Game Narrative

• In this lesson we are going to be looking at what a game narrative is as well as writing a game narrative for existing games and our own game.

• As players of a game we take the narrative and plot of the storyline for granted, but a coherent and well-thought out storyline can make the difference between a good and a great game. The narrative design sets the stage for the game and typically introduces the object or goal of the game. The storyline begins immediately and the opening scenes of any game are often taken over by cut scenes which set the plot and story to come.

• The idea of narrative design has existed in story writing throughout the ages, with all good stories being designed around a beginning, middle and an end.
• The essence of a narrative designer's job is to create a compelling story, to create compelling narrative elements and define the systems and content through which they will be delivered to the player. Narrative design can take many forms, from storyboards to mind maps and even scripts themselves.

• Video game narratives are important to keep the player involved and interested in the game. It helps the player understand what they are expected to do.
• One thing that video games have over movies is that the narrative helps immerse the player in the video game, making the player part of the story.
• The video game story is often supported by both the player's own interactions as well as built-in narratives such as dialogue and built-in animations/cut scenes.

• Role-Playing Games: In this type of video game, the story is the main focal point. Players have to solve mysteries and progress as the story evolves.

• Adventure Games: This type of game gives the player much more freedom to explore. There are one or more main storylines, but the player has the freedom to create their own “mini stories”. These are normally stories in which the player has to solve puzzles or complete challenges to progress.

• Platform games: In this type of game, the narrative isn’t so obvious. There is a story and an objective to reach or mission to complete, but there’s a much greater emphasis on the skill of the player to progress through the game. A lot of the narrative can focus on the characters rather than the story itself.

• Gamebooks are forms of text based adventure books which prompt you with a series of options about what to do next and are the basis for many fantasy games today.

• Do you:
  • Follow the path north (turn to page 12)
  • Open the chest (turn to page 17)
  • Enter the cottage (turn to page 21)
• This type of structure is easily replicated in computer games.

You are standing in front of a small cottage. The door is open and a garden path runs up to the north by the back of the cottage. There is an old chest on the ground in front of you.

• Gamebooks are forms of text based adventure books which prompt you with a series of options about what to do next and are the basis for many fantasy games today.

• Do you:
  • Follow the path north (turn to page 12)
  • Open the chest (turn to page 17)
  • Enter the cottage (turn to page 21)
• This type of structure is easily replicated in computer games.

You are standing in front of a small cottage. The door is open and a garden path runs up to the north by the back of the cottage. There is an old chest on the ground in front of you.

• This is the principle storyline in the game and may weave through several different levels. Traditional storytelling arcs can be applied to games and may cover the emotional rollercoaster that the player's characters follow throughout the game.
• Two main forms of narrative are embedded and emergent. In an embedded narrative the story exists with cut scenes advancing the story at each stage of the game irrespective of the gameplay on screen. The cut scenes could often be watched back-to-back to reveal the plotline of the entire game.

• In an emergent narrative the storyline is undetermined and changeable. This type of narrative is highly evident in games like The Sims in which players manage and develop their characters through a series of choices and random events.

There are four narrative layers:

• Events - these are actions that are carried out in sequence to progress through the game. For example, enemy is attacking > kill enemy > collect points.
• Story persons - are the fictional characters that carry out the events which allow the player to progress through the game.
• Storytelling - the techniques and methods through which the story is portrayed to the player. This could be through dialogue, in game presence, cut scenes etc.
• Narrative situation - this is the broader rules and conventions that dominate the game and is more the cultural circumstances and code of conduct that is followed throughout the gameplay.