Emma Alpert
Aspiring Game Writer / Narrative Designer
Rising fourth-year student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, studying Interactive Media and Game Development (IMGD) on a Bachelor of Arts track with a Concentration in Writing.Experience with...
Character Development
Interactive Narrative
Worldbuilding
Dialogue Writing
Quest Design
Lore Writing
Iterative Game Development Process
Project Management
For more detail on my skills and experience, click the button below!
* NO A.I. - No section, portion, or excerpt of this work may be used to train artificial intelligence and/or LLMs without explicit written consent from the author. Similarly, no A.I. was used to write or create any portion of the text found in this portfolio.
Skills + Experience
Skills
Technical:
ink (interactive narrative)
Godot
Communication: Slack, Discord, Teams, Zoom
Google Suite (Docs, Slides, Sheets, etc.)
Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Powerpoint, Excel, etc.)
Organization: Notion, Trello, Miro
Canva
Other:
Languages: English (native), Spanish (intermediate)
Teamwork + collaboration
Time management
Attention to detail
Communication
Leadership
Relevant Coursework
Storytelling in Interactive Media and Games
Creative Writing: Fiction
Social Issues in Interactive Media and Games
The Game Development Process
Narrative Design for Interactive Media and Games
Advanced Creative Writing: Fiction
Writing Characters for Interactive Media and Games
Critical Studies of Interactive Media and Games
Resume
Project Experience
Co-Producer - Gompelope's Grand Ghostly Garden Games
> As one of two "puppet masters", I led a class of 23 students in the creation of a small-scale alternate reality game (ARG), which ran for a week on our college campus. I ensured that each of the four sub-teams (art, writing, puzzles, and tech) were communicating and staying on track with the production schedule.Producer, Writer, and Level Designer - Goodbye, World!
> In a team of four, I helped create a prototype of a game concept for a class project. In collaboration with our artist, I created two characters for our game. I also wrote dialogue, laid out the environment using a tilemap in Godot, and produced, ensuring the team was meeting deadlines and communicating effectively.Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP) - Assessing the Community Impact of Theater Alliance
> Alongside three fellow WPI students, we worked on a 15-week social science research project to assess the community impact of Theater Alliance, a non-profit theater organization located in Washington, D.C., that is dedicated to producing socially conscious and thought-provoking work. This project consisted of a 7-week preliminary research period, and an 8-week period onsite in Washington, D.C.
> Our final report can be found here, and it is also located in the academic writing section of my portfolio.
* NO A.I. - No section, portion, or excerpt of this work may be used to train artificial intelligence and/or LLMs without explicit written consent from the author. Similarly, no A.I. was used to write or create any portion of the text found in this portfolio.
under construction!
Character Profiles
(Verdict, Avalon, maybe Rox)
* NO A.I. - No section, portion, or excerpt of this work may be used to train artificial intelligence and/or LLMs without explicit written consent from the author. Similarly, no A.I. was used to write or create any portion of the text found in this portfolio.
World and Setting
The Azarran Expanse ( Fantasy / Western / Desert )
Setting Summary:
The Azarran Expanse is a desert nation with a wide variety of dangers, from sandstorms to the terrifying creatures that wander the dunes. It’s the shortest, yet riskiest path between the two nations that lie on either side of it. Are you willing to brave the Expanse?
Setting & Premise Description:
Said to be a region created by the god of fire, Azar, the Azarran Expanse is a dry and desolate desert. With only two small oases in the south, it’s difficult to sustain life out here. The Expanse is home to a number of dangers, including cactus dryads, giant scorpions, and intense mirages that are said to rival a siren’s song.The Azarran Expanse, to many, isn’t a place you’d want to visit. However, the Expanse is wedged between two other nations, Port Cielia (to the west) and the kingdom of Soralya (to the east), meaning that cutting through the Expanse is the fastest option for travelers who don’t want to journey all the way around. Locals from Heliodora Village offer their guidance to those who travel through the region, being the only people who know the true dangers of the Expanse. Most travelers know to stay hydrated and to mitigate the heat, but only the locals know the signs of an oncoming sandstorm or the familiar rumbling of a sand worm about to surface. Don’t forget about the living sand dunes that’ll swallow you whole! As guides, Heliodoran locals are often given goods or gold for their aid through the hazardous Expanse. Additionally, the Expanse is rich with minerals, providing the locals with something extra to trade and/or sell to those that pass through the nation.Lately, though, the Azarran Expanse has become a hotbed for those trying to outrun the law. Whether thieves or pirates who got caught stealing from Port Cielia, or corrupt mercenaries on the run from Soralya, these criminals have come to realize they’d rather face the desert than potential jail time. Between the Port’s upcoming festival and a recent assassination attempt on Soralya’s king, neither nation has spare guards to send chasing into the Expanse after these ruffians. With an influx of evildoers entering the region, the people of Heliodora Village are worrying for their own safety. Scouts from the village have reported that the criminals have set up a camp in Torchlight Mesa, banding together under a new name - the Cinders.When evidence surfaces of a dastardly plot by the Cinders to turn Heliodora Village into a smuggling center, some gunslinging and magic-wielding Heliodoran vigilantes emerge, seeking to protect their beloved home. As tensions mount, life in the Azarran Expanse grows more uncertain than ever before.
Regions:
Azar’s Flats: The desert sands that make up most of The Expanse. Contains a multitude of dangers- watch out for the dust storms and sand worms! Not for the faint of heart.
Torchlight Mesa: Red rocky outcroppings, with numerous caves tucked away at the bases of these steep cliffs. Recently, outlaws calling themselves the Cinders have set up camp here.
Heliodora Village: Named after the sun goddess, Helia, this is the only settlement in The Expanse that you’ll find on a map. Looks like a town straight out of the Wild West. Known for its kindness and work ethic.
Azar’s Peaks: A number of small volcanoes home to magma elementals. According to ancient legend, Azar himself may dwell within the tallest volcano. There’s no telling when they might erupt next.
Some Quest Hooks:
Overall:
An archaeology team found ancient weapons buried throughout the region, inscribed with symbols of long-forgotten heroes
A small band of criminals is making their way towards Heliodora Village
Azar's Flats:
A family of giant scorpions has been spotted roaming the region
Mirages are beckoning people into the sands
Torchlight Mesa:
There are whispers that the criminal camp is performing a dark ritual
Heliodora Village:
There are rumors that the tavern is going to be robbed soon
Mysterious vigilantes have emerged, and no one knows who they are
Azar's Peaks:
Someone claims to have spotted Azar standing atop one of the volcanoes
A young dragon flies over the Peaks at night
* NO A.I. - No section, portion, or excerpt of this work may be used to train artificial intelligence and/or LLMs without explicit written consent from the author. Similarly, no A.I. was used to write or create any portion of the text found in this portfolio.
under construction!
Dialogue and Barks
(Avalon)
* NO A.I. - No section, portion, or excerpt of this work may be used to train artificial intelligence and/or LLMs without explicit written consent from the author. Similarly, no A.I. was used to write or create any portion of the text found in this portfolio.
under construction!
Environmental and Items
(Kam Lore Journals)
* NO A.I. - No section, portion, or excerpt of this work may be used to train artificial intelligence and/or LLMs without explicit written consent from the author. Similarly, no A.I. was used to write or create any portion of the text found in this portfolio.
under construction!
Academic Writing
(IQP, Wanderstop analysis?)
* NO A.I. - No section, portion, or excerpt of this work may be used to train artificial intelligence and/or LLMs without explicit written consent from the author. Similarly, no A.I. was used to write or create any portion of the text found in this portfolio.