1. CIS 487/587 Bruce R. Maxim UM-Dearborn
Story Telling
CIS 487/587
Bruce R. Maxim
UM-Dearborn

2. Story Line Most games have one: Arcade games keep the story simple
Might be simple back ground to enhance the game
Might be an entire script to create the interactive flow of the game
Arcade games keep the story simple
In role playing games their success depends on the story

3. Storyline
Pick a game that does a good job of melding it story with the gameplay.
Why does this game succeed?
How does the plot unfold as the game progresses?
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4. Games and Interactive Stories
In general stories develop before the game – (continuity)
Game elements add to the enjoyment of the story
Let user make some decisions
Make sure skills are required
Write in some puzzles and problem solving stuff

5. Pick a Game with a Story How is exposition handled?
Who is the protagonist?
What is the main conflict?
When is it introduced?
What does the protagonist do to resolve the conflict?
What causes story tension to rise?
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6. Pick a Game with a Story How does gameplay cause tension to rise?
What deciding factor brings the game to a climax?
Do the dramatic and gameplay elements help or hinder progress toward resolution?
How might they be better integrated to make the game work from an emotional perspective?
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7. Linear vs Non-linear Linear story Non-linear stories
Story usually controlled by the author
No user choices affect outcome of story
Non-linear stories
give the player more control over the plot at the least.

8. Books Many books have been adapted to become games
Most books have linear plots
To become a good game may require changing the ending or allowing multiple endings
Players love playing “what if …”

9. Dramatic Unfolding
Many games present the entire story all at once (in the manual or opening game screens)
This spoils the ending for the user
A well designed game should allow the user’s actions to change the ending
Better to deliver the plot in incremental details/manner

10. Story Telling Techniques - 1
Obstacles
Make players work to get story elements by meeting a challenge or solving a problem
Foreshadowing
Use in the story introduction to show players what is to come
Personalization
Getting the player to internalize the game goals by making the initial challenge a personal one
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11. Story Telling Techniques - 2
Resonance
When story elements get close enough to get a spark that illuminates the story
Player is sometimes left with a feeling of deja vu
Resistance
The unwilling protagonist sucks players into rooting for the story before the main character
Helps enable “willing suspension of disbelief”
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12. Story Telling Techniques - 3
Plot Points
Pivot the story line around new and surprising directions (even when players know the outcome)
Aristotle’s plot point types
The reversal
The discovery
The calamity
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13. Story Telling Techniques - 4
Suspense
Allows you to create fear and expectation without forcing the player to rely on trial and error
Hitchcock was a master at doing this
Dialog
Don’t use dialog to convey something done better with pictures
Make sure characters reveal something interesting each time
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14. Story Telling Techniques - 5
Theme
The inherent question posed by the story but left unanswered for the player to discover
Resolution
Hard won victory
Non-obvious ending
Satisfying to reader
Consistent
Achieve closure
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15. Character Creation Give character depth Give character attitude
What is their life like?
What are their likes and dislikes
Personality quirks?
Special talents?
Communications skills?
Give character attitude
Use of multimedia to add depth
Voice does this better than video

16. Characters
Give them simple models of plans (sequence of actions) to follow
Give them emotions (state in FSM) and allow them to color decisions
Define usable knowledge models of game domain (lists of external objects and their attributes) that can be used in plans

17. Common Failing
Do not make the player entirely responsible for progress of plot
Progress halts when puzzle solving stops
Allow user to make contributions to plot direction
User should be immersed in his or her character, while system handles other details