Game writers to join union lines

The Writers Guild of America, the professional union for creators of TV and movie scripts, says it's looking to expand by extending membership to those who create the plots for video games.

OK, all together now--"What plots?"

The group plans to launch its New Media Writers Caucus later this month, extending the health coverage, pensions and other benefits to content creators in video games, wireless, Web media and other emerging categories, none of which seem in any danger of approaching even the modest narrative ambitions of the media that gave us "Homeboys in Outer Space" and "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot."

"We feel that new media writers and writer-designers deserve the same support and recognition that the guild offers other professional screenwriters," WGA secretary-treasurer Patric Verrone insisted in a statement.

We're thinking of signing up our cat, who has already mastered the basic plot elements for most games: Run! Jump! Attack!