SM1205 Interactivity

Assignment 1

NonlinearNonlinear Storytelling Storytelling

Spring 2011 SCM-CityU 1

Topic

• Topic: branching and/or nonlinear storytelling– More than one possible plotlines and/or endings

Spring 2011 SCM-CityU 2

Linear Storytelling

• Single path and single conclusion storyline – Lack of user interaction – NOT what we want!

Spring 2011 SCM-CityU 3

Branching Storytelling• Offer user consequential choices

– Each user decision offers a unique storyline

Spring 2011 SCM-CityU 4

Nonlinear Storytelling

• Offers the user the chance to control the order of the stages between the beginning and end

Spring 2011 SCM-CityU 5

Branching & Nonlinear Storytelling

• Allow the audience to choose from multiple different paths and endings

Spring 2010 SCM-CityU 6

Start End 1

End 2

Spring 2011 SCM-CityU 6

Requirements• Technical

– Flash + ActionScript 3.0– Jumping between key frames with user interaction (ref: album demo)

– Having at least three event listeners • No requirement for event types

– Using if conditionals• Using else or else-if is optional

• Content – Having branching or nonlinear storytelling structure – Supporting user interactivity

• User choices leading to different storylines or endings

• Documentation – Title, motivation, how-to-use, screenshots, references

Spring 2011 SCM-CityU 7

Optional Tasks

• Optional tasks– Write and use your own functions (NOT as event

listeners) • With or without parameters • With or without returning values

– Use multiple else-if statements – Nested if conditionals

Spring 2011 SCM-CityU 8

Submission & Presentation

• Submission – Via ACS

• .fla, .swf, .doc (documentation) files and other files• Max total file size: 30M

– Deadline: 13:00:00, Thursday, 24 Feb, 2011

• In-class presentation, 24 Feb– Each student has roughly 5 minutes for presentation

Spring 2011 SCM-CityU 9

Assessment • Based on

– Implementation difficulty + UI design creativity (80%)– Presentation performance (10%)– Documentation (10%)

• Note: if you use any technique which has not been taught in this course, you must state its source or reference in the documentation clearly– Otherwise, some marks will be deducted

• ActionScript 2.0 is NOT allowed! • No proper indentation in code will cause 5% mark deduction

– Especially for if conditionals and functions

Spring 2011 SCM-CityU 10

References

• Exploring interactive narrative • Flowcharts and story boards• Wiki: nonlinear narrative• Wiki: multiple endings

Spring 2011 SCM-CityU 11