Difference between revisions of "Predetermined Story Structures"
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[[Predetermined Story Structures]] are explicit [[Narration Structures]] that designers create before gameplay begins. They consist of two main parts: the important game entities in the [[Game Worlds]] and the events that are planned to occur which affect them. | [[Predetermined Story Structures]] are explicit [[Narration Structures]] that designers create before gameplay begins. They consist of two main parts: the important game entities in the [[Game Worlds]] and the events that are planned to occur which affect them. | ||
| − | Common story elements related to the physical aspects of [[Game Worlds]] include [[Alien Space Bats]], [[Big Dumb Objects]], [[Environmental Storytelling]], [[MacGuffins]], [[Switches]], [[Traces]], and [[Traps]]. [[Clues]] can also be used, as long as they work within the [[Thematic Consistency]]. Games then commonly create [[Predetermined Story Structures]] by putting these in relation to how players move in [[Game Worlds]] (similar to aspects of the narrative Monomyth<ref name="Monomyth"/> pattern and the "Road Movie"<ref name="Road Movie"/> genre). The elements can be compartmentalized by [[Inaccessible Areas]] and [[Levels]], while [[Privileged Movement]] (given as a [[New Abilities|New Ability]] and [[Conditional Passageways]] can be used to progress a game's narration by opening up new areas. [[One-Way Travel]] can hinder players from spending time in areas which no more narration is supposed to take place within. [[Quests]] can motivate players to move between places in [[Game Worlds]], as can gameplay specific goals such as [[Reconnaissance]], [[Rescue]], and [[Traverse]]. | + | Common story elements related to the physical aspects of [[Game Worlds]] include [[Alien Space Bats]], [[Big Dumb Objects]], [[Controllers]], [[Environmental Storytelling]], [[MacGuffins]], [[Switches]], [[Traces]], and [[Traps]]. [[Clues]] can also be used, as long as they work within the [[Thematic Consistency]]. Games then commonly create [[Predetermined Story Structures]] by putting these in relation to how players move in [[Game Worlds]] (similar to aspects of the narrative Monomyth<ref name="Monomyth"/> pattern and the "Road Movie"<ref name="Road Movie"/> genre). The elements can be compartmentalized by [[Inaccessible Areas]] and [[Levels]], while [[Privileged Movement]] (given as a [[New Abilities|New Ability]] and [[Conditional Passageways]] can be used to progress a game's narration by opening up new areas. [[One-Way Travel]] can hinder players from spending time in areas which no more narration is supposed to take place within. [[Quests]] can motivate players to move between places in [[Game Worlds]], as can gameplay specific goals such as [[Reconnaissance]], [[Rescue]], and [[Traverse]]. |
| + | |||
| + | [[Characters]], especially [[Player Characters]] and [[Companions]], are | ||
| + | |||
| − | |||
[[NPCs]] | [[NPCs]] | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[Invulnerabilities]] together with [[NPCs]] |
| + | [[Privileged Abilities]], | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Factions]], | ||
| + | [[Helpers]], | ||
[[Scripted Information Sequences]] are actual actions and events that progress [[Narration Structures]] while being designed beforehand for specifically story purposes. [[Cutscenes]] do the same but does not provide players with opportunities for interaction; [[Quick Time Events]] do but unlike [[Scripted Information Sequences]] forces players to focus upon these. | [[Scripted Information Sequences]] are actual actions and events that progress [[Narration Structures]] while being designed beforehand for specifically story purposes. [[Cutscenes]] do the same but does not provide players with opportunities for interaction; [[Quick Time Events]] do but unlike [[Scripted Information Sequences]] forces players to focus upon these. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[New Abilities]], | ||
| + | |||
In contrast to [[Levels]], [[Scenes]] allow gameplay not only to be spatially separated but also temporally separated. [[Persistent Game World Changes]] based upon story events is a way to clearly indicate development of the game narration. | In contrast to [[Levels]], [[Scenes]] allow gameplay not only to be spatially separated but also temporally separated. [[Persistent Game World Changes]] based upon story events is a way to clearly indicate development of the game narration. | ||
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=== Can Be Instantiated By === | === Can Be Instantiated By === | ||
[[Ability Losses]], | [[Ability Losses]], | ||
| − | |||
[[Quests]], | [[Quests]], | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
[[Information Passing]], | [[Information Passing]], | ||
[[Main Quests]], | [[Main Quests]], | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
[[Sidequests]], | [[Sidequests]], | ||
| − | |||
=== Can Be Modulated By === | === Can Be Modulated By === | ||
| − | |||
[[Dedicated Game Facilitators]], | [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]], | ||
[[Detective Structures]], | [[Detective Structures]], | ||
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[[Big Dumb Objects]], | [[Big Dumb Objects]], | ||
[[Characters]], | [[Characters]], | ||
| + | [[Companions]], | ||
[[Conditional Passageways]], | [[Conditional Passageways]], | ||
[[Controllers]], | [[Controllers]], | ||
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=== Can Be Modulated By === | === Can Be Modulated By === | ||
| − | |||
[[Dedicated Game Facilitators]], | [[Dedicated Game Facilitators]], | ||
[[Detective Structures]], | [[Detective Structures]], | ||
Revision as of 15:54, 28 July 2014
Narration structures whose order presentation in a game exists before game instances begin.
