This document provides a summary and analysis of a script for the Max Payne computer game. It notes that the script includes player choices as well as a set narrative. It is comprised mainly of dialogue between characters. There are also descriptions of audio cues and different outcomes based on player choices. The script begins with a murder, disrupting equilibrium. It is part of the action genre, as evidenced by characters like police and criminals. The target audience is predominantly male, ages 15-25, as the action genre and male protagonist would appeal more to men seeking escapism.

1. Max Payne computer game script analysis
This is a computer game script so there is set narrative as well as choices that the
player can make. This is slightly different to the style seen in a film on TV script as the
word ‘OR’ shows an active choice that the player can make rather than being a passive
consumer.
This script is predominantly made up of dialogue which will be recorded by voice actors
and heard within the video game. There is also some information in brackets, this
scripted information can be describing the dialogue. For example [Police Radio], the
dialogue that follows will sound like it is coming through a police radio. It can also be
describing other information that we hear such as [3 gun shots go off]. Since this is an
interactive video game there are also many options that people may choose which is
made clear by the word ‘OR’ and we can see three different choices or outcomes.
The script starts with a prologue scene of an event called ‘the murder’ this is a slightly
different way of storytelling to Todorov’s narrative theory (1967) as we begin with the
destruction of equilibrium.
This video game is part of the action genre, this is made obvious through the narrative
and characters including police, and characters named Thug 1 and Thug 2. The action
genre usually includes fast paced violent scenes as seen in this computer game where
we hear many gunshots and murders.
The target audience for this script is predominantly male due to the action genre which
is stereotypically preferred by men who prefer fast paced, violent themes. Moreover, the
protagonist narrator is male which would appeal more to men as they can relate further
with the characters in the game, thus making the game all the more realistic and more
enjoyable to play. The age for this script would be approximately 15-25, thus making
them lower down on the NRS scale as unlikely they would be in full-time employment.
Regarding the 4C’s scale, they would be the struggler, they will be seeking escapism
from the real world by focusing their time on fantasies such as a video game which
would give them a false sense of power.