1. The simulation of narrative Nicolas Szilas IDtension www.idtension.com nicolas.szilas@idtension.com

2. 2 Outline  Interactive Narrative/Drama  Various approaches in Interactive Drama  IDtension  Conclusion/discussion

3. 3 Interactivity and story in videogames 3 types :  Description / exploration  Obstacles Cognitive = puzzles Motor = fights, etc. {  Branching

4. 4 Branching...  Explosion!  Frustration...

5. 5 Interactivity and story in videogames 3 types :  Description / exploration  Obstacles Cognitive = puzzles Motor = fights, etc. {  Branching  Explosion!  Frustration...

6. 6 « Interactive Drama »  Virtual world with characters  Player = one character  Narrative The player can perform any action on the virtual world that the other characters can perform.

7. 7 Three main points of view  User point of view –role of the user –HCI  Author point of view –Role of the author –Authoring tools  Technical point of view –How to make it work –Models of narrative

8. 8  Intelligents agents –Videogames (Creatures, B&W, Sims, Babyz,etc.) –Narrative characters (Univ. Teesside) –Emergence...  Generic (multi)linearity –Plot points (CMU, Inesc) –Scene succession (B. Majerko, Facade) –Propp model (Darmstadt)  Simulation –Planning (NCSU, N. Sgouros) –Structural description (U. Aalborg, IDtension) The approaches

9. 9 Example: Creatures

10. 10 Example : Creatures

11. 11 Example : Creatures

12. 12 Example : The Sims

13. 13 Example : Univ. of Teesside

14. 14 Example : Inesc

15. 15 Example : Façade

16. 16 Example: IDtension  The approach: Simulate the narrative

17. 17 Metaphor # 1

18. 18 Metaphor # 2

19. 19 The theoretical model Discourse Layer Story layer Perception layer Intention, system of values. Characters, goals, obstacle, actions, transformation, etc. Cognitive factors, emotions

20. 20 The Architecture World of the story User Model User Theatre Narrative Logic Virtual Narrator User Model World of the story Discourse / Story / Perception

21. 21 Zoom on the world of the story Characters {-X} Goals {+Y} Y Tasks X Obstacle Values -1 0 att t -1 0 ACTIONS Decide Inform Encourage Dissuade Accept Refuse Perform Condemn Congratulate

22. 22 Zoom on the narrative effects  Ethical consistency  Motivational consistency  Relevance  Cognitive load  Characterization  Conflict  Suspense, surprise, spectacle Realism Cognitive Emotions

23. 23 Example AnnaBill Sylvie Mr D. Rich Witness has retracted Have money Take holidays Out of Europe Not rich -1 0 Buy witness Kill witness NON VIOLENCE LAWFULLNESS Travel to Bangkok Rob the bank Joe Mrs D Out of Europe Police incredulous

24. 24 Simulation: Initial conditions  Joe wishes to to change Mr D. ’s testimony  Anna and Bill know that  Anna knows Joe could buy Mr D.  Bill knows Joe could kill Mr D.

25. 25 Simulation: Two modes  Automatic generation  Interactive

26. 26 Results in automatic mode (1/2) Anna tells Joe he could try to buy Mr D., the witness Joe accepts Bill tells Joe to kill Mr D. Joe refuses to do that. Joe tells Anna he could kill Mr D. Anna encourages him to do so! Joe tells Anna he wants to buy Mr D. Anna encourages him to do so Bill incites Joe to kill Mr D. Joe meets Mr D. He proposes him some money for changing his testimony, but Mr D. wants a lot of money, and Joe is not rich enough He then decides to get money He tells Anna about it Joe tells Sylvie he could kill Mr D. Sylvie dissuades him to do so!

27. 27 Results in automatic mode (2/2) Joe tells her he is trying to get money He tells Bill too about it Bill inform him that he could rob the bank Joe accepts. He tells Anna he wants to rob the bank Anna encourages him to do it He tells Bill about his intention two Bill encourages to do it He tells Sylvie about his intention Sylvie dissuades him to do so Joe robs the bank, and he is successful He pays Mr D. He obtains the withdrawal of testimony from MR D.

28. 28 Results in interactive mode First turn: Anna tells Joe he could try to buy Mr D., the witness Joe tells Bill he could buy Mr D. Joe tells Sylvie he could buy Mr D. Joe tells Mr D. he wishes to change Mr D.’s testimony Joe tells Mrs D. he wishes to change Mr D.’s testimony Joe accepts to buy Mr D. Joe refuses to buy Mr D.

29. 29 Results in interactive mode Second turn: Bill tells Joe to kill Mr D. Joe tells Anna he wants to buy Mr D. Joe tells Bill he wants to buy Mr D. Joe tells Sylvie he wants to buy Mr D. Joe tells Mr D. he wants to buy Mr D. Joe tells Mrs D. he wants to buy Mr D. Joe tells Anna he could kill Mr D. Joe tells Sylvie he could kill Mr D. Joe tells Mr D. he wishes to change Mr D.’s testimony Joe tells Mrs D. he wishes to change Mr D.’s testimony Joe accepts to kill Mr D. Joe refuses to kill Mr D.

30. 30 Conclusion: key points  Simulation  A broad model of narrative  Frequency, range, significance

31. 31 Open questions  (Im)possibility of IN  The HCI  The meaning of the action  Art or entertainment?  Market?

32. 32 Nicolas Szilas 1, rue des Trois Couronnes 75011 Paris, France nicolas.szilas@idtension.com IDtension www.idtension.com Contact