Video Game Storytelling

Task 1: Games with Stories

1.       The Stanley Parable

The Stanley Parable is a singleplayer interactive storytelling game developed by Davey Wreden and William Pugh. The game was originally released as a free Half-Life 2 mod, but a high definition standalone was released in October 2013.

In the Stanley Parable, you play as a man called Stanley, who works in an office. One day, Stanley leaves his office to find all of his colleagues gone. The narrator of the game (voiced by Kevin Brightings) guides Stanley through the office on a journey to find out what has happened to Stanley’s colleagues. The game has many different paths and endings, and the player can choose to do as the narrator says, completely disobey him, or do a bit of both. The player has the freedom to do whatever they want. The Stanley Parable is a great game, because you become attached to the narrator. He is your only friend as you go through the lonely areas of the game. As you progress and choose different paths the narrator’s personality begins to shine through. He isn’t just someone reading out what you do, he’s working with you and having conversations with you as you go.

2.       Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2 is a first-person shooter, action role-playing game developed by Gearbox studios. The game takes place 5 years after the events of the first game, where four vault hunters were guided through the planet of Pandora by a mysterious “guardian angel” in order to find the vault, a place thought to hold many treasures. At the end of Borderlands 1, when you kill the Destroyer, a valuable mineral called “Eridium” began to appear on Pandora. Since the resource is valuable, Handsome Jack (leader of Hyperion Corp) makes use of it, and he claims is going to “make peace.”

Borderlands 2 starts with four new Vault hunters riding a Hyperion train, which turns out to be booby trapped by Handsome Jack. It becomes apparent that Handsome Jack is far from the good guy. Throughout the game, you travel through Pandora completing various quests for NPC’s. As you play, other characters can talk to you through your ECHO device. The “guardian angel” guides you through the game and Handsome Jack taunts you. Borderlands 2 has a story you can become immersed in. The characters are people you care about, Handsome Jack is someone who annoys you, and by the end of the game you really want him dead (even though he is a very funny and has brilliantly-written dialogue.)

3. Mirrors Edge

Mirrors Edge is a game based on rooftop parkour and chaining moves together. The game is about a runner called Faith. Runners are basically couriers that use the rooftops to stay out of the way of the police and people down on the streets. Faith is guided by her boss, Merc, who talks to her through an ear piece. He tells her that her sister is in trouble, and Faith finds her at the office of a mayoral candidate Robert Pope, who is dead on the desk. Faiths sister Kate is framed, and Faiths motivation throughout the game is getting her sister back, and trying to find out what has triggered a sudden battle between the runners and the police.



4. Little Inferno
Little Inferno is a game revolves entirely around burning things. You play as an unknown child in a unknown town, who is playing with his "Little Inferno Entertainment Fireplace." Basically, a fireplace for children that allows them to burn toys. The reason behind everyone using a Little Inferno is because it's been snowing for years, and the world is turning into a cold ball. You must buy toys and burn them to earn cash to buy more toys. You communicate with your neighbor who is a young girl, and "Miss Nancy" who runs the Tomorrow Corporation, the company responsible for Little Inferno. Little Inferno may not seem like the story is that important, but it is because of how mysterious it is. And the characters play a big part as you are alone and only have them to listen to.

Task 2: Games Without Stories

As well as games with stories, there are also games with no stories. There types are common on mobile platforms, and more casual gamers tend to play them. For example, a game like Candy Crush may be played by a busy worker when he or she is on a coffee break, just to pass the time. These kinds of games can be picked up and played by anyone because it isn't difficult to understand what is going on and what the players objective is. 

Some examples of games with no stories...

1. Candy Crush - A simple match 3 video game.

2. Pong - A game that involves 2 players hitting a ball back and forth as they try to get it in each others goals.

3. Tetris - Similar to Candy Crush. Blocks fall down and you have to pack them together.

Task 3: Video Game Stories vs Movie Stories

The main difference between stories in video games and movies is that video game stories have many more options and possibilities (sometimes.) A game that depends on the players choice can have multiple endings and paths, and different outcomes for each situation. With a movie, the ending and path is already complete and planned, and there is no way for the viewer to change it while watching. A movie story line is set in marble, and game story isn't.

The experience is also much different. In a game, the player is in control of the story. Maybe a character they love is about to die and they have a chance to save them, however if this was happening in a movie there's no way to change that characters fate. A video game may be more emotional and engaging if the player is responsible for the actions.

Task 4: Linear and Non-Linear Storylines

What is a linear story in a game?

A linear storyline is a story that is the same for every player. It's lots of sequences packed together in a certain order that cannot be changed. An example of a linear game is Call of Duty, which uses linear gameplay for it's singleplayer modes. Clear objectives are shown to the player, and in a way its basically "keep moving forward until you reach the objective."

What is a non-linear story in a game?

A non-linear story is something that isn't a straight path to the objective, in fact, it's the opposite. Non-linear stories allow the player to do sequences in a different order, and the player can have different outcomes. The player could skip out a certain sequence to do something the easy way or to do something else. Or they could do things the hard way to get their desired reward or objective. An example of a non-linear game would be "The Walking Dead" by Telltale games. TWD allows the players to make their own choices, which lead to certain events and endings.