to understand for fast, on-the-fly play. Many games strive to build community. You want to
tantalize the user into playing your game. Games with incentives like prizes are likely to
become more popular. During and after development, games must undergo an extensive
testing process to take out bugs and be sure that they will work on multiple-size screens and
with multiple phones. Developers should have drawing ability and be able to write for the
multiple platforms that are out there. They need to know the requirements of each phone
company. As with any technology, it’s constantly changing. Check out Wireless Gaming
Reviewat http://wgamer.com/devicedir for information about new phones.
The Internet and Assorted Multimedia
Most people who are able to draw and write and want to create something original imme-
diately think of the Internet. Some people are pitching scripts on the Internet both on sites
specifically for that purpose and on their own sites. Some writers use the Internet to promote
their talents.
It’s entirely possible to have your own short animated series running regularly on your
own website. The Vancouver-produced series Broken Saintswon a number of awards includ-
ing the Sundance Online Film Festival Viewers Award. The episodes were animated in anime
style graphics with objects that appeared and disappeared on screen. The series used music
and film-style effects to produce a new Internet experience. Interactive elements will allow
storytellers to create stories with multiple paths more like games.
You can create a series, animate it with Flash, develop a list of people who might be
interested in seeing your series, and e-mail your list each time a new episode is ready. Many
artist/writers are doing just that. Unfortunately, even the most extensive list of interested
friends and prospective buyers is unlikely to bring a lot of traffic to your website. Games
and daily updates help. If your site is popular, that can mean spending more money to handle
the number of visitors. Some artists take advertisements on their site. Some sell merchan-
dise. Others have relied on viewer donations and on benefits to raise the money for their
art. A successful series can be released on DVD, sold as a comic strip, book, game, or as a
subscriber series. Internet shorts have been popular with Europeans and with South
Americans, as well as with viewers in the United States.
The Internet is not yet secure, and it’s probably not a good idea to leave even copy-
righted work out there unless you’re prepared for the possibility that it might be stolen.
Internationally, it’s not possible to prosecute copyright violations.
If you have a Flash or Quicktime cartoon finished, there are also websites that will show
the cartoon. Some will actually pay you for the privilege, but the fee will probably be small.
Usually, you must sign a contract authorizing the website to publish your work. Some sites
grant you the right to publish elsewhere as well. The average demographic of these sites is
age fifteen to forty, mostly male. Viewers are primarily students and office workers. Think
mental vacation. Viewers want to be entertained. Most animation sites want cutting-edge
material that’s cool, hip, irreverent, funny, fresh, and fun. Material that can’t be shown on
broadcast TV is usually popular. Comedy, great characters, good stories, and compelling
animation work best. Keep the style simple. Clarify what you want to say and keep up the
quality. Some sites take popular material to other mediums. Because of download time,
500 KB and less has been the preferred size for many sites. You’ll need to learn to work
298 Animation Writing and Development