Hello blog viewers.
This post is all about planning what I am going to explore in the blog so I have devised some subjects to compare and analyse.
These are by no means finished and all need research. Even this text will be removed as the blog needs to be written in a clinical manner and not first person. The blogs also need to incorporate another text “Rules of Play”.
Any suggestions for changes of subject or making it more relevant to narrative would be greatly appreciated.
Blog post 1
From Game Design workshop have quote from Jesse Schell about non-interactive narrative in digital games, and explain my opinion of it.
· Explore interactive plots and alternative endings in Digital Games.
· Video some Fable 2 and show the 3 or 4 different characteristic bars and how they could create varying outcomes.
· Video GTA4 and comment on supposed sandbox game play but then conclude the story set pieces are just as rigid as many other games.
Mention that interactive narrative already exists in children’s “turn the page” books. Suggest could be a juvenile way to participate in narrative.
· Video of Peter Griffin from family guy reading a “turn to page” book.
Explain social connection to this style of narrative.
Blog post 2
Compare Assassins Creed 2 with Dan brown books
· In game storyline Video
· Quote from web discussion or review from Dan Brown books.
Analyse effectiveness of using real world events in narrative and what affect is has (popular)
Conclude it enables varying amount of beyond the objective participation as large number of historical events that many different people may find interesting. Arguably people who don’t like history may not partake in beyond the objective participation. But this does not necessarily mean enjoyment of the game.
Blog post 3
Analyse “Spaced” episode where Simon Peg plays Resedant Evil so much that he sees zombies in his room, showing dynamic portrayal of narrative and characterisation. Explain this is transmedia and a role reversal to the normal “Games draw from Film” perspective
explain this can be seen as a cultural reflection of digital games becoming a popular media to express narrative.
Blog post 4
Looking at how the objective is played out through narrative and analysing it
· Video of gears of war cut scene that explains objective and is also narrative
· Video of orders being given over the radio
Analyse similarities and differences and dramatic effects of both on the player
Blog Post 5
The future of narrative may be more focused on dynamic relationship between the participant and the game system in a context of narrative preference. Games will be able to create stories outcomes, rounded characters, complex and thought provoking narrative.
This theory is based on games having a more complex narrative and transmedia participation. Look at star wars fan fiction, the original story with “Force Unleashed” released now playing alongside the original saga decades earlier.
Also the trend in films have been with large cameras, creating certain camera angles with a limited degree of movement but also a more secure and smoother shot. This has reflected with cut scenes in games using little camera movement. Modern technology like portable cameras has spawned films that use this technology. Like Blair Witch project and Cloverfeild.
Cloverfeild uses very long shots like in old films e.g Hancock films or “the longest day” also the film is mostly shot on a portable video camera
This future of games may simulate a more shaky and dynamic style of camera movement. You could argue that FPS’s have a similar dramatic feel to the said films.
Evaluation.
