{{Short description|British video game writer and narrative designer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Use British English|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Tom Jubert | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1985}} | occupation = Video game writer, Narrative designer | website = https://sites.google.com/site/tjubert/ }}
'''Tom Jubert''' (born 1985) is a British video game writer and narrative designer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/07/22/tom-jubert-talks-projects-plots-penumbra/|title=Tom Jubert Talks Projects, Plots, Penumbra|last=Denby|first=Lewis|date=2010-07-22|website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref> He is best known for his work on many high-profile games, including ''Subnautica'', ''FTL: Faster than Light'', ''The Talos Principle'', and ''The Swapper''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/writer-tom-jubert-ftl-binary-domain-to-write-the-story-for-subnautica-296100.phtml|title=Writer Tom Jubert (FTL, Binary Domain) to write the story for Subnautica|website=Destructoid|language=en|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref> Although he has worked on AAA games, most of his work has been on smaller indie titles.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/10/05/telling-tales-the-art-of-game-stories-in-2011|title=Telling Tales: The Art Of Game Stories In 2011|last=Denby|first=Lewis|date=2011-10-05|website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref>
== Biography == Jubert went to the University of Southampton, where he did one year of computer science before changing majors to English and philosophy, graduating best-in-class in 2007. He also holds an MA in philosophy from King's College London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://litshowcase.org/content/the-narrative-designer/|title=The Narrative Designer - International Literature Showcase|website=The Narrative Designer|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.study.eu/article/make-games-dude-tom-jubert-on-how-to-become-a-game-developer-interview|title="Make games, dude": Tom Jubert on how to become a Game Developer (Interview)|access-date=2018-04-17|language=en}}</ref>
In 2007, Jubert received his first writing job in the game industry, writing the story of ''Penumbra: Overture'', as well as voicing the protagonist Philip.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/07/21/rps-interview-penumbras-tom-jubert/|title=RPS Interview: Penumbra's Tom Jubert|last=Walker|first=John|date=2008-07-21|website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref> In 2008, he wrote the sequels as well, ''Penumbra: Black Plague'', for which he was nominated for a Writer's Guild of Great Britain award,<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://www.develop-online.net/analysis/30-under-30/0116351|title=30 Under 30|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref> and ''Penumbra: Requiem''.<ref name=":3" /> Despite the fact that the games' stories were positively received, he stated that, looking back on the game, he believed that it was "far too text-heavy", as the bulk of the story was communicated via diary entries.<ref name=":2" />
In 2009, Jubert wrote and developed the text adventure ''Ir/rational'', which was originally a minigame from the ''Penumbra'' series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/12/15/irrational-are-you-human/|title=ir/rational: Are You Human?|last=Meer|first=Alec|date=2009-12-15|website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref> It was later followed in 2012 by ''Ir/rational Redux'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-23-ir-rational-redux-a-puzzler-unlike-anything-youve-played-before|title=Ir/rational Redux: a puzzler unlike anything you've played before|last=Gibson|first=Ellie|date=2012-07-23|website=Eurogamer|language=en-UK|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref> and in 2013 by ''Ir/rational Investigator''.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/04/03/logic-noir-irrational-investigator/|title=Logic Noir: Ir/rational Investigator|last=Walker|first=John|date=2013-04-03|website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref> These games were described as logical deduction games with witty writing and humor.<ref name=":5" />
In 2010, Jubert worked as a narrative designer on the game ''Driver: San Francisco'', as well as localizing the script of ''Lost Horizon'' for a western release.<ref name=":0" /> In 2012, he wrote the story for the game ''FTL: Faster than Light''.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-10-22-from-the-mind-behind-ftl-comes-the-swapper-a-philosophical-platformer|title=From the writer behind FTL comes The Swapper, a philosophical platformer|last=Haske|first=Steve|date=2012-10-22|website=Eurogamer|language=en-UK|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref> In 2013, he wrote ''The Swapper'', and in 2014, ''The Talos Principle''. That year, he was included in Develop Online's "30 Under 30", which mentioned that he was described by Rhianna Pratchett as one of the game industry's best up-and-coming writers.<ref name=":4" /> In 2015, he wrote a new story mode for the game ''The Masterplan'' prior to the game's release from Steam Early Access.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/05/20/the-masterplan-release-date/|title=The Masterplan To Leave Early Access With Story Mode|last=Alexander|first=Jem|date=2015-05-20|website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-26}}</ref> The same year, he was also hired to add a story to the game ''Subnautica'' while the game was in Early Access.<ref name=":1" />
== Game Writing Credits == Source:<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jubert |first1=Tom |title=Tom Jubert: Writing Portfolio |url=https://sites.google.com/site/tjubert/about-1}}</ref> * ''The Talos Principle 2'' (2023) * ''Subnautica: Below Zero'' (2019) * Subnautica (2014) * ''The Talos Principle'' (2014) * ''FTL: Faster Than Light'' (2012) * ''Binary Domain'' (2012) * ''Driver: San Francisco'' (2011)
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jubert, Tom}} Category:1985 births Category:British video game programmers Category:Living people Category:Writers from London Category:British video game writers Category:British video game designers Category:Alumni of King's College London Category:Alumni of the University of Southampton