Interesting Choice is an experimental interactive live-action dramatic webseries where the viewers decide what happens. This presentation explores our approach to crafting an interactive narrative with this project.

1. Designing an Approach to Interactive Narrative

2. “A game is a series of interesting choices.” - Sid Meier

3. The Project Interesting Choice is an interactive live action dramatic webseries.

4. The Project At the end of each short 3-5 minute episode, viewers are presented with three multiple-choice questions about the next episode.

5. The Project Viewers are directed to a poll on the Interesting Choice website, where they can collectively determine the course of the series.

6. The Project Even the genre and format of the series were decided by viewers before the first full episode was produced. Episode 0 Poll Results: 1. What should the genre be? A. Film noir (10, 38%) B. Sci-fi (8, 31%) C. Horror (8, 31%) 2. What should the setting be? A. A playroom (10, 38%) B. A forest (9, 35%) C. Mars (7, 27%) 3. There should also be… A. A character that doesn’t speak (9, 35%) B. Handcuffs (5, 19%) C. A fish (12, 46%)

7. The Project After closing each poll and tabulating the results, we had a week’s turnaround time to: Brainstorm the next plot Write, workshop, and rewrite the script Cast actors Assemble sets and props Storyboard the episode Shoot the episode Edit the episode Write the next set of poll questions and answers Publish and distribute the episode

8. The Project The series was produced on a weekly basis for three weeks, with the introductory video and two full episodes released.

9. The Project A third full episode, the series finale, is currently in production and will debut this week. Episode List

10. Aims Interesting Choice aims to address several common problems in other forms of interactive narrative:

13. Surplus content

15. Surplus content

16. Railroading

18. Surplus content

19. Railroading

20. Lack of meaningful choice

22. Surplus content

23. Railroading

24. Lack of meaningful choice

25. Conflation of story and game

27. Surplus content

28. Railroading

29. Lack of meaningful choice

30. Conflation of story and game

32. Surplus content

33. Railroading

34. Lack of meaningful choice

35. Conflation of story and game

36. Unsatisfying dramatic outcomes

38. Surplus content

39. Railroading

40. Lack of meaningful choice

41. Conflation of story and game

42. Unsatisfying dramatic outcomes

43. No preauthoredcontent

45. Surplus content

46. Railroading

47. Lack of meaningful choice

48. Conflation of story and game

49. Unsatisfying dramatic outcomes

50. No preauthoredcontent

51. Everyone sees the same content

53. Surplus content

54. Railroading

55. Lack of meaningful choice

56. Conflation of story and game

57. Unsatisfying dramatic outcomes

58. No preauthoredcontent

59. Everyone sees the same content

60. No predetermined destination

62. Surplus content

63. Railroading

64. Lack of meaningful choice

65. Conflation of story and game

66. Unsatisfying dramatic outcomes

67. No preauthoredcontent

68. Everyone sees the same content

69. No predetermined destination

70. Every choice has a major impact

72. Surplus content

73. Railroading

74. Lack of meaningful choice

75. Conflation of story and game

76. Unsatisfying dramatic outcomes

77. No preauthoredcontent

78. Everyone sees the same content

79. No predetermined destination

80. Every choice has a major impact

81. No identification with a particular character or valorization of outcome

83. Everyone sees the same content

84. No predetermined destination

85. Every choice has a major impact

86. No identification with a particular character or valorization of outcome

88. Everyone sees the same content

89. No predetermined destination

90. Every choice has a major impact

91. No identification with a particular character or valorization of outcome

92. Available choices and final product handcrafted by writers

94. Everyone sees the same content

95. No predetermined destination

96. Every choice has a major impact

97. No identification with a particular character or valorization of outcome

98. Available choices and final product handcrafted by writers

99. Tight production schedule

101. Everyone sees the same content

102. No predetermined destination

103. Every choice has a major impact

104. No identification with a particular character or valorization of outcome

105. Available choices and final product handcrafted by writers

106. Tight production schedule

107. Lack of personalized experience

109. Everyone sees the same content

110. No predetermined destination

111. Every choice has a major impact

112. No identification with a particular character or valorization of outcome

113. Available choices and final product handcrafted by writers

114. Tight production schedule

115. Lack of personalized experience

116. Hampers plot development (theme, motif, foreshadowing, dramatic arc...)

118. Everyone sees the same content

119. No predetermined destination

120. Every choice has a major impact

121. No identification with a particular character or valorization of outcome

122. Available choices and final product handcrafted by writers

123. Tight production schedule

124. Lack of personalized experience

125. Hampers plot development (theme, motif, foreshadowing, dramatic arc...)

126. Majority rule; individual choices may not prevail

128. Everyone sees the same content

129. No predetermined destination

130. Every choice has a major impact

131. No identification with a particular character or valorization of outcome

132. Available choices and final product handcrafted by writers

133. Tight production schedule

134. Lack of personalized experience

135. Hampers plot development (theme, motif, foreshadowing, dramatic arc...)

136. Majority rule; individual choices may not prevail

137. Unclear motivation for choices

139. Thank you! http://www.interestingchoice.com