Evaluate Video Game Writer candidates across 4 weighted areas: body of work, craft and technique, reliability and process, and presence with an audience. Body of work leads at 35%, so ask for shipped titles with their exact narrative credit: quests written, barks logged, cinematics scripted, word counts, and whether the work survived. Use the rubric to compare role-specific evidence consistently.
For body of work, look for evidence the candidate names shipped titles, owned questlines or characters, approximate word counts, and can point to specific lines players quote back. For craft and technique, look for evidence the candidate discusses state tracking, reactivity, and branch collapse fluently; writes to engine and localisation constraints without losing voice.
Apply the written 1–5 anchors to every answer, record the evidence behind each rating, and use the factor weights to reach a consistent overall assessment.
Complete evaluation framework
What to assess and how to score it
Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.
01
Evaluation factor
Body of work
35% weight
Ask for shipped titles with their exact narrative credit: quests written, barks logged, cinematics scripted, word counts, and whether the work survived to release or was cut.
Evidence to listen for
Has work that exists publicly and can be checked
States what they made versus what they contributed to
Can talk about range as well as their signature style
Knows how the work was received and by whom
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Nothing finished or public; describes intentions rather than output.
2
Needs Improvement
Small or unverifiable body of work; unclear personal contribution.
3
Satisfactory
Real output with adequate range; reception described vaguely.
4
Very Good
Substantial verifiable work with clear ownership and range.
5
Excellent
Names shipped titles, owned questlines or characters, approximate word counts, and can point to specific lines players quote back.
02
Evaluation factor
Craft and technique
25% weight
Probe how they build branching content: Ink, Twine, articy:draft, Yarn Spinner, conditional flags, barks systems, and writing to strict VO character limits and lipsync constraints.
Evidence to listen for
Can discuss technique concretely rather than in terms of feel or vibe
Names influences and what they took from each
Explains a deliberate choice and the effect it was for
Knows their own weak areas and what they do about them
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
No technical vocabulary; cannot discuss choices behind the work.
2
Needs Improvement
Talks in generalities; choices sound accidental.
3
Satisfactory
Solid craft with some ability to explain decisions.
4
Very Good
Articulate about technique and deliberate about effect.
5
Excellent
Discusses state tracking, reactivity, and branch collapse fluently; writes to engine and localisation constraints without losing voice.
03
Evaluation factor
Reliability and process
25% weight
Check their pipeline habits: lore bibles, narrative design docs, Perforce or Jira workflows, VO recording deadlines, and how they handled scope cuts or a rewrite after a vertical slice.
Evidence to listen for
Meets deadlines and briefs, with evidence
Handles revisions and direction without ego
Describes how they work when the brief is vague or changes late
Has repeat clients, bookings, or collaborators
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Misses commitments; cannot take direction.
2
Needs Improvement
Inconsistent delivery; defensive about revisions.
3
Satisfactory
Reliable on clear briefs; struggles when direction shifts.
4
Very Good
Consistently delivers and adapts; repeat collaborators.
5
Excellent
Hits VO lock dates, keeps continuity documents current, and rewrites fast when level design or scope shifts underneath them.
04
Evaluation factor
Presence with an audience
15% weight
Look for how they pitch and defend narrative in a room of designers: table reads, VO direction sessions, writers' room feedback, and handling creative director notes.
Evidence to listen for
Comfortable performing or presenting on demand, including cold
Reads a room and adjusts
Handles a bad night, a difficult client, or a hostile crowd without unravelling
Represents the employer well in front of others
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Cannot perform or present on request; unravels under pressure.
2
Needs Improvement
Rigid delivery; no read of the room.
3
Satisfactory
Competent in familiar settings; less adaptable in new ones.
4
Very Good
Strong presence and adapts to the room.
5
Excellent
Pitches beats vividly, takes contradictory notes without ego, and directs actors or peers toward the intended read.
Evidence-led prompts
Interview questions for a Video Game Writer
Use these prompts to surface evidence for the weighted factors above and compare candidates against the same role-specific criteria.
01
What types of games have you written for in the past?
02
Have you ever worked on a multiplatform game project?
03
Describe your experience writing for different age groups or audiences.
04
What is your approach to writing conversation dialogue for characters?
05
How do you balance character development and plot progression in your writing?
