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Here on The Cult of Me we're joining in the fun! We continue the proceedings with a guest post from Cole Knightly about the influence of video games on his writing.
How Video Games Influenced My Writing
by Cole Knightly
It’s not often I see other authors talk about how video games influence their writing… at least not outside of gaming writers or novelization writers. Console games specifically have always been a huge influence on me, though. Generally, I write horror, psychological thriller/horror, and other paranormal fiction, and its the games with a great story and freaky ambience that inspire me the most in my writing.
“There was a hole here. It’s gone now.”
First, Silent Hill 2 was probably my very first horror game (though, SH 3 was my fav of the series). I’d played a lot of Legend of Zelda (OoT!), Road Rash 3, and Final Fantasy 8, but I’d never played something truly frightening until Silent Hill 2. It’s funny, though. I started out hating the game because I thought it was boring. So I quit playing just before it started getting good and left it for a while. Later, I realized how stupid I was, especially after I finally pushed through to meeting Pyramid Head for the first time. (Anyone who’s played should know what I’m talking about!) After that, the entire Silent Hill franchise became the one I obsessed over most.
“CHRIIIS!”
Another horror series that influenced my writing was Resident Evil. No one can compete with Leon’s groan-worthy wit, and I’d would love to one day have a villain as badass as Wesker. Even though I love the co-op game play of recent games (6 being my favorite), the scares and mood in RE 1&2. Also, one of the things I love about the series is the fact that the women can hold their own and kick butt. It’s sexy and awesome to have strong females, which is why I always try to have them in my own writing.
“Hey, Naomi? Do you have any of that butt medicine on you, by any chance?”
This last one is a game I hadn’t heard of until somewhat recently. Corpse Party is a pixel horror game originally created in RPG Maker software, but it’s one of the best written games I have ever seen. The story and creep factor are what really make this game so amazing. Even though there are great jump-scares and sometimes hilariously awkward dialogue, the characters and the narrative are just beautiful. Most of the times, the death scenes are written out with intense and lovely writing. It’s probable that if Corpse Party was a novel, it would be the first ever to actually disturb or scare me. I can only dream that one day my writing will be as fierce and wonderful as that of Corpse Party.
Honestly, this list could easily go on forever. I’ve played video games my entire life as a means of escape, as a way to bond with family and friends, and even as a way to immerse myself in a story. My writing wouldn’t be the same without them.
Now Available
After ten months in a mental institution with no end in sight, Jenny Crete tells the story of why she was institutionalized. She had started a new job at Ridley Conner Community College and had begun to notice disturbing and creepy things happening in the school late at night. At first, she thought it was all in her mind. But it ended up being something much more sinister lurking in the shadows.
Portrait of a Ghost
Hopeless. Numb. Abandoned. These are all words Victoria has used to explain how it feels to lose her twin sister Lizzy. After receiving a series of disturbing paintings depicting her sister's suicide, Victoria starts investigating the possibility of murder. To make matters worse, she is being haunted by the ghost of her twin. When she enlists the help of Lizzy’s mysterious boyfriend Evan, Victoria takes her place as a life-model at the local art school to get close to the potential killer. If she doesn't uncover his identity soon, she will become his next victim.
The Temple's Gate Trilogy: Coming Soon...
Cole Knightly writes horror and supernatural thrillers. His debut short story, Portrait of a Ghost, was released in November 2012. Cole has a Masters in Fine Art with a Creative Writing emphasis and teaches adults online and on campus. His Temple's Gate trilogy is expected to be released in 2013.
Learn more at the Cole Knightly website.
Thanks for having me, Michael!
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