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Game Features

This comprehensive guide explores the fundamental aspects of storytelling in video games. It examines traditional narrative structures like Freytag's Pyramid and the Hero's Journey, highlighting character archetypes such as the Mentor and Trickster. The text delves into gameplay elements, including interactivity, balance, and progression, and how they influence player engagement. With insights on character design, conflict resolution, and the effective use of plot devices, this resource is essential for game designers seeking to create immersive narratives that captivate players.

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Game Features

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Game Features • Storytelling • Characters • Gameplay • Levels • Logic

  2. Storytelling/Plot Structure • Three-Act • Act I- Character Problem (action) • Act II- Obstacles • Act III - Resolution • Monomyth/Hero’s Journey/Writer’s Journey • Ordinary World • Call to adventure • Refusal of the call • Meeting the mentor • Crossing the first threshold • Tests, allies, enemies • Approach to Supreme ordeal • Reward • The road back • Resurection • Return

  3. Storytelling/Plot Structure • Freytag’s Pyramid

  4. Traditional Story Elements • Premise • Backstory • Storyline • Themes • Settings • Characters

  5. Character Archetypes • Jungian • Hero/Protagonist • Shadow/Antagonist • Transformational/Mistaken/Exxagerated/Realistic • Mentor • Allies • Guardian • Trickster • Herald • Development levels (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs) • Intrapersonal • Interpersonal • Team • Community • Humanity

  6. Character Style • Visual • Angular/Color/Proportions/etc. • Dialog • Movement • Signature • Idle • Walking/Animation Cycles

  7. Proportions help dictate personality Head height/width Normal man: 6-7 tall, 3 wide Exaggerated hero/tough guy: 8-9 tall, 3-4 wide Wimp: 4-5 tall, 2-3 wide Kids/Cute: 3 tall, 1-2 wide Character Appearance

  8. Shape dictates helps character Circle = soft, cuddly, pleasing, dopey, fat Rectangle = strong, dependable, solid The more square, the more dumb Triangle/angular = active, aggressive, evil Character Appearance

  9. Traditional Plot Devices • Plot Goals/Devices • Balancing Conflict • Shifting Focus • Foreshadowing Events • Suspension of Disbelief/Realism (magical, etc.) • Quest • Plot dump/flashback/foreshadowing • Cliffhanger/Deathtrap/Sexual Tension • Stock characters/Villians • Deus ex machina • Story within a story • Breaking the fourth wall

  10. Game Story Devices • Interactivity • Non-linearity • Player control • Customization, mods • Collaboration • Immersion • Cut scenes/cinematics? • Scripted Events • Gameplay

  11. Gameplay Elements • Rules • Victory Conditions • Loss Conditions • Interactivity • Challenges/Goals • Balance

  12. Gameplay Challenges • Implicit v. Explicit • Imperfect information • Intrinsic v. Extrinsic Knowledge • Pattern recognition and Matching • Spatial Awareness • Micromanagement • Reaction Time

  13. Gameplay Goals • Advancement • Race • Puzzle-solving • Exploration • Conflict • Capture • Chase • Organization • Escape • Taboo • Construction • Solution • Outwit

  14. Balanced Gameplay • Goals • Consistent challenges • Perceivable fair play • No stagnation • Importance of play/decisions • Difficulty levels • Methods • Static Balance • Obvious strategies • Symmetry (Transitive vs. Intransitive) • Trade-offs • Combination • Feedback (positive & negative) • Dynamic Balance • Destroy/Maintain/Restore

  15. Game Progression: Levels • Structure • Goal • Flow • Duration • Availability • Relationship • Progression • Time • Authentic/Variable/Altered/Limited/Player • Physical • Camera/Viewpoint • ScaleBoundaries • Visual Realism/Sylized • Behavioral Realism • Physics/Scripting/AI

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