Interactive story elements are used to help get the player invested and involved within the game’s story, to create this there is a lot of writing strategies. Here are a few examples of how the games industry uses these story elements;
Cinematics (Trailer)
A cinematic Trailer is basically a preview of an upcoming film or video game. It’s an advertisement to help attract their target audience and this usually involves having to over exaggerate the film or trailer. For example, Grand theft auto with their previous games knew that their audience loved the violence, humour and how open their game was. So in their new grand theft auto V trailer the games industry knew that's what their target audience would be looking for/expecting with the new grand theft auto. In the trailer (which is shown below) you can easily tell just within a minute of watching, the new grand theft auto is full of action, comedy, violence and rude language. This makes the trailer effective because the trailer is emphasising on the fact their target audience loves games which involves the action, violence and so on Making it more eye-catching to their target audience, making their story line look more interesting.
For instance the video game starts with the characters interacting and talking to each other, they talk about how he needs help and how their crazy friend comes to visit and starts banging their head which then the trailer cuts to a lot of action such as robbing banks, blowing up and so on. This already shows that the game is going to have an unusual, funny, criminal story line within 30 seconds of the trailer. This would have already grabbed attention off most of the audience watching.
For instance the video game starts with the characters interacting and talking to each other, they talk about how he needs help and how their crazy friend comes to visit and starts banging their head which then the trailer cuts to a lot of action such as robbing banks, blowing up and so on. This already shows that the game is going to have an unusual, funny, criminal story line within 30 seconds of the trailer. This would have already grabbed attention off most of the audience watching.
Cut scene
Cut scenes are basically where the player cannot do anything and have to watch a small clip of the video game events. This typically happens as a form of an introduction or when the player has completed part of the game. Many computer games involve a cut scene such as super smash bros, Tekken and final fantasy.
Cut scenes are usually used to progress part of the story in the game or to reward the player for example in Mario once you have completed one of the levels then Mario does a 'mini' cut scene and goes into the level. Cut scenes usually removes control from the player, when a cut scene starts then the player cannot personally move the character. It is left to the cinematic cut-scene. Cut scene are beneficial to the story line because it is a good way to break up the game to the story for instance say if a game had too much action and their wasn't enough interaction with the world/characters then the story wouldn't be noticeable or as interesting because the player will be more focused in the action. But a cut scene is an easy way to split this up, it makes the player get involved in the cut scene and typically have to watch the cinematic which will help link the game play and the story.
Triggered Event
Triggered event is usually when the player is playing a game and during the game they interact with a character or an object which then triggers an event such as cut scene or dialog. Examples of games which have a triggered even are Half- life, Gears of war and resident evil 4. For instance in Half- Life interacting with another character will trigger a dialog.
Triggered events are used to tell their narrative in a different way (Not just using a cut scene) or used to make the player more interested in the story/More entertained within the game.
Triggered events happen when they are triggered which usually helps the story move forward and carry on. Although some games can use a triggered event to make the story line more tensed for instance using a triggered event when a boss is introduced into the level.
Triggered event is usually when the player is playing a game and during the game they interact with a character or an object which then triggers an event such as cut scene or dialog. Examples of games which have a triggered even are Half- life, Gears of war and resident evil 4. For instance in Half- Life interacting with another character will trigger a dialog.
Triggered events are used to tell their narrative in a different way (Not just using a cut scene) or used to make the player more interested in the story/More entertained within the game.
Triggered events happen when they are triggered which usually helps the story move forward and carry on. Although some games can use a triggered event to make the story line more tensed for instance using a triggered event when a boss is introduced into the level.
