Dive into the compelling world of storytelling with acclaimed author Alex Irvine, known for his immersive contributions to Marvel games, graphic novels, and groundbreaking Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) like I Love Bees. In this episode, Alex shares his insights on creativity, the delicate balance between talent, persistence, and luck, and the intricate art of narrative design across various media formats. From discussing the unique challenges of writing for expansive universes like Marvel's multiverse to recalling his first forays into writing, Alex reveals the true secret ingredient to success. Packed with engaging anecdotes and wisdom, this conversation will captivate aspiring creators, gamers, and narrative enthusiasts alike.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:00] Alex Irvine shares essential advice on becoming a successful writer: "Talent, persistence, luck—pick two."
• [09:00] Discussing how storytelling integrates with gameplay mechanics, using Marvel Rivals as a case study.
• [13:00] Behind-the-scenes insight into early Marvel game universe-building attempts, and how ambitious projects like a Marvel gaming universe unfold.
• [14:00] Crafting "time-stream entanglement" as a narrative device for multiverse stories in Marvel Rivals.
• [22:00] Childhood inspiration from playing Dungeons & Dragons, storytelling roots, and writing early poetry.
• [35:00] Persistence in publishing his first novel, A Scattering of Jades, after years of setbacks.
• [45:00] The exhilarating chaos of writing ARG puzzles and player reactions for I Love Bees.
• [56:00] Alex reflects on the collaborative process of writing comics and the delicate balance between writer and artist.

Thank you for listening to our podcast all about videogames and the amazing people who bring them to life!
Hosted by Alexander Seropian and Aaron Marroquin
Find us at www.thefourthcurtain.com

Join our Patreon for early, ad-free episodes plus bonus content at https://patreon.com/FourthCurtain

Come join the conversation at https://discord.gg/KWeGE4xHfe
Videos available at https://www.youtube.com/@thefourthcurtain
Follow us on twitter: @fourthcurtain
Edited and mastered at https://noise-floor.com

Audio Editor: Bryen Hensley
Video Editor: Sarkis Grigorian
Producer: Shanglan (May) Li
Art: Paul Russel
Community Manager: Doug Zartman
Featuring Liberation by 505