STORY COMPOSITION PART 1 GAME DESIGN

OBJECTIVES Determine when to add a story to a video game Outline the basic creative writing procedures

VOCABULARY Plot Dramatic Arc Rising Action Climax Falling Action Central Premise

TO ADD OR NOT TO ADD A STORY What is a story? Series of events that describe the process of a character resolving a problem or conflict. Contains a Plot – total sequence of events needed to get to the final resolution

TO ADD OR NOT TO ADD A STORY The beginning of Video Game Stories Used to differentiate between similar game actions Donkey Kong – Mario was motivated to rescue Princess Peach from Donkey Kong. Connected the player to the game play.

TO ADD OR NOT TO ADD A STORY 5 reasons to add a story Add entertainment to the game Define the audience Keep player attention Differentiate the game Integrate with marketing

TO ADD OR NOT TO ADD A STORY Add Entertainment to the Game Gives players a sense of progression as problems are solved Without the entertainment, gameplay may seem repetitive or meaningless Stories are continued through a series of games

TO ADD OR NOT TO ADD A STORY Define the Audience A story will attract the type of audience you have created your game for and allows your audience to connect Intensity and content of the storyline will help determine your rating

TO ADD OR NOT TO ADD A STORY Keep Player Attention Some games take tens of hours to complete. A story line keeps them connected and makes them feel motivated to complete the game. New characters are introduced throughout the game play and story line

TO ADD OR NOT TO ADD A STORY Differentiate the Game Allows users to choose games based on storylines they like. Storylines can be told over a series of new releases of the game, sparking the player to buy each series. Much like chapters in a book.

TO ADD OR NOT TO ADD A STORY Integrate with Marketing The storyline and characters help with the marketing of the game. Attention grabbing storylines and familiar characters help get the buyer’s attention.

CREATIVE WRITING What is Creative Writing? Developing a work of fiction that tells a story with characters, places, and events. A good story has Dramatic Arc: Rising Action Climax in Action Falling Action

CREATIVE WRITING Rising Action - Events that create the basic internal conflict of the story. Climax- Turning point of the story. Most dramatic part of the story. Falling Action- The events that lead to the resolution of the basic conflict of the story.

CREATIVE WRITING Basic Procedures of Creative Writing Brainstorm Ideas Determine the central premise Define the characters Create a primary conflict Structure the story Develop an ending point

CREATIVE WRITING Brainstorm Ideas Brainstorming – recording as many ideas as possible without sorting, editing, or eliminating any of the ideas. Write down any idea as it comes to you. Do not edit or sort the ideas.

CREATIVE WRITING Brainstorm Ideas Think about the components that are already define – Character, Environment, Time

CREATIVE WRITING Determine the Central Premise Sort through the list of ideas. Discard the ideas that are not good. When you have a list of good ideas, take the time to think about each one individually. Develop a final list with the central premise for a story. Central Premise – Basic idea or situation of the story.

CREATIVE WRITING Determine the Central Premise Keys to a Central Premise About 30 words Answer the question “What if…” Identify a character and a conflict Reveal the setting for the conflict Incorporate credible or believable events Make sure it is easily understood by the target audience. Determine if it can be developed into a coherent or complete story. Be sure it contains elements that are different for other stories

CREATIVE WRITING Determine the Central Premise “What if you had to chase a criminal mastermind around the world and try to stop the theft of cultural treasures of the world?”

CREATIVE WRITING Define the Characters Round Characters – Develop and change throughout the story. Main character Flat Characters – Do not develop or change throughout the story. Stock – Standard traits and perform a standard role. Stereotyped – Standard game role but very general characteristics that provide some variation among the same type of characters in the game.

CREATIVE WRITING Create a Primary Conflict Primary conflict is what makes a story a story. Protagonist and antagonist Protagonist and World Within Protagonist Put Character in situation that has risk. The greater the reward, the greater risk to the character.

CREATIVE WRITING Structure the Story Dramatic tension – Feeling of anxiety or anticipation related to the story being told. (Rising action, climax, falling action) Each mission should have its own conflict, climax and resolution, but should propel the original storyline.

CREATIVE WRITING Developing an Ending Point All missions in the game lead to this primary conflict. When this conflict is over, the game is over.

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING What are the 5 reasons a story should be added to a game? What are the 7 basic procedures for creative writing?