Even so, the medium does provide another playground for traditional storytellers.  Although story/dialogue-driven games rarely become commercialized hot items, there are plenty in the selection.  Merge that with the fact that you can control (in other words, become) a character rather than simply watch, and you’ve got yourself a killer combination.

Since I am taking into consideration the writing aspect of a video game, they will be console games rather than MMO’s.  No hate intended.  Believe me, I’m a fan like any other and understand how immersive the experience can be.

Indigo Prophecy (a.k.a. Fahrenheit)

Released in 2005, this game is a paranormal thriller that follows the journeys of three main characters through a murder investigation.  The game functions like a choose-your-own-adventure book.  Throughout the game, players have multiple options in both action and conversation that can result in different outcomes.  Although the bible of the story remains intact, the game focuses on the characters, their actions and its subsequent fallout.  The game is like reading a mystery novel, except players get the visual representation of the story in addition to being in the hotseat of the situation.

The game is flawed, but it’s one of the first of its genre and the writing is organic yet captivating.

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune/Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

By now, the Uncharted series has become a commercially viable franchise.  In this instance, the success is truly deserved.  A cross-breed between Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, the series has the advantage of using a one-of-a-kind engine that allows the the game to pop on the screen like no other.  The characters feel incredibly realistic thanks to the visual dynamism, but the writing also makes this action-adventure game a real experience.

Like in a film production, the voice actors actors are required to do motion-capture while speaking their dialogue.  This way, it is not just an actor mouthing the words, but a performance.  Couple that with a terrific story, and both the first and second Uncharted games rank amongst my favorite games of all time.

Final Fantasy series

And you thought I was going to forget.  Pshaw.  No other game company tells a story quite like Square Enix (once upon a time, Square Soft).  Each Final Fantasy game lays out a rich mythology and even richer characters.  In this case, I can honestly say that writing is the foundation of this franchise’s success.  Even in the gaming industry, characters don’t pop without good writing.  At least, they can’t be as memorable as the likes of Sephiroth, Rikku, Cloud etc.

Of course, once you add a terrific musical score, amazing animation and a fun battle system, it’s no wonder Final Fantasy receives so much notoriety.

This is only the tip of the iceberg, but I rest my case.  Given the state of the industry, a well-written story is not a must-have, but you can see what could happen if the visual technology merged with the written word.