What are the elements of video game's narrative? What are the roles & skills involved in the interactive storytelling? How gameplay and story are developed to bring an exceptional experience to the player? Workshop by Simona Maiorano.

1. VIDEO GAME NARRATIVE
@sentolevoci
www.esdotem.com
Workshop by Simona Maiorano
Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

2. What is a Game?
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

3. When you strip away the genre differences and the
technological complexities, all games share four
defining traits:
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

4. When you strip away the genre differences and the
technological complexities, all games share four
defining traits:
•A GOAL
•RULES
•A FEEDBACK SYSTEM
•VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

5. Video Game Narrative is brought to you
by…
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

6. Game Designer
Narrative Designeraka
Interactive Story Designer
Writer
Creative Writer
“If you’re passionate about video
games, if you can weave complex
characters from a couple of bullet
points, (…) then we would love to
hear from you!”
Location: NCSOFT
Requirements:
•passionate about video games
•creative
•strong communicator
•solid experience (2 years) in
creative writing
•collaborative, team-based work
•Microsoft Office, HTML, XML
Full Description:
http://tbe.taleo.net/CH05/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=NCSOFT&cws=
1&rid=1807&source=Job+Board+%E2%80%93+Indeed.com
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

7. Game Designer
Narrative Designer
aka
Interactive Story Designer
Writer
Interactive Story Designer:
“responsible for generation of core
gameplay concepts and mechanics
in partnership with the lead writer”.
Location: TellTale Games
Requirements:
•Fantastic Communication
•Creativity + Innovation
•Player-centric Approach
•Experience in Game Design (5
years)
•LUA, Visual Studio, Writing Skills
Full Description:
http://www.telltalegames.com/company/jobs/
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

8. Game Designer
Narrative Designeraka
Interactive Story Designer
Writer
Lead Game Designer:
“you will work to create the basic
concepts of the game and you will
be responsible for the design and
implementation of the gameplay.”.
Location: Quantic Dream
Requirements:
•Experience in a similar position
•Creativity + Innovation in
narrative and emotion
•Team-worker
•Able to formalize ideas
Full Description:
http://quanticdream.profilsearch.com/recrute/fo_annonce_voir.php?id=13
#.VBBVwmMrp-A
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

9. If you want to write for video games you
have to….
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

10. #1
BE A GAMER…
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

11. #1
…A TRUE GAMER
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

12. #2
KNOW VIDEO GAMES’
culture, evolution, industry, technology
mmagine: http://gamemooc.wordpress.com/2014/07/18/chronologies-from-video-1-5/
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

13. #3
UNDERSTAND “FUN”
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

14. 8 KINDS OF FUN
1. Sensation: Game as sense-pleasure
2. Fantasy: Game as make-believe
3. Narrative: Game as unfolding story
4. Challenge: Game as obstacle course
5. Fellowship: Game as social framework
6. Discovery: Game as uncharted territory
7. Expression: Game as soap box
8. Submission: Game as mindless pastime
By M. LeBlanc
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

15. Ok, Narrative can be funny, but don’t
forget Mechanics!
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

16. FRAMEWORK “MDA”
By M. LeBlanc
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

17. •Mechanics: the formal rules of the game, that define every single
aspect of game, actions and outcomes.
•Dynamics: how the rules are applied and the interactions with player
input.
•Aestethics: the player’s experience in terms of fun. In other words, the
effect of dynamics.
FRAMEWORK “MDA”
By M. LeBlanc
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

18. STORYTELLING
Texts
Cut-Scenes
Sound Effects / Musics
Interaction
Voice-Over
Dialogues
Art/Graphic
Point of View
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

19. STORY
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

20. Embedded Narrative
Pre-planned Story
Defined Structure
Emergent Narrative Procedural Narrative
Emerges from the
interaction
Unpredictable
Partially created by player
“Predictable”
MMO
Replayable
Dynamic
Random
Player’s Behavior
Multiplayer
Sub-sequent events
Replayable**
Replayable (it
depends on the
structure)
Ex: Heavy Rain,
Dragon Age, Skyrim
Ex: Journey, The Sims,
Civilization
Ex: Left 4 Dead
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

21. Linear Story and Gameplay
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

22. Linear Story – Non-Linear Gameplay
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

23. User-generated story – Linear Gameplay
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

24. Branching Story and Gameplay
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

25. Controlled Branching
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

26. Parallel Story and Gameplay
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

27. The script
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

28. SCRIPT
1. It can be a simple spredsheet
Image from: “Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing” Copyright A K Peters LTD.
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

29. SCRIPT
1. It can be a simple spredsheet
2. It is the synthesis of Story contents and Storytelling elements
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

30. SCRIPT
3. It includes Voice-acting and Motion Capture indication
Format by Steve Ince
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

31. SCRIPT
1. It can be a simple spredsheet
4. Some tools used
• to develop an interactive structure: Twine and Inform 7 (free)
•to format scripts to industry standard: Final Draft, Movie Magic ($$$)
2. It is the synthesis of Story contents and Storytelling elements
3. It includes Voice-acting and Motion Capture indication
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

32. GOOD READS
“Lezioni di Scrittura Creativa”, AA.VV, Audino Editore
“Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing”, Edited by Wendy Despain.
“Reality is Broken”, Jane MCGonigal.
“Writing for Video Games”, Steve Ince.
“The Art of Game Design”, Jesse Schell.
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek

33. www.esdotem.com
THANK YOU!
Workshop by Simona Maiorano.Bari, September 14, 2014 @B-Geek