Narrative Lead and Screenwriter at HoYoverse with experience bridging story quality and player experience across large-scale, multi-office teams. I partner closely with creative leadership to shape narrative standards, lead and mentor writers, and craft grounded characters, believable dialogue, and compelling plots for global audiences. I specialize in writing, reviewing, and editing full script and narrative deliverables (including on-screen text, lore, level scripts, and cinematic/dialogue components). I also collaborate with gameplay teams to resolve cross-disciplinary challenges, pitch and co-design narrative gameplay, support playtests with first-time user perspectives, and coordinate VO/casting/recording workflows to ensure consistent voice and tone.…

Alyssa Samson

Narrative Lead and Screenwriter at HoYoverse with experience bridging story quality and player experience across large-scale, multi-office teams. I partner closely with creative leadership to shape narrative standards, lead and mentor writers, and craft grounded characters, believable dialogue, and compelling plots for global audiences. I specialize in writing, reviewing, and editing full script and narrative deliverables (including on-screen text, lore, level scripts, and cinematic/dialogue components). I also collaborate with gameplay teams to resolve cross-disciplinary challenges, pitch and co-design narrative gameplay, support playtests with first-time user perspectives, and coordinate VO/casting/recording workflows to ensure consistent voice and tone.…

Available to hire

Narrative Lead and Screenwriter at HoYoverse with experience bridging story quality and player experience across large-scale, multi-office teams. I partner closely with creative leadership to shape narrative standards, lead and mentor writers, and craft grounded characters, believable dialogue, and compelling plots for global audiences.

I specialize in writing, reviewing, and editing full script and narrative deliverables (including on-screen text, lore, level scripts, and cinematic/dialogue components). I also collaborate with gameplay teams to resolve cross-disciplinary challenges, pitch and co-design narrative gameplay, support playtests with first-time user perspectives, and coordinate VO/casting/recording workflows to ensure consistent voice and tone.

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Work Experience

Lead Narrative Designer / Screenwriter at HoYoverse
December 1, 2024 - Present
Partnered with the Creative Director to align on narrative inspirations and establish narrative standards for story delivery. Led and oversaw a team of English writers, collaborating with teams across Shanghai and Singapore and mentoring three junior writers from international backgrounds. Provided constructive feedback, assigned tasks aligned to individual strengths, and supported growth in an inclusive environment. Crafted quality plots and engaging lore for a global audience, creating grounded, memorable characters and realistic, believable dialogue for a large cast. Wrote, reviewed, and edited narrative text including level scripts, cut scenes, lore, and on-screen text. Pitched and co-designed narrative gameplay systems that enhance story while serving gameplay needs. Advocated for and participated in internal and external playtests, delivering first-time user critique on game narrative effectiveness. Wrote scripts and directed VO for the first trailer. Served as a liaison betwee
Lead Writer / Narrative Designer at Hashbane Interactive
December 1, 2022 - November 30, 2024
Broke overall story, emotional arcs, themes, and plot for a new franchise/IP. Provided direction and authored level scripts, banter, tutorials, cinematics, and combat bark lines. Partnered with the Creative Director and Narrative Director to define character arcs and narrative flow. Built the world by establishing timelines, history, rules, and culture for inhabitants. Produced comprehensive character biographies. Designed systems in which narrative is delivered to players and collaborated with gameplay to create mechanics reflecting characters and themes. Worked directly with the CEO and Narrative Director to ensure the game’s vision was realized. Wrote copy for articles, website content, and PR releases.
Game Writer / Editor at Bandai Namco
December 1, 2021 - July 31, 2023
Wrote scripts for original and flagship IPs (including Tales of Arise, My Hero Academia, Pac-Man, and Gundam), covering quests, dialogue, tutorials, and tooltips. Designed character voices and backgrounds for original IPs. Mentored and empowered associate editors in personal and career development. Prepared scripts and provided VO direction during voice-over sessions to maintain consistent character portrayal across recording. Adapted dialogue and in-game text for translated text when needed, especially for scenarios involving sensitive topics or cultural differences while maintaining overall characterization and plot. Edited localized and English source text for spelling, grammar, tone, and character voice consistency to improve narrative quality.
Writer on God of War Ragnarök at Santa Monica Studio
April 1, 2019 - December 31, 2021
Wrote level banter/dialogue, cinematics, quests, puzzle hints, casting sides, combat barks, and in-game text based pickups and lore. Created original characters and backstory that worked within the existing IP universe. Designed compelling quest narrative using procedural dialogue, mechanics, and rewards to reinforce core game pillars. Collaborated across multiple disciplines to create a seamless gaming experience across gameplay, combat, and level design priorities, centered on player experience. Participated in and supervised motion capture sessions. Managed and maintained level scripts to ensure changes were flagged, implemented, and recorded via Jira, localization asset management databases, and implementation trackers. Timed banter in-game to ensure narrative beats fit level pacing while respecting other mechanics that could interrupt narrative (e.g., combat) or require narrative support (e.g., puzzles or tutorials). Owned and tracked a specific character’s arc, psychology, an

Education

B.A. in English with Creative Writing Emphasis at University of San Diego
August 1, 2013 - May 1, 2017

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Gaming, Media & Entertainment