7. games and storytelling -...
TRANSCRIPT
Game and Learn:
An Introduction to Educational Gaming
7. Games and Storytelling
Ruben R. Puentedura, Ph.D
The Characteristics of Game Stories
Ancestry of Interactive Fiction (Montfort)
• Riddles
• e.g. Riddle of the Sphinx
• Puzzles
• e.g. Detective Mysteries
• Literary machines
• e.g. Queneau’s 100,000,000,000,000 Poems, other OuLiPo works
• Dungeons & Dragons
• AI Conversational Machines
• e.g. ELIZA/DOCTOR, SHRDLU
• Early Computer Games
• e.g. Hunt the Wumpus, Mouse Maze, Trivia
Components of Game Narratives
• Inputs
• commands (in the world) -> diegetic or hypodiegetic (stories within stories)
• directives (about the program) -> extradiegetic
• Outputs
• replies -> diegetic/hypodiegetic
• reports -> extradiegetic
• Characters and Related Types
• Player(s)
• NPC
• Other Persons
Game Spaces and Narrative Architecture (Jenkins)
• Evocative Spaces
• Enacting Stories
• Broad goals/conflicts
• Localized incidents (micronarratives)
• Embedded narratives
• Game as an information space discovered, structured, and restructured by
the player
• Emergent Narratives
• Constructed by the player
Games and Narrative Levels (Frasca)
Level 1: representation and events ("what happens")
Level 2: manipulation modes ("what the player can do")
Level 3: goal rules ("what the player must do to win")
Level 4: meta-rules ("what player modifications to the other three levels are
allowed")
Constructing the Story
The Hero’s Journey (Campbell)
• Three parts to the journey:
• The Departure: the hero is called to adventure
• Someone is in need of aid, and the hero is called upon to help
• The Initiation: the hero undertakes a journey (physical or spiritual) to reach
the goal that will secure the needed aid
• The hero undergoes a process of change
• The Return: the hero accomplishes their task, and aid is rendered
• The hero receives some reward
The Detailed Journey
• The Departure:
• The Call to Adventure
• Refusal of the Call
• Supernatural Aid
• The Crossing of the First Threshold
• Belly of The Whale
• The Initiation:• The Road of Trials
• The Meeting With the Goddess
• Woman as Temptress
• Atonement with the Father
• Apotheosis
• The Ultimate Boon
• The Return:• Refusal of the Return
• The Magic Flight
• Rescue from Without
• The Crossing of the Return Threshold
• Master of the Two Worlds
• Freedom to Live
Character Roles (Propp)
• Main Characters:
• Protagonist (Hero)
• Antagonist (Villain)
• Dispatcher
• Donor
• Helper
• Person Sought-For
• False Protagonist (False Hero)
• Supporting Characters:
• Family Members
• Connectors
Intr
od
uc
tio
n
# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Function
Example
Ab
senta
tion
A m
em
ber
of th
e fam
ily a
bsents
him
/hers
elf.
Inte
rdic
tion
An in
terd
iction is
giv
en t
o t
he h
ero
.
Vio
lation
The in
terd
iction is
vio
late
d.
Reconnais
sance
A v
illain
makes a
n a
ttem
pt
to g
et
info
rmation.
Deliv
ery
The v
illain
gets
info
rmation a
bout
the v
ictim
.
Tric
kery
The v
illain
tries t
o d
eceiv
e t
he v
ictim
.
Com
plic
ity
The v
ictim
is d
eceiv
ed
.
Th
e D
on
or
Se
qu
en
ce
# 12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Function
Example
1st
Donor
Function
The h
ero
is t
este
d b
y a d
onor
of a m
agic
al a
gent.
Hero
’s R
eaction
The h
ero
reacts
to t
he a
gent
or
donor.
Receip
t of A
gent
The h
ero
acq
uires t
he u
se o
f th
e m
agic
al a
gent.
Guid
ance
The h
ero
is le
d t
o t
he o
bje
ct
of searc
h.
Str
uggle
The h
ero
and
villain
join
in c
om
bat.
Bra
nd
ing
The h
ero
is b
rand
ed
.
Vic
tory
The h
ero
defe
ats
the v
illain
.
Liq
uid
ation
The in
itia
l mis
fort
une o
r la
ck is
liq
uid
ate
d.
