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Chapter 3 Story Composition
A game with a story is
classified as an
interactive story.
The structure of the story will
determine the path the player
will follow and where each
branch of the story will lead.
Some games allow more freedom
than others for the player to
control the ending of the story.
As a game designer, you have
the power to create a game story
with a single ending or multiple possible endings. The structure of the story
within a game can be either linear or nonlinear.
Linear Structure
Stories with a
linear structure
follow a single path from beginning to end.
The player must perform each task or mission in a specific order to win the
game. Each completed task or mission makes another task or mission available.
The player cannot go back to a previous task or jump ahead to any other task.
Most novels are written as a linear story with a single path to the resolution.
Since the player only has a single way of completing the game, no
programming is needed to allow for multiple story paths. With less
programming come fewer chances for bugs and glitches. Beginning designers
often start creating games with linear stories to build skill until they are able to
implement the complex structure of a nonlinear story.
Nonlinear Structure
Stories with a
nonlinear structure
have more than one path from the
beginning to the end, and there may be more than one possible ending. In a
video game, the player can move between tasks or missions in any order. A
key feature of a nonlinear story is that the game can be played several times
completing it in a different way each time.
Nonlinear stories allow the player to make decisions that affect the way the
game is played. Depending on the game, player decisions may lead to a single
ending or to one of any number of possible endings. The two basic types of
nonlinear stories are branching stories and foldback stories.
Branching Story
A
branching story
has several paths that branch from decision points.
This is similar to a tree where the story starts at the base of the tree and the
player can move along any branch of the tree to reach an ending. All nonlinear
stories are categorized as branching stories. This is the most interactive of story
models. It is similar to the “choose your own adventure” novels popular in the
late 20th century.
Interactive Story Delivery
CHEAT CODE: INTERACTIVE
STORY
An interactive story is a game in
which the player performs the
actions of the story. A player must
complete actions and make in-game decisions as the
story progresses. In many games, the player’s decisions
control the ending of the story.