Improving the narrative appeal of story-driven videogames

Robin J. S. Sloan

Improving the narrative appeal of story-driven videogames

Department of Games and Arts

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Can videogames be compared to cinema or prose in terms of their ability to tell a story? Narrative has always played a part in the creation of videogames, from the simplest arcade shooter to the most complex RPG, but do the stories have the power to engage, compel, or move the user? Although many would refute that narrative can even exist in interactive media, the author of this paper asks if videogame narratives can be as emotionally gripping and thought provoking as films or novels, and as a result whether they can appeal to a wider audience.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Women in games
Subtitle of host publication	conference proceedings 2005
Editors	Jim Terkeurst, Inga Paterson
Place of Publication	Dundee
Publisher	University of Abertay
ISBN (Print)	1899796185
Publication status	Published - 2005
Event	Women in Games 2005 Conference - University of Abertay Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom Duration: 8 Aug 2005 → 10 Aug 2005 http://www.eylesm.myweb.port.ac.uk/mark/wig/conf-2005/index.html

Conference

Conference	Women in Games 2005 Conference
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Dundee
Period	8/08/05 → 10/08/05
Internet address	http://www.eylesm.myweb.port.ac.uk/mark/wig/conf-2005/index.html

Keywords

Computer games
Interactive narrative

Cite this

@inproceedings{3cd1b9513efe41a2a0e753923426337a,

title = "Improving the narrative appeal of story-driven videogames",

abstract = "Can videogames be compared to cinema or prose in terms of their ability to tell a story? Narrative has always played a part in the creation of videogames, from the simplest arcade shooter to the most complex RPG, but do the stories have the power to engage, compel, or move the user? Although many would refute that narrative can even exist in interactive media, the author of this paper asks if videogame narratives can be as emotionally gripping and thought provoking as films or novels, and as a result whether they can appeal to a wider audience.",

author = "Sloan, {Robin J. S.}",

year = "2005",

language = "English",

isbn = "1899796185",

editor = "Jim Terkeurst and Inga Paterson",

booktitle = "Women in games",

publisher = "University of Abertay",

note = "Women in Games 2005 Conference ; Conference date: 08-08-2005 Through 10-08-2005",

url = "http://www.eylesm.myweb.port.ac.uk/mark/wig/conf-2005/index.html",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - Improving the narrative appeal of story-driven videogames

AU - Sloan, Robin J. S.

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - Can videogames be compared to cinema or prose in terms of their ability to tell a story? Narrative has always played a part in the creation of videogames, from the simplest arcade shooter to the most complex RPG, but do the stories have the power to engage, compel, or move the user? Although many would refute that narrative can even exist in interactive media, the author of this paper asks if videogame narratives can be as emotionally gripping and thought provoking as films or novels, and as a result whether they can appeal to a wider audience.

AB - Can videogames be compared to cinema or prose in terms of their ability to tell a story? Narrative has always played a part in the creation of videogames, from the simplest arcade shooter to the most complex RPG, but do the stories have the power to engage, compel, or move the user? Although many would refute that narrative can even exist in interactive media, the author of this paper asks if videogame narratives can be as emotionally gripping and thought provoking as films or novels, and as a result whether they can appeal to a wider audience.

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 1899796185

BT - Women in games

A2 - Terkeurst, Jim

A2 - Paterson, Inga

PB - University of Abertay

CY - Dundee

T2 - Women in Games 2005 Conference

Y2 - 8 August 2005 through 10 August 2005

ER -

Improving the narrative appeal of story-driven videogames

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

Fingerprint

Cite this