Th
e H
ero
’s R
etu
rn
# 20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Function
Example
Retu
rnThe h
ero
retu
rns.
Purs
uit
The h
ero
is p
urs
ued
.
Rescue
The h
ero
is r
escued
fro
m p
urs
uit.
Unre
cogniz
ed
Arr
ival
The h
ero
, unre
cogniz
ed
, arr
ives h
om
e o
r els
ew
here
.
Unfo
und
ed
Cla
ims
A fals
e h
ero
pre
sents
unfo
und
ed
cla
ims.
Diffi
cult T
ask
A d
ifficult t
ask is
pro
posed
to t
he h
ero
.
Solu
tion
The t
ask is
resolv
ed
.
Recognitio
nThe h
ero
is r
ecogniz
ed
.
Exp
osure
The fals
e h
ero
or
villa
in is
exp
osed
.
Transfig
ura
tion
The h
ero
is g
iven a
new
ap
peara
nce.
Punis
hm
ent
The v
illain
is p
unis
hed
.
Wed
din
gThe h
ero
is m
arr
ied
and
ascend
s t
he t
hro
ne.
No
tes:
•12–14 c
an a
lso o
ccur
as a
blo
ck p
rior
to t
he 8
–11 b
lock;
•23–24 a
nd
25-2
6 c
an a
lso o
ccur
prior
to 1
9;
•17 c
an o
ccur
betw
een 2
5 a
nd
26.
Th
e B
od
y o
f th
e S
tory
# 8 8a 9 10
11
Function
Example
Villain
yThe v
illain
causes h
arm
to a
fam
ily m
em
ber. -
OR
Lack
A fam
ily m
em
ber
lacks o
r d
esires s
om
eth
ing.
Med
iation
A m
isfo
rtune is
mad
e k
now
n, th
e h
ero
is d
isp
atc
hed
.
Begin
Counte
raction
The h
ero
(seeker) a
gre
es t
o c
ounte
raction.
Dep
art
ure
The h
ero
leave
s h
om
e.
Chara
cte
r Functio
ns
Introduction
#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Function Example
Absentation A member of the family absents him/herself.
Interdiction An interdiction is given to the hero.
Violation The interdiction is violated.
Reconnaissance A villain makes an attempt to get information.
Delivery The villain gets information about the victim.
Trickery The villain tries to deceive the victim.
Complicity The victim is deceived.
The Donor Sequence
#
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Function Example
1st Donor Function The hero is tested by a donor of a magical agent.
Hero’s Reaction The hero reacts to the agent or donor.
Receipt of Agent The hero acquires the use of the magical agent.
Guidance The hero is led to the object of search.
Struggle The hero and villain join in combat.
Branding The hero is branded.
Victory The hero defeats the villain.
Liquidation The initial misfortune or lack is liquidated.
The Hero’s Return
#
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Function Example
Return The hero returns.
Pursuit The hero is pursued.
Rescue The hero is rescued from pursuit.
Unrecognized Arrival The hero, unrecognized, arrives home or elsewhere.
Unfounded Claims A false hero presents unfounded claims.
Difficult Task A difficult task is proposed to the hero.
Solution The task is resolved.
Recognition The hero is recognized.
Exposure The false hero or villain is exposed.
Transfiguration The hero is given a new appearance.
Punishment The villain is punished.
Wedding The hero is married and ascends the throne.
Notes:
•12–14 can also occur as a block prior to the 8–11 block;
•23–24 and 25-26 can also occur prior to 19;
•17 can occur between 25 and 26.
The Body of the Story
#
8
8a
9
10
11
Function Example
Villainy The villain causes harm to a family member. - OR
Lack A family member lacks or desires something.
Mediation A misfortune is made known, the hero is dispatched.
Begin Counteraction The hero (seeker) agrees to counteraction.
Departure The hero leaves home.
