1. ScriptEase: Writing Stories for Computer Role-Playing Games Project Participants Duane Szafron Jonathan Schaeffer Mike Carbonaro Stephanie Gillis Matthew McNaughton Curtis Onuczko Thomas Roy Maria Cutumisu

2. 2 Goal  Provide a simple visual tool that enables a game designer to generate a complex story for a computer role- playing game (CRPG)  These games are the next generation technology for interactive entertainment  They transform linear written stories into 3D interactive adventures

3. 3 Neverwinter Nights (NWN) BioWare Corp.

4. 4 Aurora Toolset Neverwinter Nights

5. 5 ScriptEase Aurora Toolset Neverwinter Nights New!

6. 6 Neverwinter Nights Game Script ScriptEase Automatic Code Generation Play 1 3 2 Aurora Toolset

7. 7 Step 1: Aurora Toolset – Create the World  The module is created using the Aurora toolset  We create a room, we place a chest, a tree, a non-player character (NPC), a cold damage source, a tree light, a chest light, a chest  Any other suggestions?

8. 8 NWN - Play!

9. 9 Manual Scripting vs. ScriptEase  CRPGs involve large virtual worlds with thousands of characters  Designers often need programmers to write their scripts  We provide designers with a visual scripting tool based on patterns: ScriptEase  Example: pull lever - open door

10. 10 ScriptEase Abstraction  Patterns are recurrent themes in stories  They are re-usable and independent of a particular story  Each pattern has options (a specific lever, a specific door)  The designer only chooses the pattern and picks the desired options relevant to the particular story  ScriptEase generates the code automatically

11. 11 Sample Patterns  Encounter Patterns Item Container Barrier Perimeter Damage Source Use Placeable Open Container  Behavior Patterns: Guard Bar Scene – (work in progress)  Plot Patterns  Dialog Patterns

12. 12 Step 2: ScriptEase – Write the Story  The module is scripted, i.e., the story is written  We add several patterns, such as open chest – spawn creature, enter/exit trigger - barrier  Any other suggestions?

13. 13 Step 3: NWN - Play!

14. 14 Conclusions  The stories are created by game designers, not only by programmers using ScriptEase  ScriptEase provides the means to write stories in a non-linear manner

15. 15 Project Information  The ScriptEase version available on the web has more than 10000 downloads so far  ScriptEase web page: http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~script