Player Control (How
player control has helped story telling)
Player control is when the player has control changing the story. Examples of this include Fable, tell-tale games, bio shock and knights of the old republic. A tell-tale game which includes the player making their own decisions which will then overall in a different story-line is the walking dead. While playing the walking dead season you have your own choices on who you want to save and what you want to do. For example you get given a set off choices on what you can reply with in a conversation to a character or you have a choice if you want to kill or let a person live. For instance, when I played the walking dead season 1 i did choices such as saving a boy instead of a man, suspecting certain people and so on. This changes the story because the characters 'remember' if you help them or not so at the end of the story, the ones you have helped will help you while the ones who dislike you will leave you and vice versa. You get to choose if you want to be good or bad. And each decision changes the story line. I personally like these games because it gives the player the decision on what sort of character they want to be which makes it a lot more personal and effective. For example if you make a good decision then you feel proud of yourself for knowing that you made the best decision while if you make a bad decision it makes you think about what you could of done different to change the outcome.
Player control is when the player has control changing the story. Examples of this include Fable, tell-tale games, bio shock and knights of the old republic. A tell-tale game which includes the player making their own decisions which will then overall in a different story-line is the walking dead. While playing the walking dead season you have your own choices on who you want to save and what you want to do. For example you get given a set off choices on what you can reply with in a conversation to a character or you have a choice if you want to kill or let a person live. For instance, when I played the walking dead season 1 i did choices such as saving a boy instead of a man, suspecting certain people and so on. This changes the story because the characters 'remember' if you help them or not so at the end of the story, the ones you have helped will help you while the ones who dislike you will leave you and vice versa. You get to choose if you want to be good or bad. And each decision changes the story line. I personally like these games because it gives the player the decision on what sort of character they want to be which makes it a lot more personal and effective. For example if you make a good decision then you feel proud of yourself for knowing that you made the best decision while if you make a bad decision it makes you think about what you could of done different to change the outcome.
Character Customization
Character customization can tell a lot of the story for example in world of war craft. The character customization is a lot different than the Sims customization. For instance world of war craft characters include customizing elves, Titans, dragonkins and a lot more. While Sims customization allows there players to customize their characters as realistic as possible for example changing body size, facial hair, hair, eyes, cheeks, face.
On Sims, you design your own family and try your best to get the most realistic human. This customization already shows that the game is going to be realistic, family orientated etc. While World of war craft as insane looking lives etc. so it’s hard to imagine that the story line of the game is going to be realistic and based in a city. You can easily tell that the game is going to be more fantasy and 'unique' instead of an ordinary human life. Overall, a character tells a lot about the story so being able to customize your character as an element creates a new opening and an example of what the story line is going to be for example if the character customization is going to include clothing such as metal helmets, shields, Armour and so on. It is then easy to know that the character needs the Armour so it must include some sort of violence.
Links
http://www.gamestudies.org/0101/juul-gts/
http://whatculture.com/gaming/20-best-gaming-cutscenes-ever
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scripted_sequence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8G9TviuM1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qozpQkUDFQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mz5UZDuC64
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFJN11R6mc0
Character customization can tell a lot of the story for example in world of war craft. The character customization is a lot different than the Sims customization. For instance world of war craft characters include customizing elves, Titans, dragonkins and a lot more. While Sims customization allows there players to customize their characters as realistic as possible for example changing body size, facial hair, hair, eyes, cheeks, face.
On Sims, you design your own family and try your best to get the most realistic human. This customization already shows that the game is going to be realistic, family orientated etc. While World of war craft as insane looking lives etc. so it’s hard to imagine that the story line of the game is going to be realistic and based in a city. You can easily tell that the game is going to be more fantasy and 'unique' instead of an ordinary human life. Overall, a character tells a lot about the story so being able to customize your character as an element creates a new opening and an example of what the story line is going to be for example if the character customization is going to include clothing such as metal helmets, shields, Armour and so on. It is then easy to know that the character needs the Armour so it must include some sort of violence.
Links
http://www.gamestudies.org/0101/juul-gts/
http://whatculture.com/gaming/20-best-gaming-cutscenes-ever
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scripted_sequence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8G9TviuM1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qozpQkUDFQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mz5UZDuC64
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFJN11R6mc0