LINEAR VS NON-LINEAR NARRATIVE IN

A discussion with Richard Garriott & Tracy Hickman

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Richard Garriott40 Year Game Industry Veteran

Akalabeth: 1979, one of the very first computer role playing games

Founded legendary studio: Origin Systems (Ultima, Wing Commander) Ultima I – IX: ¤ One of the longest running RPG franchises ¤ 1st computer game in a box ¤ 1st to have extras (maps, trinkets, etc.) 1st Second Generation US Astronaut

Starr Long

20+ Year Game Industry Veteran

Ultima Online: 1997

¤ One of the very first MMORPG’s

¤ Coined the terms “MMORPG”, “rares”, “shards”, etc.

¤ 1st MMO to have player housing

¤ 1st Subscription based model ¤ Longest running commercial RPG in

history

Disney Connected Learning

Tracy Hickman5

NYT Best Selling Author of Dragonlance series of books

Dragonlance & Ravenloft AD&D Modules

Sojourner Tales storytelling board game

Topics6

Blade of the Avatar (novel) & Shroud of the Avatar (game) How did a novelist and a game designer end up working together? Benefits & Challenges of Novelist partnering with Game Designer Differences between Linear and Non Linear How Linear & Non Linear media can influence each other in production

Q&A