This pattern is a still a stub.
Examples
As books that provide players with gameplay while reading, Gamebooks[1] like The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, Scorpion Swamp, Clash of the Princes, and the Lone Wolf series have Predetermined Story Structures.
Using the pattern
Predetermined Story Structures are explicit Narration Structures that designers create before gameplay begins. They consist of two main parts: the important game entities in the Game Worlds and the events that are planned to occur which affect them.
Common story elements related to the physical aspects of Game Worlds include Alien Space Bats, Big Dumb Objects, Controllers, Environmental Storytelling, MacGuffins, Switches, Traces, and Traps. Clues can also be used, as long as they work within the Thematic Consistency. Games then commonly create Predetermined Story Structures by putting these in relation to how players move in Game Worlds (similar to aspects of the narrative Monomyth[2] pattern and the "Road Movie"[3] genre). The elements can be compartmentalized by Inaccessible Areas and Levels, while Privileged Movement (given as a New Ability and Conditional Passageways can be used to progress a game's narration by opening up new areas. One-Way Travel can hinder players from spending time in areas which no more narration is supposed to take place within. Quests can motivate players to move between places in Game Worlds, as can gameplay specific goals such as Reconnaissance, Rescue, and Traverse.
Characters, especially Player Characters and Companions, are
NPCs
Invulnerabilities together with NPCs
Privileged Abilities,
Scripted Information Sequences are actual actions and events that progress Narration Structures while being designed beforehand for specifically story purposes. Cutscenes do the same but does not provide players with opportunities for interaction; Quick Time Events do but unlike Scripted Information Sequences forces players to focus upon these.
In contrast to Levels, Scenes allow gameplay not only to be spatially separated but also temporally separated. Persistent Game World Changes based upon story events is a way to clearly indicate development of the game narration.
Can Be Instantiated By
Ability Losses, Quests, Information Passing, Main Quests, Sidequests,
Can Be Modulated By
Dedicated Game Facilitators, Detective Structures, Ephemeral Goals, Factions, Feigned Die Rolls, Freedom of Choice, Game Masters, Helpers, Information Passing, Loading Hints, Melodramatic Structures, Permadeath, Persistent Game Worlds, Puzzle Solving, Red Herrings, Spawning, Summary Updates, Temporal Consistency,
Diegetic Aspects
Interface Aspects
Narrative Aspects
Predetermined Story Structures is a Narration Pattern.
Consequences
Can Instantiate
Character Defining Actions, Companions, Cutscenes, Narration Structures, Luck, Predictable Consequences, PvE, Storytelling, Tension
with Clues
Gain Information, Gain Ownership
Can Modulate
Alternate Reality Gameplay, Boss Monsters, Character Development, Freedom of Choice, Gain Competence, Player Characters
Potentially Conflicting With
Freedom of Choice, Persistent Game Worlds, Player Elimination, Procedurally Generated Game Worlds, Randomness, Replayability, Self-Facilitated Games, Unwinnable Games
Death Consequences when these can apply to Characters important to the narrative
Relations
Can Instantiate
Character Defining Actions, Companions, Cutscenes, Narration Structures, Luck, Predictable Consequences, PvE, Storytelling, Tension
with Clues
Gain Information, Gain Ownership
Can Modulate
Alternate Reality Gameplay, Boss Monsters, Character Development, Freedom of Choice, Gain Competence, Player Characters
Can Be Instantiated By
Ability Losses, Alien Space Bats, Big Dumb Objects, Characters, Companions, Conditional Passageways, Controllers, Cutscenes, Environmental Storytelling, Factions, Helpers, Inaccessible Areas, Information Passing, Levels, MacGuffins, Main Quests, New Abilities, NPCs, One-Way Travel, Persistent Game World Changes, Player Characters, Privileged Abilities, Privileged Movement, Quests, Quick Time Events, Reconnaissance, Rescue, Scenes, Scripted Information Sequences, Sidequests, Switches, Traces, Traps, Traverse
Clues together with Thematic Consistency
Invulnerabilities together with NPCs
Can Be Modulated By
Dedicated Game Facilitators, Detective Structures, Ephemeral Goals, Factions, Feigned Die Rolls, Freedom of Choice, Game Masters, Helpers, Information Passing, Loading Hints, Melodramatic Structures, Permadeath, Persistent Game Worlds, Puzzle Solving, Red Herrings, Spawning, Summary Updates, Temporal Consistency
Possible Closure Effects
-
Potentially Conflicting With
Freedom of Choice, Persistent Game Worlds, Player Elimination, Procedurally Generated Game Worlds, Randomness, Replayability, Self-Facilitated Games, Unwinnable Games
Death Consequences when these can apply to Characters important to the narrative
History
New pattern created in this wiki.
