Many video games let players create their own, unique stories and adventures. Alasdair Gray explores some of the techniques that game designers are using to create these experiences, and what we can learn from them.

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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?
[Enable captions]
‘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