JOHN LANE - NARRATIVE DESIGNER - WRITER
I’ve been designing narrative for the gaming industry for almost a decade, and writing stories since I first learned to hold a pen.
Know Your Story
When you work with narrative in the gaming industry, one thing is absolutely essential: knowing the story. Not the mission or quest or tale we want to write, but the story of the world in which that tale takes place.
You have to know the ins and outs of how that world works, the people who populate it, the heroes and villains, the culture and politics. Sometimes, that’s easy, when you’re lucky enough to work on an IP that’s not just famous, but one you love. Other times, you must learn and immerse yourself in new lore.
Then there are the times when you are there from the beginning, working with the entire team to build a game from scratch. Whichever stage your project is at, whatever the IP, I’m always ready to dive into its world, to live and breathe it, so I can create the best, most cohesive and compelling narrative for your game.
Narrative Design Work
All the Feels
A Star Trek Fleet Command Mission
A story based on the Strange New Worlds Trek franchise that features Spock aboard an unusually emotional Vulcan vessel
Imbalance
A Star Trek Fleet Command Mission
A DS9 story where Captain Sisko is asked by the prophets of the Bajoran wormhole to retrieve one of their own who has fled into real space
Testimonials
“You don't play it safe. You go for the adventure and to challenge the players. This is an amazing creative quality and your biggest strength. Your missions are never "go fix the thing over there and fight the guy, then go home." They're always a journey.”
Brian Lelas,
Lead Game Designer, Star Trek Fleet Command, Scopely
"A narrative designer with real voice, John taps into both existing IP and original characters to create missions that come to life and keep players engaged for years."
Sam Marklew,
Producer, Star Trek Fleet Command, Scopely
Blog Musings
Random thoughts and opinions and culture, politics and entertainment.