Telling

Tales

&

Playing

Games

The nature of digital media fluid- malleable – multi-directional

Interaction offers the audience choice
It places the audience in relation to information

Visuals, audio and level design play undeniably powerful roles in computer and video games, but story and characters are at the root of all memorable and meaningful gaming experiences. Without these foundations, a game could lack emotional content and impact. Why is this important? A powerful emotional experience increases the likelihood that a player will come back for more; they become a fan. Developing a high-quality story and three-dimensional characters can be one of the hardest disciplines in the games development process, especially when you're working within the confines of an established IP (and you don't want to fall into the dreaded 'movie game' trap). How do you make people care about your story, become fans and buy more of your games?

Designers, script-writers or anyone wishing to understand the importance of story and character within game development and how best to incorporate it into the games design process. Some technical knowledge of development is helpful, but not necessary.

An understanding that to telltale, story and character are the priority
An appreciation for Telltale’s unique take on game development
Telltale’s incorporation of game-play into story, rather than the reverse
How a Telltale story comes together from design to implementation
Best practices for story and character development in the development process
Where Telltale – and storytelling - is going in the future

Games are both object and process; they canʼt be read as texts or listened to as music, they must be played. Playing is integral, not coincidental like the appreciative reader or listener. The creative involvement is a necessary ingredient in the uses of games. (Aarseth 2001) in Gonzalo Frasca ‘Play the Message’ 2007

Games have winners and losers plays do not (Lalande 1928) in Gonzalo Frasca ‘Ludology meets Naratology’ 1999

Narrative & Game Play

Digital media offers us ways to enter this ‘imperfect aspect’
Stories & Games
Non-linear structures