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Transition to Video Game Writing

Initial Entry into Video Game Writing
Early 2000s
Rhianna Pratchett's entry into video game writing was driven by her passion for storytelling and the interactive potential of the medium. She began exploring opportunities to contribute her writing talents to game development projects. Precise details on her initial foray into this field are not available.

Main milestones

Birth in England
December 30, 1976
Rhianna Pratchett was born into a literary household as the daughter of Terry and Lyn Pratchett. Growing up immersed in a world of stories undoubtedly shaped her creative imagination and fostered a deep appreciation for narrative, even if she initially resisted following directly in her father's footsteps.
Early Journalism and Writing
Early Career (Late 1990s - Early 2000s)
Rhianna began her professional journey as a journalist and writer, contributing to various publications. This period honed her writing skills and allowed her to explore different subjects, providing a foundation for her later narrative work in video games. She cut her teeth in the world of online gaming through publications like PC Zone, developing an understanding of the gaming landscape from the perspective of the press.
Beyond Divinity
2002
Rhianna Pratchett's first credited work in video games was writing for the game 'Beyond Divinity'. This marked her formal entry into the gaming industry. This was significant as it was Rhianna's first experience of video game writing, which was initially brought about as a result of her early journalism, particularly her work at PC Zone.
Overlord
2007
Working on 'Overlord' allowed Rhianna to showcase her talent for dark humor and wit, contributing to the game's distinctive personality. This title helped establish her as a versatile writer capable of handling different tones and genres. Her experience with the Discworld universe, created by her father, may well have been a valuable source of ideas for working with such a quirky title.
Mini Ninjas
2009
Rhianna's work on 'Mini Ninjas' demonstrated her ability to write for a younger audience while still maintaining engaging and compelling storylines. This project broadened her portfolio and showcased her versatility as a narrative designer.
Tomb Raider (Reboot)
2013
Rhianna Pratchett served as the lead writer for the critically acclaimed 'Tomb Raider' reboot. This was a major turning point in her career. She was responsible for crafting a compelling origin story for Lara Croft, reinventing the iconic character for a new generation. The game's success solidified her reputation as one of the leading narrative designers in the industry.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
2015
Rhianna continued her work on the 'Tomb Raider' franchise as the lead writer for 'Rise of the Tomb Raider.' Building on the foundation established in the reboot, she further developed Lara Croft's character and explored new facets of her personality and motivations. This cemented her work in the minds of Tomb Raider fans.
Death of Terry Pratchett
March 12, 2015
The passing of her father, Sir Terry Pratchett, marked a deeply personal and significant moment in Rhianna's life. While professionally successful, this event undoubtedly had a profound impact on her, influencing her perspectives and potentially shaping her future creative endeavors. The creative shadow cast by her father must have been overwhelming, making his loss a significant turning point in her life.
Continued Narrative Design and Writing
Post-Tomb Raider (2016 - Present)
Following her work on the 'Tomb Raider' series, Rhianna has continued to contribute to various video game projects, further establishing herself as a sought-after narrative designer and writer. Her passion and contributions to the art of video game storytelling continue to have a lasting impact on the industry.

Legacy and Influence

Influence on Video Game Narrative
Ongoing
Rhianna Pratchett's work has influenced the way video game narratives are crafted, particularly in terms of character-driven stories and the portrayal of strong female protagonists. She has inspired other writers and game developers to prioritize emotional depth and complexity in their storytelling.

Personal Life (Partial)

Relationship with Terry Pratchett's Work
Ongoing
As the daughter of Sir Terry Pratchett, Rhianna has a deep connection to her father's work and legacy. However, she has also forged her own path in the creative industry, establishing herself as a successful writer in her own right.

Early Career in Journalism

Journalism Work
Late 1990s - Early 2000s
Rhianna Pratchett began her career in journalism, working on various publications. She contributed articles and reviews, honing her writing skills and gaining experience in the media industry. Precise details of her early journalistic roles are limited but it is known that she was active during this time and gaining professional experience.

Early Life and Education

Birth
December 30, 1976
Rhianna Pratchett was born in England. As the daughter of renowned fantasy author Sir Terry Pratchett, she grew up surrounded by creativity and storytelling.
Childhood and Education
1980s - 1990s
Details about Rhianna Pratchett's specific schools and academic achievements during her childhood are not widely available, but it is known that she received a formal education and was exposed to a wide range of literature and creative influences through her family. Her father's work undoubtedly shaped her own creative sensibilities.

