The Writer's Guild of America announces plans to honor video game writing for the first time in their next awards ceremony, slated for February 9, 2008 (thanks FiringSquad). They outline the qualifications to be eligible for the WGA Videogame Writing Award, listing November 21, 2007 as the deadline for submissions. Here's a bit:

“Videogames are written and many are written very well. By recognizing the skill and craft of videogame writing, the Writers Guilds intend to raise the profile of these writers so that they can get WGA contracts and benefits for this work. We aim, we shoot, we score,” commented WGAW President Patric M. Verrone.

“Writers are finally being recognized and valued in the videogame industry. Both artistically and financially, videogames matter - and videogame writers matter to the WGA,” commented WGAW New Media Caucus member Jay Lender.

“This is the first time game writers have been honored by their peers in the writing community, and it's an important step toward the WGA's goal of covering everything that moves on a screen,” added fellow caucus member Micah Wright. Both Wright and Lender were instrumental in making the Videogame Writing Award a reality this year.