Guidance: Story Driven Video Game Creation - Revision history

Bs at 03:12, 22 July 2021

2021-07-22T03:12:33Z

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	~~{{cite~~ book		The guidance below was somewhat derived from a great book, "Video Game Storytelling: What Every Developer Needs to Know about Narrative Techniques" by Evan Skolnick. ISBN-10: 0385345828.
	~~\| last1 = Cordell \| first1 = Bruce R~~.
	~~\| first2 = Jeff \| last2 = Grubb~~
	~~\| first3 =David \| last3 = Noonan~~
	~~\| title = [[Manual of the Planes]]~~
	~~\| location = Berlin~~
	~~\| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]~~
	~~\| pages = 198–203~~
	~~\| date = September 2001~~
	~~\| isbn = 0-786918-50-0 }}~~

	== Story Arcs ==		== Story Arcs ==

Bs at 02:55, 22 July 2021

2021-07-22T02:55:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:55, 21 July 2021
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	__TOC__		__TOC__

			{{cite book
			\| last1 = Cordell \| first1 = Bruce R.
			\| first2 = Jeff \| last2 = Grubb
			\| first3 =David \| last3 = Noonan
			\| title = [[Manual of the Planes]]
			\| location = Berlin
			\| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]
			\| pages = 198–203
			\| date = September 2001
			\| isbn = 0-786918-50-0 }}

	== Story Arcs ==		== Story Arcs ==

Bs at 03:05, 21 July 2021

2021-07-21T03:05:24Z

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	* Define motivations and traits for each character		* Define motivations and traits for each character
	* Use the initial character and who they become as a direction, and for most characters ensure that this change is gradual.		* Use the initial character and who they become as a direction, and for most characters ensure that this change is gradual.



	== Coincidence ==		== Coincidence ==
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	*# players notice the coincidence		*# players notice the coincidence
	*# doubted, questioned, or mocked by the player		*# doubted, questioned, or mocked by the player



	== Surprise ==		== Surprise ==
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	*# it was setup beforehand		*# it was setup beforehand
	*# it makes sense afterwards		*# it makes sense afterwards



	== Dialogue ==		== Dialogue ==
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	* Dialogue should be interesting, entertaining, and natural sounding		* Dialogue should be interesting, entertaining, and natural sounding



	== Levels ==		== Levels ==
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	* The story/narrative and the mission/level design will impact each other throughout the game		* The story/narrative and the mission/level design will impact each other throughout the game
	* Write an emotion map for both story/narrative and the mission/level to ensure they are correct		* Write an emotion map for both story/narrative and the mission/level to ensure they are correct



	== Environment ==		== Environment ==

Bs: /* Dialogue */

2021-07-21T03:04:34Z

Dialogue

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	* Ensure character constrast through dialog. If an unassigned piece of dialogue is traced back to more than one character, then those characters are too similar.		* Ensure character constrast through dialog. If an unassigned piece of dialogue is traced back to more than one character, then those characters are too similar.

	What a character says may be influenced by:		* What a character says may be influenced by:
	*# the current situation		*# the current situation
	*# their current emotional state		*# their current emotional state

Bs: /* Environment */

2021-07-21T03:04:16Z

Environment

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:04, 20 July 2021
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	== Environment ==		== Environment ==
	Use a environment design document (EDD).		* Use a environment design document (EDD).
	Layout and architecture should invoke		* Layout and architecture should invoke
	1) history		*# history
	2) values		*# values
	3) culture		*# culture

	Use aged and broken settings to show what used to exist for the setting		* Use aged and broken settings to show what used to exist for the setting

	The EDD should answer		* The EDD should answer
	1) What kind of people lived here?		*# What kind of people lived here?
	2) What are/were their lives like?		*# What are/were their lives like?
	3) How affluent were they?		*# How affluent were they?
	4) What do/did they love and hate?		*# What do/did they love and hate?
	5) Do/did they prefer form vs. function?		*# Do/did they prefer form vs. function?
	6) Where they at peace or war when the setting was constructed		*# Where they at peace or war when the setting was constructed
	7) How densely are/were they populated?		*# How densely are/were they populated?
	8) How focused are/were they on comfort?		*# How focused are/were they on comfort?
	9) what is/was the purpose of the setting?		*# what is/was the purpose of the setting?

	Embed writings in the environment		* Embed writings in the environment
	1) graffiti		*# graffiti
	2) notes		*# notes
	3) letters		*# letters

	Embed foreshadowing and seeding in the environment. Example: Xenogears - the spaceships turrets turn out to be Fort Jasper		* Embed foreshadowing and seeding in the environment. Example: Xenogears - the spaceships turrets turn out to be Fort Jasper

	Embed secret content that isn't needed to understand the story but provides a richer story when consumed by the player		* Embed secret content that isn't needed to understand the story but provides a richer story when consumed by the player

	Use abandoned and uninhabited environments to invoke a sense of mystery. Add calamity to invoke a sense of dread.		* Use abandoned and uninhabited environments to invoke a sense of mystery. Add calamity to invoke a sense of dread.