Notable Video Game Writing Projects

Overlord
2007
Rhianna Pratchett wrote the script for Overlord, a darkly humorous action role-playing game where players control an evil Overlord. The game was well-received for its unique premise and witty writing.
Mirror's Edge
2008
She served as the Senior Writer on Mirror's Edge, a first-person action-adventure game known for its distinctive parkour gameplay and minimalist aesthetic. She was responsible for creating the story and characters.
Tomb Raider (Reboot)
2013
Rhianna Pratchett was the lead writer for the Tomb Raider reboot, a critically acclaimed reimagining of the Lara Croft origin story. Her work focused on crafting a more vulnerable and relatable character for Lara, leading to critical acclaim.
Heavenly Sword
2013
Pratchett worked as the writer for the game Heavenly Sword, known for its narrative focus and cinematic presentation.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
2015
Rhianna Pratchett contributed to the writing of Rise of the Tomb Raider, the sequel to the 2013 reboot. She continued to develop Lara Croft's character and expand the game's narrative.

Awards and Recognition

Writers Guild of America Award Nomination
2013
Rhianna Pratchett received a nomination from the Writers Guild of America for her work on Tomb Raider (2013), recognizing the quality and impact of her writing on the game's narrative. The nomination was for Outstanding Achievement in Writing for Video Games.

Themes and Style in Writing

Strong Female Characters
Throughout her career
Rhianna Pratchett is known for her ability to write strong, complex, and relatable female characters. Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider reboot is a prime example, where she focused on creating a more vulnerable and human portrayal of the iconic character.
Humor and Wit
Throughout her career
Her writing often incorporates humor and wit, adding depth and engagement to the narrative. The Overlord series demonstrates her ability to blend humor with darker themes.
Emotional Depth and Character Development
Throughout her career
Rhianna Pratchett prioritizes character development and emotional depth in her stories. She focuses on crafting believable motivations, relationships, and internal conflicts for her characters.
Articles
0
Notes collections
0
Notes
0
Days in Chronicle
1
30 December, 1976
Rhianna Pratchett, the English video game writer and journalist, was born in Rowberrow, Somerset, England. She is known for her work on video games such as Heavenly Sword, Mirror's Edge, and Tomb Raider, as well as being the daughter of fantasy writer Terry Pratchett. This date marks the beginning of her life and career in writing.
Brief
Known For
Video game writing, particularly for "Heavenly Sword", "Overlord", "Mirror's Edge", "Tomb Raider" (2013), "Rise of the Tomb Raider", and "Shadow of the Tomb Raider".
Key Dates and Places
  • Born Date: 30 December 1976.
  • Born Place: England.
Career
  • Current occupation: Video game writer and journalist.
  • Past occupations: Games journalist (formerly worked for magazines such as "PC Zone").
  • Current Place of Work: Freelance.
  • Previous Place of Work: "PC Zone", Various game development studios (e.g., Ninja Theory, Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montréal).
Achievements and Recognition
  • Awards: She won a Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award for her work on "Heavenly Sword", and a BAFTA for "Tomb Raider" (2013). Nominated for several other awards for her writing on various games.
Main Milestones
Birth in England
December 30, 1976
Rhianna Pratchett was born into a literary household as the daughter of Terry and Lyn Pratchett. Growing up immersed in a world of stories undoubtedly shaped her creative imagination and fostered a deep appreciation for narrative, even if she initially resisted following directly in her father's footsteps.
Early Journalism and Writing
Early Career (Late 1990s - Early 2000s)
Rhianna began her professional journey as a journalist and writer, contributing to various publications. This period honed her writing skills and allowed her to explore different subjects, providing a foundation for her later narrative work in video games. She cut her teeth in the world of online gaming through publications like PC Zone, developing an understanding of the gaming landscape from the perspective of the press.
Beyond Divinity
2002
Rhianna Pratchett's first credited work in video games was writing for the game 'Beyond Divinity'. This marked her formal entry into the gaming industry. This was significant as it was Rhianna's first experience of video game writing, which was initially brought about as a result of her early journalism, particularly her work at PC Zone.
Overlord
2007
Working on 'Overlord' allowed Rhianna to showcase her talent for dark humor and wit, contributing to the game's distinctive personality. This title helped establish her as a versatile writer capable of handling different tones and genres. Her experience with the Discworld universe, created by her father, may well have been a valuable source of ideas for working with such a quirky title.
Mini Ninjas
2009
Rhianna's work on 'Mini Ninjas' demonstrated her ability to write for a younger audience while still maintaining engaging and compelling storylines. This project broadened her portfolio and showcased her versatility as a narrative designer.
Tomb Raider (Reboot)
2013
Rhianna Pratchett served as the lead writer for the critically acclaimed 'Tomb Raider' reboot. This was a major turning point in her career. She was responsible for crafting a compelling origin story for Lara Croft, reinventing the iconic character for a new generation. The game's success solidified her reputation as one of the leading narrative designers in the industry.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
2015
Rhianna continued her work on the 'Tomb Raider' franchise as the lead writer for 'Rise of the Tomb Raider.' Building on the foundation established in the reboot, she further developed Lara Croft's character and explored new facets of her personality and motivations. This cemented her work in the minds of Tomb Raider fans.
Death of Terry Pratchett
March 12, 2015
The passing of her father, Sir Terry Pratchett, marked a deeply personal and significant moment in Rhianna's life. While professionally successful, this event undoubtedly had a profound impact on her, influencing her perspectives and potentially shaping her future creative endeavors. The creative shadow cast by her father must have been overwhelming, making his loss a significant turning point in her life.
Continued Narrative Design and Writing
Post-Tomb Raider (2016 - Present)
Following her work on the 'Tomb Raider' series, Rhianna has continued to contribute to various video game projects, further establishing herself as a sought-after narrative designer and writer. Her passion and contributions to the art of video game storytelling continue to have a lasting impact on the industry.
Rhianna Pratchett

