Exercises
- Write a script for an established animated show. Write this script in a different genre
than that of the original project you completed earlier. Research the established show
by first watching it and then finding out more about it on the Internet. - Develop a preschool series. Work with someone (or better yet a team) in the field of
child development, perhaps from a local university. - Develop an idea for a prime-time animated series.
- Write a prime-time animation script.
- Watch a late-night animated series for adults. Analyze the stories. Are these series more
like daytime cartoons or prime-time shows? In what ways? - Make a comparative analysis of at least three different animated television or game
genres. How do those differences affect the writing? Think about it, and go beyond what
is in this book. - Buy or rent a current best-selling game. Play it and analyze it. What makes it fun to
play? How difficult is it? What don’t you like about it? How could you make the story
better? How could you make the game itself more fun to play, keeping in mind the
current technology? How can you take it further than the game developer already has? - Do research on different game genres and analyze what makes them different. Why does
the typical game player of each play that kind of game? - Research the game industry.
- Develop a game for a game console, CD-ROM, or the Internet. Before you do, analyze
the successful games that are already in that category. What made them successful? What
features do they have? Who plays that kind of game, and what are they looking for?
What makes your game different and better? - If you produce a game for your own website, can you think of any new ways of obtain-
ing income from your game? - Research the gaming and Internet laws internationally, especially in China, Greece,
Australia, and Brazil. How might these laws affect your Internet game? - What’s your opinion about violence in games where you’re the first person shooter?
What have the studies found? Do you personally think that playing these games often
can change someone’s personality? Why? And if so, under what circumstances? - Develop a game for interactive television. What are the current technological restraints?
- Research the wireless industry and its special gaming challenges.
300 Animation Writing and Development