Character Functions
THEPARADIGMWORKSHEET
The Story:
ACT I ACT II ACT IIIACT I ACT II ACT III
First Half Second Half First Half Second Half
Dramatic Context Dramatic Context
Plot Point I Plot Point II (approx. 20-30) (approx. 80-90)
SET-UP CONFRONTATION SET-UP CONFRONTATION RESOLUTIONRESOLUTIONCopyright ! 2000 Syd Field
Midpointabout page 60
The Basic Screenplay Paradigm (Field)
25% 75%
50%
17–25% 67–75%
Storytelling for Games (Sheldon)
• Five Major Modes:
• Linear
• Branching
• Controlled Branching
• Web
• Modular
Linear Storytelling
Story Step
A
Story Step
B
Story Step
C
Story Step
D
Story Step
E
Story Step
F
Story Step
G
Linear Storytelling Example:
Portal
Branching Stories
Story Step
C4
Story Step
D4
Story Step
E4
Story Step
F4
Story Step
B3
Story Step
C3
Story Step
D3
Story Step
E3
Story Step
A
Story Step
B2
Story Step
C2
Story Step
D2
Story Step
E2
Story Step
F2
Story Step
G
Story Step
B1
Story Step
C1
Story Step
D1
Branching Stories Example:
La Pucelle Tactics
Controlled Branching
Story Step
B3
Story Step
D3
Story Step
A
Story Step
B2
Story Step
C
Story Step
D2
Story Step
E
Story Step
F
Story Step
G
Story Step
B1
Story Step
D1
Controlled Branching Example:
Grim Fandango
“Web” Stories
Story Step
C4
Story Step
D4
Story Step
E4
Story Step
F4
Story Step
B3
Story Step
C3
Story Step
D3
Story Step
E3
Story Step
A
Story Step
B2
Story Step
C2
Story Step
D2
Story Step
E2
Story Step
F2
Story Step
G
Story Step
B1
Story Step
C1
Story Step
D1
“Web” Stories Example:
Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Modular Storytelling
Perm. 10
Dyn. i
Perm. 13
Dyn. i
Perm. 15
Dyn. i
Perm. 3
Dyn. i
Perm. 6
Dyn. i
Perm. 9
Dyn. i
Perm. 12
Dyn. i
First
Story Step
Perm. 2
Dyn. i
Perm. 5
Dyn. i
Perm. 8
Dyn. i
Perm. 11
Dyn. i
Perm. 14
Dyn. i
Final
Story Step
Perm. 1
Dyn. i
Perm. 4
Dyn. i
Perm. 7
Dyn. i
Modular Storytelling In Action
Perm. 3
Dyn. 3
Perm. 6
Dyn. 4
First
Story Step
Perm. 2
Dyn. 2
Perm. 5
Dyn. 5
Perm. 1
Dyn. 1
Perm. 4
Dyn. 6
Perm. 3
Dyn. 6
Perm. 6
Dyn. 5
First
Story Step
Perm. 2
Dyn. 1
Perm. 5
Dyn. 2
Perm. 1
Dyn. 3
Perm. 4
Dyn. 4
Player A Player B
Modular Storytelling Example:
Far Cry 2
Resources Cited
• The Characteristics of Game Stories:
• Montfort, N. Twisty Little Passages : An Approach to Interactive
Fiction. The MIT Press. (2003)
• Jenkins, H. “Game Design as Narrative Architecture” - in
Wardrip-Fruin, N. and P. Harrigan, First Person: New Media as
Story, Performance, and Game. The MIT Press. (2004)
• Frasca, G. “Simulation versus Narrative: Introduction to
Ludology” - in: Wolf, M.J.P. and B. Perron, The Video Game
Theory Reader. Routledge. (2003)
• Constructing the Story:
• Campbell, J. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Princeton Univ.
Press. (1972)
• “Monomyth.” in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. (accessed June 23, 2009)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monomyth
• Propp,V. Morphology of the Folktale. Univ. of Texas Press.
(1968)
• Proppian Folktale Outline Generator v1.0. Online at:
http://www.stonedragonpress.com/wicca_201/
vladimir_propp/oral_tradition_00_a.html
• Field, S. Screenplay - The Foundations of Screenwriting, Third
Edition. Dell Publishing. (1994)
• Sheldon, L. Character Development and Storytelling for Games.
Thomson Course Technology PTR. (2004)
• Game Videos:
• Portal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSxmDIqI62k
• La Pucelle Tactics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IelsVROEsGo
• Grim Fandango:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtOMCJByp2c
• Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvdC6AOqu8U
• Far Cry 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nn3N9GSSsg
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