Rhianna Pratchett (born 30 December 1976) is an English video game writer and journalist.[2][3] She has worked on Heavenly Sword (2007), Overlord (2007), Mirror's Edge (2008) and Tomb Raider (2013) and its follow up, Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015), among others. She is the daughter of fantasy writer Terry Pratchett.[4]

Key Information

Career

[edit]

Rhianna Pratchett studied journalism at the London College of Printing. Following graduation, Pratchett began writing for Minx magazine, where her first games reviews were published.[5] She moved to the long running PC Zone magazine[6] as an editorial assistant, staff writer, eventually becoming a section editor. She wrote for many other publications including The Guardian.[7]

Pratchett moved into script writing and narrative design in 2002 with Beyond Divinity, produced by Larian Studios in Belgium.[8] She also wrote a novella to accompany the game. In 2007, her work on Heavenly Sword was nominated for a BAFTA and a year later she won a Writers' Guild of Great Britain 'Best Videogame Script' award for Overlord.[9] Pratchett wrote the comic Tomb Raider: The Beginning with Dark Horse and the Mirror's Edge miniseries with DC Comics, along with several of her own short stories. She has contributed to various books on games narrative including Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing and Game Writing: Narrative Skills for Videogames.[10]

Since 2012, she has been co-director of Narrativia Limited, a production company which holds exclusive multimedia and merchandising rights to her father Terry Pratchett's works following his death.[11] In 2012 and 2013, Narrativia announced that it would be working on three television projects based on Pratchett's father's works: The Watch, Good Omens, and Wee Free Men, as well as several other projects; Pratchett was reported as co-writer of The Watch[12][13] but in 2019 she announced she had not been involved in the project "for many years".[14] In a deal announced in April 2020, multiple Discworld novels are to be adapted for television by Narrativia, Motive Pictures and Endeavor Content.[15]

She has also spoken on BBC Radio 1, Radio 4, 5Live and multiple conferences around the world, including Develop, Animex, GDC and TEDx Transmedia.[16] In June 2015, she said that her father's 41st Discworld novel The Shepherd's Crown, to be published posthumously later that year, would mark the end of the series, and that no further novels or books of unfinished work would be authorised for publication.[17]

In 2023, Pratchett hosted her first radio programme, Mythical Creatures, a ten-part documentary series for BBC Radio 4 about creatures from British folklore. It was first broadcast from 18–29 December 2023.[18]

Works

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Video games

[edit]

Gamebooks

[edit]

Other books

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Tabletop games

[edit]
  • Bardsung (lead writer and narrative designer) – Steamforged Games[39]

Comics

[edit]

Film and television

[edit]

Pratchett has appeared in the documentaries Games Britannia,[41] Critical Path[42] and Charlie Brooker's How Video Games Changed the World.[citation needed]

Achievements

[edit]
  • Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015) – Won Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing at 68th Writers Guild of America Awards 2016.[43] Won Outstanding Achievement in Character for Lara Croft at 19th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards 2016[44]
  • Risen (2009) – co-nominated for a WGGB award 2010.[45]
  • Won the European Women in Games Hall of Fame Award in 2013.[46]

References

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