School of Computer Science & Information Technology

School of Computer Science & Information Technology

G6DPMM - Lecture 19G6DPMM - Lecture 19

NarativeNarative

Telling the StoryTelling the Story

Narrative techniques are very well defined for Narrative techniques are very well defined for conventional mediaconventional media

Conventional media is not interactiveConventional media is not interactive These techniques need modificationThese techniques need modification

NB all effective communication has narrative NB all effective communication has narrative not not just fiction!just fiction!

NarrativeNarrative

Story tellingStory telling CommunicationCommunication

Story teller and listenerStory teller and listener An idea is transferred into the mind of the listenerAn idea is transferred into the mind of the listener Story as memeStory as meme Ancient storiesAncient stories

Narrative is more than relating factsNarrative is more than relating facts Build a world and invite the Build a world and invite the

reader/listener/viewer/user into that worldreader/listener/viewer/user into that world

Narrative in Game DesignNarrative in Game Design

Early games rarely had much narrativeEarly games rarely had much narrative Pong - no narrativePong - no narrative Space invaders - simplistic narrativeSpace invaders - simplistic narrative

Most modern games have sophisticated narrativeMost modern games have sophisticated narrative Overt - cinematic gamesOvert - cinematic games Subtle - path of progressionSubtle - path of progression

Narrative in (non-game) multimediaNarrative in (non-game) multimedia All forms of media (should) have some form of All forms of media (should) have some form of

narrativenarrative Consider the plots and sub-plots of a lectureConsider the plots and sub-plots of a lecture

Story telling must be appropriate to the task at hand!Story telling must be appropriate to the task at hand! Never patroniseNever patronise Never make it gratuitously overtNever make it gratuitously overt

A narrative is a chain of linked eventsA narrative is a chain of linked events Continuity is essentialContinuity is essential Design metaphor can be usefulDesign metaphor can be useful Consider deleting a file! Consider deleting a file!

Levels of narrativeLevels of narrative Micro-narrativeMicro-narrative

A logical sequence of events, to achieve a particular taskA logical sequence of events, to achieve a particular task

Macro-narrativeMacro-narrative An overt story - conveying informationAn overt story - conveying information often this is a scenariooften this is a scenario

Hidden narrativeHidden narrative Multimedia equivalent of an allegorical novelMultimedia equivalent of an allegorical novel May be overt information - with some subtle (or not so subtle) ulterior May be overt information - with some subtle (or not so subtle) ulterior

motivation (e.g. using a product, advertising etc)motivation (e.g. using a product, advertising etc)

No narrativeNo narrative A multimedia mystery tour!A multimedia mystery tour!

Narrative ProgressionNarrative Progression All narrative must progress from start to finishAll narrative must progress from start to finish This does NOT mean that it should be linearThis does NOT mean that it should be linear It does mean that departure from linearity (decision It does mean that departure from linearity (decision

points) should be plannedpoints) should be planned StartStart

You only have one chance to make a first impression!You only have one chance to make a first impression! The first few seconds of a multimedia experienceThe first few seconds of a multimedia experience

Making headwayMaking headway Users must feel they are making progressUsers must feel they are making progress Avoid waiting at any cost!Avoid waiting at any cost!

How far is there to go?How far is there to go? Users must have some indication of where they areUsers must have some indication of where they are

Narrative Progression (2)Narrative Progression (2) Interrupting the narrativeInterrupting the narrative

Inevitable in a non-linear systemInevitable in a non-linear system They should be as discrete as possible (i.e. low cognitive impact)They should be as discrete as possible (i.e. low cognitive impact) Possible to cancelPossible to cancel Possible to easily resume afterwards (i.e. provide contextual information)Possible to easily resume afterwards (i.e. provide contextual information)

ReprisalReprisal Important aspects of the narrative should be reprisedImportant aspects of the narrative should be reprised This does not mean that they should be repeated (at least not in entirety)This does not mean that they should be repeated (at least not in entirety) Some aspects of them (maybe with a novel slant, interpretation or Some aspects of them (maybe with a novel slant, interpretation or

example) should be repeatedexample) should be repeated

FinishFinish There needs to be an actual (and satisfying) endThere needs to be an actual (and satisfying) end Ambiguous endings (or no ending at all), take skill to accomplish Ambiguous endings (or no ending at all), take skill to accomplish

effectively effectively

ContinuityContinuity

Concept borrowed from filmConcept borrowed from film Narrative is broken into blocksNarrative is broken into blocks Continuity ensures that the story seamlessly spans blocksContinuity ensures that the story seamlessly spans blocks

Visual continuityVisual continuity The brain will fill in gaps in expectation (e.g. frames of The brain will fill in gaps in expectation (e.g. frames of

movie, moving lights)movie, moving lights)

Continuity of existenceContinuity of existence Items have continued existence - even when you can’t Items have continued existence - even when you can’t

see themsee them If multimedia items don’t (e.g. if they suddenly appear or If multimedia items don’t (e.g. if they suddenly appear or

disappear), then the narrative is disrupteddisappear), then the narrative is disrupted

Continuity (2)Continuity (2)

Continuity of narrativeContinuity of narrative Being able to follow what is going onBeing able to follow what is going on Provide enough contextual information to interpret Provide enough contextual information to interpret

multimediamultimedia Provide feedback to the overall story as well as specific Provide feedback to the overall story as well as specific

eventsevents

Continuity of beliefContinuity of belief System must display sensible “believable” behaviourSystem must display sensible “believable” behaviour Users must trust the systemUsers must trust the system

User ControlUser Control Who is telling the storyWho is telling the story System in controlSystem in control

The system tells the story to the user The system tells the story to the user Watching a video or animation - or listening to speech!Watching a video or animation - or listening to speech!

User in controlUser in control The user “discovers” the storyThe user “discovers” the story In browsing there may be no narrativeIn browsing there may be no narrative Some browsing (especially in games) has users actively Some browsing (especially in games) has users actively

looking for the narrativelooking for the narrative Joint controlJoint control

Alternation between system and user controlAlternation between system and user control Simulation games / snap to grid Simulation games / snap to grid

User Control (2)User Control (2) Granularity of controlGranularity of control

If the user is in control how much control?If the user is in control how much control? May be very limited (e.g. Lost Animals)May be very limited (e.g. Lost Animals) May be almost complete (e.g. immersive VR)May be almost complete (e.g. immersive VR) Low granularity is easier to scriptLow granularity is easier to script High granularity control makes narrative harderHigh granularity control makes narrative harder

The illusion of controlThe illusion of control Sometimes the system is in control, but there is enough Sometimes the system is in control, but there is enough

interactivity for the user to feel in controlinteractivity for the user to feel in control For example decision points that all come (via minor For example decision points that all come (via minor

variation) to the same placevariation) to the same place

And Finally…And Finally…

Multimedia as ArtMultimedia as Art The new literatureThe new literature

Interactive poetryInteractive poetry

Multimedia novelsMultimedia novels

Interactive musicInteractive music