comics overseeing the writing of these type of projects. The DC brand is being licensed in this care out to people to do what they wish to do.


The Arkhamverse, is essentially what we call Elseworlds in comics where rules and continuity set up for characters we know do not matter. Same goes for movies, animated shows including the beloved DCAU. They are not canon and have nothing to do with main DC.

But there's a difference, when someone is using the brand respectfully to not alienate the core audience while bringing in more you get things like Bruce Timm's shows, the DCAU and all that good stuff. On the other side of the spectrum you get something that makes you question whoever writing even cares for the franchise.

I wouldn't worry about this too much.

[bgray9054]

Be not white, male and mention liking or being a part of alphabet stuff.

[Termix]

Originally posted by Krona🥶:

The DC brand is being licensed in this care out to people to do what they wish to do.


The Arkhamverse, is essentially what we call Elseworlds in comics where rules and continuity set up for characters we know do not matter. Same goes for movies, animated shows including the beloved DCAU. They are not canon and have nothing to do with main DC.

Oh my... Rocksteady is owned by WB and Warner owns DC afaik.

And don't talk to us like we're not fans and never read a comic before.
I hardly believe that Warner has no control over how their characters are used and portrayed, that would be unheard of.

[Krona🥶]

Originally posted by Termix:

Originally posted by Krona🥶:

The DC brand is being licensed in this care out to people to do what they wish to do.


The Arkhamverse, is essentially what we call Elseworlds in comics where rules and continuity set up for characters we know do not matter. Same goes for movies, animated shows including the beloved DCAU. They are not canon and have nothing to do with main DC.

Oh my... Rocksteady is owned by WB and Warner owns DC afaik.

And don't talk to us like we're not fans and never read a comic before.
I hardly believe that Warner has no control over how their characters are used and portrayed, that would be unheard of.

??? You're barking up the wrong tree. I wasn't talking to you, just making a general statement.

DC and Warner Bros has say on who gets to use the brand, but they won't step in if the story is bad or holds no consistency when you compare it to comics.

[nobalkain]

Originally posted by Krona🥶:

Originally posted by Termix:

Oh my... Rocksteady is owned by WB and Warner owns DC afaik.

And don't talk to us like we're not fans and never read a comic before.
I hardly believe that Warner has no control over how their characters are used and portrayed, that would be unheard of.

??? You're barking up the wrong tree. I wasn't talking to you, just making a general statement.

DC and Warner Bros has say on who gets to use the brand, but they won't step in if the story is bad or holds no consistency when you compare it to comics.

Depends on the Contract and what is put in place when the License is made. Case in point when NRS made MK Vs DC they where not allowed to mess up Supermans Symbol, or have the Characters Killed or Kill, thus why it has no Fatalities when involving the Heroes. They used to care, but the Parent Company no longer does.