GAME 3400 - Player's Journey

Summary
• Hero’s Journey
• What is the Hero’s Journey?
• How does the Hero’s Journey work?
• How is the Hero’s Journey used?
• How does the Hero’s Journey apply to game stories?
• Player’s Journey
• What is the Player’s Journey?
• How does the Player’s Journey apply to game structure?
• How can we use the Player’s Journey?

What is the Hero’s
Journey?

What is it about?

TRANSFORMATION

Hero’s Journey (Abridged)
The Call to Adventure
The Road of Trials
The Vision Quest
The Meeting with the Goddess
The Boon
The Magic Flight
The Return Threshold
The Master of Two Worlds

Three Act Structure Action Hero’s Journey

Setup Departure
Before the Action
(Inciting Incident) (Threshold)

Confrontation Initiation
During the Action
(Midpoint) (Ordeal)

Resolution Return
After the Action
(Climax) (Resurrection)

Act 3 Act 1

Act 2b Act 2a

Act 2b Ordeal Act 2a

Overcome the Ordeal, Survive in
get the Reward the Wilderness

Crossing
Road Back
the Threshold
Return Home Escape the
to Safety Ordinary World
Act 3 Act 1

Four-ish Act
Action Hero’s Journey
Structure

Explaining the
Setup Departure
Action

Preparing for the
Confrontation Initiation
Action

Climax During the Action Ordeal

Resolution After the Action Return

Who uses the Hero’s Journey?

Ocarina of Time
• Ordinary World
• Call to Adventure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbupiD5axgw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWilA49PwaI
• Refusal of the Call https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge8zd1ZR-hc

• Meeting with the Mentor
• Crossing the Threshold
• Test, Allies, Enemies
• The Ordeal
• The Reward
• The Road Back/The Return

Super Mario Bros.
• One day, the kingdom of the peaceful Mushroom Kingdom people was invaded by
the Koopa, a tribe of turtles famous for their black magic. The quiet, peace-loving
Mushroom People were turned into mere stones, bricks, and even field horsehair
plants, and the Mushroom Kingdom fell into ruin.
• The only one who can undo the magic spell on the Mushroom People and return
them to their normal selves is the Princess Toadstool, the daughter of the Mushroom
King. Unfortunately, she is presently in the hands of the great Koopa turtle king.
• Mario, the hero of the story (maybe) hears about the Mushroom People's plight and
sets out on a quest to free the Mushroom Princess from the evil Koopa and restore
the fallen kingdom of the Mushroom People.
• You are Mario! It's up to you to save the Mushroom People from the black magic of
the Koopa!

YOU!

The Player’s Journey

Not about who the player is in the story
Not about what role the character has in the story
The player’s role in the game

Playing Tetris

Turn on your Gameboy
Enter a world with new rules and rewards
Challenge yourself and learn something new
You reach glorious victory or bitter defeat
Turn off you Gameboy

Game Structure

1. Introduction (Tutorial)
2. Levels (Mini-Bosses / Challenges)
3. Final Boss
4. Ending

Four-ish Act
GAMES! Hero’s Journey
Structure

Setup Intro/Tutorial Departure

Confrontation Levels/Challenges Initiation

Climax Final Boss Ordeal

Resolution Ending Return

Ending Tutorial

Final Levels +
Battle Challenges

Games Player’s Journey Hero’s Journey

Tutorial Become the Player Departure

Levels / Challenges Master the Player Initiation

Final Boss Test the Player Ordeal

Ending Leave the Player Return

The Mechanic Cycle

Explain the Mechanic
Teach the Mechanic (practice make perfect)
Test the Mechanic
Reward

Become the Player

• Does the player have a mentor/help?
• Does the player understand their role/motivation?
• Does the player understand the gameplay?
• Does the player understand their goals?
• Is this fun?

Master the Player

• Is the player learning new skills/strategies?
• Is the player acquiring new items/tools/abilities?
• Does the player believe in the goals?
• Is the player ready for the Ordeal?
• Is this fun?

Test the Player

• Is the Player challenged with all they know and have
acquired?
• Are the stakes high enough?
• Has the player surpassed the mentor?

Leaving the Player

• Was the Player satisfied?
• Was it worth it?
• Will the Player remember it?

Every game should
TRANSFORM the player.

Send the Player on a Journey

Explain the rules and goals
Bring the player to a new place
Train them to survive in this world
Give them a chance to reach their goal
Send them back with a reward

Link the Hero and the
Player

Finds ways for them to share phases in the journey
Map the Player’s emotions to the Hero
Make the Hero as vulnerable as the Player
Allow the Hero to grow stronger with the Player

Fulfill the Player’s Needs

Explain the rules and goals (boundaries, structure)
Bring the player to a new place (the spice of life)
Train them to survive in this world (learn something)
Give them a chance to reach their goal (judgement)
Send them back with a reward (reward)

Voyage of the Hero
Miraculous conception and birth
Initiation of the hero-child
Withdrawal from family or community for meditation and
preparation
Trial and Quest
Death
Descent into the underworld
Resurrection and rebirth
Ascension, apotheosis, and atonement

GAME 3400 - Player's Journey

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