Story​

The story serves several important functions in games:

• It introduces players to the game world, its characters, and events by involving them in two types of activities. The first type comprises activities in which players do not have the ability to influence the progression of the story. Examples include:

  • Watching monologues, non-interactive dialogues, or cinematic sequences.

  • Reading in-game texts.

The second type consists of activities through which players generate their own stories. Examples of such activities include:

• • Exploring the game world.

  • Watching interactive dialogues where players are given the opportunity to influence the responses of one or more characters.

  • Assigning tasks or actions to player-controlled characters.

  • Uncovering new possibilities within the game environment.

• The story also serves an instructional function, teaching players how the game operates. A portion—or in some cases, the entirety—of the story can be designed to introduce and reinforce gameplay mechanics.

• The story substantially influences the total gameplay duration. A more extensive narrative requires players to invest more time in order to reach its conclusion.

• It plays a key role in evoking emotional responses from players.

The following tips are outlined in this chapter: