Narative

Telling a Story

• Three acts:

Story Vocab

• Premise : 1-2 sentence summary of central conflict, theme, setting

The mysterious disappearance of your father drives you out of a fallout shelter into a post apocalyptic wasteland in an effort to search him down.

Story Vocab

• Backstory : The history preceding the start of the game– Establish initial connection/motivation

• In manual, cinematic, early game interactions– Progressive reveal

Story Vocab

• Theme: Deeper meaning of the story– Related to but not the same as key obstacles

Beauty of simplicityCapitalism – effect on the individualChange of power - necessityChange versus traditionChaos and orderCharacter – destruction, building upCircle of lifeComing of ageCommunication – verbal and nonverbalCompanionship as salvationConvention and rebellionDangers of ignoranceDarkness and lightDeath – inevitable or tragedyDesire to escapeDestruction of beautyDisillusionment and dreamsDisplacementEmpowermentEmptiness of attaining false dreamEverlasting loveEvils of racismFacing darknessFacing realityFading beautyFaith versus doubtFamily – blessing or curseFate and free willFear of failureFemale rolesFulfillmentGood versus bad

Greed as downfallGrowing up – pain or pleasureHazards of passing judgmentHeartbreak of betrayalHeroism – real and perceivedHierarchy in natureIdentity crisisIllusion of powerImmortalityIndividual versus societyInner versus outer strengthInjusticeIsolationIsolationism - hazardsKnowledge versus ignoranceLoneliness as destructive forceLosing hopeLoss of innocenceLost honorLost loveLove and sacrificeMan against natureManipulationMaterialism as downfallMotherhoodNames – power and significanceNationalism – complicationsNature as beautyNecessity of workOppression of womenOptimism – power or follyOvercoming – fear, weakness, vice

Patriotism – positive side or complicationsPower and corruptionPower of silencePower of traditionPower of wealthPower of wordsPride and downfallProgress – real or illusionQuest for discoveryQuest for powerRebirthReunionRole of menRole of Religion – virtue or hypocrisyRole of womenSelf – inner and outerSelf-awarenessSelf-preservationSelf-relianceSocial mobilityTechnology in society – good or badTemporary nature of physical beautyTemptation and destructionTotalitarianismVanity as downfallVulnerability of the meekVulnerability of the strongWar – glory, necessity, pain, tragedyWill to surviveWisdom of experienceWorking class strugglesYouth and beauty

Story Vocab

• Setting : World of the story

Immersion

• Immersion : wrapping the player in the story

• Tools– Cinematic– Scripted Events

Dialog Purposes

• Types of talk:– Narration – Monologue– Dialog

• Why talk?– Reveal thought / emotion– Advance / explain the plot– Establish relationships / backstory– Add immersion

Story Vocab

• Plot : the structure of the story– The how more than the what

• Foreshadowing : hinting at later plot developments

• Realism vs Suspension of Disbelief

Game Narrative

• Every story-telling medium offers new tools…• What makes game narrative special?

Interactivity

• Games are Interactive Entertainment– Players shape or create story

Non-Linearity

• Nonlinear storytelling : – Jumping around in timeline

Non-Linearity

• Favorite of movies:

Non-Linearity

• Nonlinearity in games– Jumping in time– Branching narrative– Revisiting decisions