interactive storytelling in video games

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Under the influence

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Game narratives are often understood to be predetermined story chunks interspersed with gameplay.

What is interactive storytelling?

This is a story you interact with, not interactive storytelling.

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Interactive storytelling is where the narrative and its evolution can be influenced in real time by the user.

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It risks being overlooked

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Why is it important for us?

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5 Example Methods

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1. Build an interactive narrative

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Games example: morality systems

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1. A situation

2. A choice

3. A result

It’s possible to achieve simply.

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You don’t have to build it from scratch

+

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Where else could we build interactive narratives?

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‘Don’t listen. It’s all lies!’

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2. Be repetitive

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Making games is a long and costly process

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‘Replay’ can be a narrative device

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And it’s not just in indie games

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Could we send our audience back to the start for a different experience?

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3. Make their data the ending

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Surprise, you’ve been monitored!

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Psst… It needs to be a secret

Black and White 1 Black and White 2

Hidden data = creature training Visible data = creature programming

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Can we use audience data to tell them their own personal story?

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4. Narrate the user

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RTkUgov60g

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User actions can trigger story elements

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In another setting, the narration is commentary

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Can we turn existing behaviours into narrative triggers?

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5. Manipulate user communication

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Online games are plagued by trolls

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Their solution: moderate user language

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Turning Player Communication into narrative design

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Then you meet the full cast

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Can we consider another tone of voice?

Through designing user communications:

e.g. How do we want our audience members to appear to each other?

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In summary

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@AlasdairGray