	Weave story and narrative clues into the environment		* Weave story and narrative clues into the environment

Bs: /* Levels */

2021-07-21T03:03:03Z

Levels

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	== Levels ==		== Levels ==
	Use a level design document (LDD).		* Use a level design document (LDD).
	Ensure the LDD contains narrative information		* Ensure the LDD contains narrative information
	Just as a story is broken up into chapters and acts, gameplay should be broken up into missions and levels		* Just as a story is broken up into chapters and acts, gameplay should be broken up into missions and levels
	Does each mission/level align with the overarching tone of the game? The creative aspirations? The functional goals?		* Does each mission/level align with the overarching tone of the game? The creative aspirations? The functional goals?
	Ask what purpose does each level serve?		* Ask what purpose does each level serve?
	The story/narrative and the mission/level design will impact each other throughout the game		* The story/narrative and the mission/level design will impact each other throughout the game
	Write an emotion map for both story/narrative and the mission/level to ensure they are correct		* Write an emotion map for both story/narrative and the mission/level to ensure they are correct



	== Environment ==		== Environment ==

Bs: /* Dialogue */

2021-07-21T03:02:41Z

Dialogue

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	== Dialogue ==		== Dialogue ==
	It conveys four types of exposition		* It conveys four types of exposition
	1) plot		*# plot
	2) character		*# character
	3) emotion		*# emotion
	4) gameplay		*# gameplay

	Character dialogue is what a character says and how they say it		* Character dialogue is what a character says and how they say it
	Ensure character constrast through dialog. If an unassigned piece of dialogue is traced back to more than one character, then those characters are too similar.		* Ensure character constrast through dialog. If an unassigned piece of dialogue is traced back to more than one character, then those characters are too similar.

	What a character says may be influenced by:		What a character says may be influenced by:
	1) the current situation		*# the current situation
	2) their current emotional state		*# their current emotional state
	3) the listener's current emotional state		*# the listener's current emotional state
	4) current goals		*# current goals
	5) characters growth or new information		*# characters growth or new information

	Character dialogue is driven by emotion and what they think		* Character dialogue is driven by emotion and what they think

	~~Invoke emotional exposition by indirect dialogue. example "I'm scared" vs. "Don't leave me alone"~~

	~~Dialogue should be interesting, entertaining, and natural sounding~~

			* Invoke emotional exposition by indirect dialogue. example "I'm scared" vs. "Don't leave me alone"

			* Dialogue should be interesting, entertaining, and natural sounding

	== Levels ==		== Levels ==

Bs: /* Surprise */

2021-07-21T03:01:37Z

Surprise

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	== Surprise ==		== Surprise ==
	The ending/payoff of a story arc must be inevitable and unexpected		* The ending/payoff of a story arc must be inevitable and unexpected
	Give the audience what they want, but not in the way they expected it		* Give the audience what they want, but not in the way they expected it
	Good surprise is:		* Good surprise is:
	1) Player doesn't see it coming		*# Player doesn't see it coming
	2) extremely unlikely or purely coincidental		*# extremely unlikely or purely coincidental
	3) it was setup beforehand		*# it was setup beforehand
	4) it makes sense afterwards		*# it makes sense afterwards


	== Dialogue ==		== Dialogue ==

Bs: /* Coincidence */

2021-07-21T03:01:00Z

Coincidence

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:01, 20 July 2021
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	== Coincidence ==		== Coincidence ==
	Identify all coincidences in the story arcs, and handle them by one of the following		* Identify all coincidences in the story arcs, and handle them by one of the following
	1) change the plot, extreme change		*# change the plot, extreme change
	2) retrofit it by adding subtle changes to make it less coincidental		*# retrofit it by adding subtle changes to make it less coincidental
	3) downplay, by distracting the player		*# downplay, by distracting the player



	It is okay to setup a plot point with coincidence. It is not okay to resolve a conflict with coincidence		* It is okay to setup a plot point with coincidence. It is not okay to resolve a conflict with coincidence
	Invoking emotions is a way to distract the player from a coincidence		* Invoking emotions is a way to distract the player from a coincidence
	Bad coincidental examples:		* Bad coincidental examples:
	1) benefits the heros and allies		*# benefits the heros and allies
	2) hero/allies dumb luck		*# hero/allies dumb luck
	3) unlikely based on what the player knows		*# unlikely based on what the player knows
	4) has no setup and comes with little or no warning		*# has no setup and comes with little or no warning
	5) players notice the coincidence		*# players notice the coincidence
	6) doubted, questioned, or mocked by the player		*# doubted, questioned, or mocked by the player


	== Surprise ==		== Surprise ==

Bs: /* Believability */

2021-07-21T02:59:57Z

Believability

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	== Believability ==		== Believability ==
	Preserve the suspension of belief		* Preserve the suspension of belief
	Be consistent with the world and characters		* Be consistent with the world and characters
	Use character consistency when getting stuck writing. Ask "What would this character do?" not, "What needs to happen next?"		* Use character consistency when getting stuck writing. Ask "What would this character do?" not, "What needs to happen next?"
	When introducing a character, have them heavily display their core traits. Use dialog and action to reinforce this throughout the rest of the story.		* When introducing a character, have them heavily display their core traits. Use dialog and action to reinforce this throughout the rest of the story.
	Define motivations and traits for each character		* Define motivations and traits for each character
	Use the initial character and who they become as a direction, and for most characters ensure that this change is gradual.		* Use the initial character and who they become as a direction, and for most characters ensure that this change is gradual.



	== Coincidence ==		== Coincidence ==