1. Narrative Interactive Media
By: Jamie Barr

2. There are many forms of narrative interactive media.
I think it is impossible to determine a favorite style until you have tried multiple forms.
Because of this, my presentation will cover game system based games, simulations, digital stories and interactive blogs.
Analyzing various forms of this media will help to determine the future of narrative interactive media.

3. Game System Based Media
In my opinion, not all
games are forms of
narrative interactive media.
Although they are fun to
play, racing games have
minimal story lines and
they are more objective based.

4. Narrative Interactive Media Games
A couple of games that I do feel are included under the narrative interactive media heading are:
Fallout 3
Final Fantasy VII
Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion

5. Fallout 3 Fallout 3 is a role playing shooter game for the PS3.
Users can alternate
between first person and
third person limited.
The narrative tells the
story of a character that
grows up in a giant bomb
shelter called a vault.
Your dad goes missing and
you must find him while helping
people you meet with their problems.

6. Final Fantasy VII Final Fantasy VII is a role playing game. It is
played in third person
group for the play station.
The narrative is about a
character named
Cloud Strife who is trying
to stop Shinra from controlling
the world and draining the
life from the planet.

7. Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
Elder Scrolls 4 is a role
playing game played
in first person. It is a PC
or PS3 game.
The plot involves trying
to stop a cult that is
attempting to open the
gates of oblivion.

8. Simulations Simulations are imitations
of real life processes or systems.
The only simulation game
that I have played is
Flight Simulator on the PC.
Flight Simulator is an
airplane that a user must
learn how to fly, take off and land.
I do not consider this game
a narrative interactive media,
since there is really no story line to it.

9. Digital Stories Digital storytelling is another form of narrative
interactive media.
It uses pictures video
clips and audio to
tell a story.
The user controls the
pace and level of
engagement in the story.

10. Very Secret - A digital story by Carla Jankowski
An example of digital storytelling can be found here.

11. Interactive Blogs Marie Antoinette’s Guide to 18th Century Gossip is a
prime example of interactive
media.
It tells Antoinette’s day to
day life story in journal format.
It also allows a user to help
Louis XIV’s architects build his
grounds and palace.
The interactive blog can be found here.

12. Interactive Television
Channel 88 is an
interactive television
channel for the show
The Killing.
It allows viewers to
catch up with the latest
episodes and see clips
of future ones.
It also allows a viewer
to meet the cast and inspect
the location.
I expected more interactivity
than what there is. I was hoping
I could have some control over what I
would like to see on future episodes.

13. Conclusion
Simply because a game, such as a simulator, falls under the narrative interactive media category does not necessarily mean it is one.
Flight Simulator is an example of this. It is a simulation game with no storyline.
Narrative Interactive media can be done through games, digital stories, interactive blogs and interactive television.
The best format is based on the preference of the viewer.

14. In the Future… Gaming will be similar
to Star Trek: The Next Generation.
A user will be in a
room surrounded
by holograms that
will be used for
interaction and to
fight against.
This will cause a user
to have total immersion
in the game they are playing.