Games Story Development Lesson 2 Aims and Objectives

Games Story Development Lesson 2

Aims and Objectives Recall different types of storytelling Interpret a game story in an analysis Summarise the elements of storytelling

Assignment 1 You have been asked to explain the following areas (with illustrative examples): Forms of storytelling: cave painting, oral tradition (fable myth, legend), theatre, text, film, television Game genres: action, platforms, first-person shooter, third-person shooter, racing, fighting, adventure, puzzle, role-play, simulation and sports, turn-based or real time strategy. Approaches: location, condition, actions, symbolism, three-act structure, hero’s journey(12 steps), episodic Representation: emotions, characterisations, stereotypes, gender, ethnicity Emotional themes: vengeance, happiness, fear, anger, perseverance, heroism, valour, hope, competitiveness. Interactive story: embedded, emergent, cinematic, cut-scenes, triggered events, player control, character customization Writing strategies: pre-writing (brainstorm, research, storyboard, list, sketch, outline, free writing, drafting – working title) revision (add, rearrange, remove, replace, evaluate.

Recap – types of story telling

Elements of game story Genre Narrative Representation Emotional themes Interactive Story

Quick analysis of The Legend of Zelda Interactive story: Genre: Action adventure RPG Narrative: Will Wright’s Structuralism theory Representation: Female lead – weak, society is weak. Ganon – ginger. Cut scenes, player control, dialogue. Fan fiction. Emotional themes: Relationship between man and the bird/competitiveness (Skyward). Heroism, courage, hope. Relationship between Link and Zelda.

Narrative: The Legend of Zelda Hero enters a social group – Not from Hyrule Hero is unknown to society – Unaware of his heroic status Hero is revealed to have an exceptional ability – The Triforce of power, master sword The villains are stronger than society – Ganon takes over and society is in threat Hero defeats the villain The society is safe – Small changes are made throughout however drastic changes at the end Society accepts the hero – Awareness of heroic status Hero loses or gives up his social status – Zelda usually asks him to return home