What different forms of interactive storytelling exist, and how do they compare to linear narratives?
Does a fictionally created realm become a new world when it is reforged by the forces of interaction in the storytelling and experiencing processes?
Interactive storytelling has been widely explored through various approaches in game design and research literature, particularly in the context of digital games, which will be discussed in this session. Additionally, other forms of interactive storytelling have existed for much longer. A historical overview includes examples such as interactive films and "choose your own adventure" style books.
In video games, storytelling is often built into the game system itself. The topic becomes especially interesting when compared to other playful and game-based forms of narrative. What happens when we start applying and comparing these perspectives to the socially shared and intuitively evolving storytelling found in role-playing games? How do digital role-playing games fit into this landscape? And how can interactive storytelling in play—such as the imaginative play of children—be compared to these models?
In this session, various understandings of interaction and their related narrative forms are examined and compared. Participants will explore the elements and components of these storytelling methods and consider whether it is possible—or even meaningful—to attempt to build a unified model of interactive storytelling.
The session is introduced by Ville Susi. This is an Academic Gamers reiterated presentation created by Ville Susi and it was originally conceived and performed for the Finnish Museum of Games (Museumcenter Vapriikki, Tampere) Game Circle event which is a collaborative event series by these two organisations.