The document discusses mystery writing and different types of mysteries. It provides an overview of major mystery writers like Arthur Conan Doyle, who created Sherlock Holmes, as well as Dashiell Hammett and Alfred Hitchcock. Different genres of mystery like cozy mysteries, police procedurals, and hardboiled private eye stories are mentioned. The document also discusses how mystery is used in video games and animation like Scooby-Doo to engage audiences. It poses questions about how to go about writing mysteries and solving mysteries to drive plots forward.

1. ◦ Designer by Day
and
Writer by Night
◦ vgiannoutsos@gmail.com

2.  Setting
 Character
 Conflict
 Plot
 Action (rising/falling)
 Climax
 Resolution
 Conclusion

3. The Big 5 Qs of Mystery
The driving force of Mystery and Suspense

4. ◦ Who?
◦ What?
◦ Where?
◦ When?
◦ Why?

6.  Creator of Sherlock
Holmes
 Over 56 stories
 Crime Fiction
 England

7.  Most Known for Noir
classics, “High Sierra”,
“Little Caesar” and
“Scarface”
 37+ stories
 35+ films
 Most recurring theme
was Redemption
 The appearance of
the “Femme Fatale”

8.  Master of Suspense
 “Birds”, “NXNW”,
“Rear Window” and
“Psycho”
 Creator of the terms:
twist endings,
MacGuffin and crime
psychological

9. From serious to funny…

10.  Over 100 different
animation cartoons,
half of which were
Mystery themed.
 Scooby Doo
 Mystery was not just
about serious
gangsters anymore
 Supernatural elements,
heroic characters and
spy elements

11.  Detective Comics,
first appearance of
Mystery and Hero
theme
 Gritty realism,
gangs, drugs
blackmail

12.  Traditional Mysteries
(Locked Room and
Puzzle Mysteries)
 Legal Thriller
 Medical Thriller
 Cozy Mystery
 Police Procedural
 “hardboiled” –Private Eye

13. How do we go about writing mysteries?
Because you already know your purpose.

14. To figure out the inbetween…
Beginning Middle Ending

15. How do we engage our players?
Practically the same question
we teachers have, how do we
engage our students?
Well any answer from a producer
will be sure to tell you to make
sequels or introduce something
new to the mix.

16. Why should you care?
What does Mystery have to do with it?

19. How does this translate to Games?

20. Mystery is a tool!
 What are you solving?
 What is the purpose?
 How do we come to
a conclusion?

21. World of Warcraft Fables

23. Aspect Ratio Test
(Should appear circular)
Any Questions?

24. ◦ Designer by Day
and
Writer by Night
◦ vgiannoutsos@gmail.com