Interactive Digital Storytelling: Synthesizing Storytelling, Training, and Video Game Design Theory Bill Watson Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis

Stories for Training Problem-based Learning Case-based Learning Scenario-based Learning Narrative-based Learning

Interactive Digital Storytelling Primary approaches include: –Generative computer graphics, animated storytelling for film (Massive in LOTR films) –Human-computer interaction (computer agency in interactions) –Computer game design –Artificial intelligence (Spierling, 2005)

Video Games for Training Extremely popular –Anderson and Dill (2000) report that in a survey with a sample of 227, 88% of the female, and 97% of the male college students were video game players. –Out-grossed box office sales in 2002 Increasingly touted for potential for training and instruction –(Aldrich, 2004; Foreman, Gee, Herz, Hinrichs, Prensky, and Sawyer, 2004; Quinn, 2005) Motivation is the promise (flow theory) Support multiple learning outcomes, from behaviorism (practice, feedback and reinforcement) to constructivism (microworlds)

Video Games and Narrative How do games use narrative? Effectively? –Myst –The Sims –Silent Hill –Halo –Tomb Raider –Madden NFL –Half-life 2 –Guitar Hero –Shenmue 2 –Ms. Pacman

Video Games and Narrative Video games utilize narrative in a variety of ways: –Rouse out-of-game (cut-scenes), in-game (dialog, text, game setting, NPC behaviors) external materials (manuals, packaged materials) –Jenkins evocative spaces (draw upon existing narrative competencies- linear) enacting stories (result from player movement- broadly defined goals and localized incidents) embedded narratives (unstructured vs. pre-structured but embedded in game space) emergent narratives (players define goals and create own stories)

Narrative vs. Gameplay “Interactivity is almost the opposite of narrative; narrative flows under the direction of the author, while interactivity depends on the player for motive power.” -Ernest Adams (1999) Designer vs. Player story High level vs. Low level narrative Intensive interactivity can result in forgetting the high level narrative Repetitive gameplay can bore some players while narrative can bore others Player motivations and supported gameplay moves (Lindley, 2005): –Bartle’s achievers, explorers, socializers, and killers –audience: moves for interaction with NPCs and reading material –performer: moves expressing predefined character roles and selection of quests –immersionist: moves deepening immersion, personalization and development of a persona, freedom within context

Narrative vs. Gameplay Structures of interactive narrative (Lindley, 2005): –Tree –Exploratorium (linear structure allowing for exploration) –Parallel plot structure (player can switch between different parallel versions) –Modulated (allows multiple choices, but access to new interactions only possible after different parts of story have been experienced- game levels) –Open structure in which story elements are associated with different physical spaces, allows exploration between spaces (typical of early adventure games) –Open structure with no story-arc (simulation, strategy, MMORPGS)

Truly Interactive Storytelling Object-oriented stories (game objects encapsulate their own story potential) –At low levels, characters advance by interacting with objects, but little impact is made to the narrative at a higher level –The use of plot controllers to pre-define and activate narratives (Chris Crawford’s Erasmatron or Storytron)

Synthesis Start with training goals Define narrative and rules of context Consider competition, motivation and immersion (characterization, drama, back-story, tension, etc.)  Challenge  Curiosity  Fantasy  Control (Malone & Lepper, 1987) Consider trainee interaction, performance, reflection, and feedback both internal and external to the game

In Conclusion Games use narrative in different ways Players are motivated by different types of experiences Different game experiences are conducive to different types of learning There is often a balance between interactivity and narrative Much research is needed and for this occur, game development needs to be made more accessible to the everyday trainer

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