School of Computer Science & Information Technology G6DPMM - Lecture 19 Narative

Telling the Story Narrative techniques are very well defined for conventional media Narrative techniques are very well defined for conventional media Conventional media is not interactive Conventional media is not interactive These techniques need modification These techniques need modification NB all effective communication has narrative not just fiction! NB all effective communication has narrative not just fiction!

Narrative Story telling Story telling Communication Communication Story teller and listener Story teller and listener An idea is transferred into the mind of the listener An idea is transferred into the mind of the listener Story as meme Story as meme Ancient stories Ancient stories Narrative is more than relating facts Narrative is more than relating facts Build a world and invite the reader/listener/viewer/user into that world Build a world and invite the reader/listener/viewer/user into that world

Narrative in Game Design Early games rarely had much narrative Early games rarely had much narrative Pong - no narrative Pong - no narrative Space invaders - simplistic narrative Space invaders - simplistic narrative Most modern games have sophisticated narrative Most modern games have sophisticated narrative Overt - cinematic games Overt - cinematic games Subtle - path of progression Subtle - path of progression

Narrative in (non-game) multimedia All forms of media (should) have some form of narrative All forms of media (should) have some form of narrative Consider the plots and sub-plots of a lecture Consider the plots and sub-plots of a lecture Story telling must be appropriate to the task at hand! Story telling must be appropriate to the task at hand! Never patronise Never patronise Never make it gratuitously overt Never make it gratuitously overt A narrative is a chain of linked events A narrative is a chain of linked events Continuity is essential Continuity is essential Design metaphor can be useful Design metaphor can be useful Consider deleting a file! Consider deleting a file!

Levels of narrative Micro-narrative Micro-narrative A logical sequence of events, to achieve a particular task A logical sequence of events, to achieve a particular task Macro-narrative Macro-narrative An overt story - conveying information An overt story - conveying information often this is a scenario often this is a scenario Hidden narrative Hidden narrative Multimedia equivalent of an allegorical novel Multimedia equivalent of an allegorical novel May be overt information - with some subtle (or not so subtle) ulterior motivation (e.g. using a product, advertising etc) May be overt information - with some subtle (or not so subtle) ulterior motivation (e.g. using a product, advertising etc) No narrative No narrative A multimedia mystery tour! A multimedia mystery tour!

Narrative Progression All narrative must progress from start to finish All narrative must progress from start to finish This does NOT mean that it should be linear This does NOT mean that it should be linear It does mean that departure from linearity (decision points) should be planned It does mean that departure from linearity (decision points) should be planned Start Start You only have one chance to make a first impression! You only have one chance to make a first impression! The first few seconds of a multimedia experience The first few seconds of a multimedia experience Making headway Making headway Users must feel they are making progress Users must feel they are making progress Avoid waiting at any cost! Avoid waiting at any cost! How far is there to go? How far is there to go? Users must have some indication of where they are Users must have some indication of where they are

Narrative Progression (2) Interrupting the narrative Interrupting the narrative Inevitable in a non-linear system Inevitable in a non-linear system They should be as discrete as possible (i.e. low cognitive impact) They should be as discrete as possible (i.e. low cognitive impact) Possible to cancel Possible to cancel Possible to easily resume afterwards (i.e. provide contextual information) Possible to easily resume afterwards (i.e. provide contextual information) Reprisal Reprisal Important aspects of the narrative should be reprised Important aspects of the narrative should be reprised This does not mean that they should be repeated (at least not in entirety) This does not mean that they should be repeated (at least not in entirety) Some aspects of them (maybe with a novel slant, interpretation or example) should be repeated Some aspects of them (maybe with a novel slant, interpretation or example) should be repeated Finish Finish There needs to be an actual (and satisfying) end There needs to be an actual (and satisfying) end Ambiguous endings (or no ending at all), take skill to accomplish effectively Ambiguous endings (or no ending at all), take skill to accomplish effectively

Continuity Concept borrowed from film Concept borrowed from film Narrative is broken into blocks Narrative is broken into blocks Continuity ensures that the story seamlessly spans blocks Continuity ensures that the story seamlessly spans blocks Visual continuity Visual continuity The brain will fill in gaps in expectation (e.g. frames of movie, moving lights) The brain will fill in gaps in expectation (e.g. frames of movie, moving lights) Continuity of existence Continuity of existence Items have continued existence - even when you can’t see them Items have continued existence - even when you can’t see them If multimedia items don’t (e.g. if they suddenly appear or disappear), then the narrative is disrupted If multimedia items don’t (e.g. if they suddenly appear or disappear), then the narrative is disrupted

Continuity (2) Continuity of narrative Continuity of narrative Being able to follow what is going on Being able to follow what is going on Provide enough contextual information to interpret multimedia Provide enough contextual information to interpret multimedia Provide feedback to the overall story as well as specific events Provide feedback to the overall story as well as specific events Continuity of belief Continuity of belief System must display sensible “believable” behaviour System must display sensible “believable” behaviour Users must trust the system Users must trust the system

User Control Who is telling the story Who is telling the story System in control System in control The system tells the story to the user The system tells the story to the user Watching a video or animation - or listening to speech! Watching a video or animation - or listening to speech! User in control User in control The user “discovers” the story The user “discovers” the story In browsing there may be no narrative In browsing there may be no narrative Some browsing (especially in games) has users actively looking for the narrative Some browsing (especially in games) has users actively looking for the narrative Joint control Joint control Alternation between system and user control Alternation between system and user control Simulation games / snap to grid Simulation games / snap to grid

User Control (2) Granularity of control Granularity of control If the user is in control how much control? If the user is in control how much control? May be very limited (e.g. Lost Animals) May be very limited (e.g. Lost Animals) May be almost complete (e.g. immersive VR) May be almost complete (e.g. immersive VR) Low granularity is easier to script Low granularity is easier to script High granularity control makes narrative harder High granularity control makes narrative harder The illusion of control The illusion of control Sometimes the system is in control, but there is enough interactivity for the user to feel in control Sometimes the system is in control, but there is enough interactivity for the user to feel in control For example decision points that all come (via minor variation) to the same place For example decision points that all come (via minor variation) to the same place

And Finally…

Multimedia as Art The new literature The new literature Interactive poetry Interactive poetry Multimedia novels Multimedia novels Interactive music Interactive music