WGA celebrates videogame writers

2008 nominees include 'Star Wars,' 'Fallout 3'

By BEN FRITZ

LucasArts latest game, 'Star Wars: The Force Unleashed,' was among videogames that got a writing nomination from the Writers Guild.

'Fallout 3'

Darth Vader, Lara Croft and some badly behaved teenagers are all on the Writers Guild's list for the best videogame writing in 2008.

Org on Monday announced the nominees for its second annual videogame writing award. Games getting the nod ranged from some of the year's biggest releases to a small downloadable title:

• "Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3." The newest entry in Electronic Arts' kitschy military strategy game takes place in a parallel universe where WWII never happened;

• "Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble!" A downloadable game from indie developer Mousechief set in a 1920s girls' boarding school;

• "Fallout 3," Bethesda Softworks' critically acclaimed and bestselling post-apocalyptic role-playing game;

 "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed," LucasArts' newest game set in the "Star Wars" universe. "Force Unleashed" takes place between film episodes three and four and explains how the Rebel Alliance was formed;

• "Tomb Raider: Underworld," the latest title featuring adventurer Lara Croft, from British publisher Eidos.

Number of credited writers on the nominated games ranged from two up to "Fallout 3's" 12.

Prize will be given at the WGA Awards on Feb. 7. Nominees and the final winner are picked by committees of the Guild's Videogame Writers Caucus and other members active in game writing.