Lisa Brunette was named an ironSource top Medium contributor of 2022 after her article, "The top 5 mistakes game mystery writers make — and how to avoid them" became one of LevelUp's most-loved pieces of the year.

In her article, Lisa pulls from both game-industry and book-publishing experience to identify the most common pitfalls writers face when crafting a mystery for a game. She uses examples from popular mobile games to illustrate her points and offers advice for navigating the complex work that is creating a successful mystery story (a feat that can easily baffle even the most adept writers).

Here's an excerpt:

Whether it’s the vaudeville relic of the mustache-twirling villain or the über-perfect heroine, painting with too broad a brush is tempting when you’re writing game mysteries. But some of the best-known characters in the genre are… complicated. The PI who’s battling her own drug addiction while trying to track down her brother’s killer. A boy who’s pushed to murder his own father in a fit of wild self-preservation. Maybe even the perpetrator of a justified revenge murder. We want to know more about people whose lives occupy the grey areas. The ones in mere black or white? We’ve seen ’em all before.

Our other contributions to ironSource Medium include Dexter Woltman's article, "Punchline: How to use humor to bridge player connection," and Sara Hardin's article, "Who Goes There? The Importance of Writing Distinct Character Voices."

Fans of Brunette Games can expect more industry articles from the team in the future. "We've enjoyed a wonderful partnership with ironSource LevelUp over the past year," says Lisa. "Both our studio and their company share a commitment to furthering knowledge in the game industry, so we're a natural fit. It's awesome to see that readers have responded well, and I'm excited to have the Brunette Games team continue to share our expertise in articles planned for 2023."

We're excited to share a new piece from team member Sara Hardin, recently featured on ironSource LevelUp! In her article, Who Goes There? The Importance of Writing Distinct Character Voices, Sara explains why distinct character voices are a must for telling an engaging story:

The importance of creating an appealing experience where all storytelling elements work in harmony cannot be overstated, and character voice is a huge — and often overlooked — piece of the puzzle.

Read the full article on ironSource's Medium page.

We're excited to share that Brunette Games CCO Lisa Brunette's latest piece for ironSource LevelUp is live! The Top 5 Mistakes Game Mystery Writers Make - and How to Avoid Them covers everything from how to develop your characters with a light hand to how to keep from revealing too much too soon, or too little too late. With hundreds of mystery game titles to her credit, not to mention a bestselling novel series in the genre, Brunette's expertise is tried-and-true:

To avoid the pitfalls of character design, don't be afraid to torture your good guys, or to lend a sympathetic ear to your crooks. We'll feel your hero's win all the more if she's had to prevail against her own worst judgment in order to get there. And a villain is all the more diabolical for her charm.

Read the full article on ironSource's Medium page.