Lesson 5: Story & Games Flashcards
Instead of asking, are all games tell stories, we ask?
Now, instead of asking, “Are all games stories?” the conversation has evolved into the better question of “In what ways can games tell stories?”
Genre-defining RPGs, and why? (7)
Ultima, allowed for variable player experiences (players could steal), foundational to RPGsWizardry (party of characters), foundational to RPGsFinal Fantasy (1987) revitalized north american game industryWasteland (1988) introduced permanent deathQuest for Glory, a first adventure RPG, day and night cycles, skill increase through use (elder scrolls), and save games carried to sequelsFF7, game changed based on characters in partyKOTOR used D&D ruleset
Why study games as stories (3 points)
- Stories are important!-Fundamental to human condition, passing down history, myths chart human development (Jung)2. Already a wealth of story analysis tools we can use on games-Structuralism, deconstructionism, post-structuralism3. Should study games as literary texts, so old institutions see games as important-Narratologists see games as just another kind of text to be interepreted, like a book or poem
How do narratologists study games? Who do they stand in opposition to?
As stories.Stand in opposition to ludologists.
Define protagonist & antagonist with examples
Games often have the protagonist (player role, means “first contestant”), antagonist (guardian giant floating head in ultima, means “someone whom we compete for prize)
What is the tritagonist?-What does it mean literally/figuratively?-How do they function in game (2)-Describe Mort as an example
-A deeper character and accompanies hero as a sidekick.-Simplest form, a floating tutorial (e.g. Navi, Mort, Alix, Cortana, Wheatley)-Mort a mechanism to advance the game’s plot and theme, and converses with PC to prompt discussions about immortality/human nature
Describe plot vs chronicle-What did aristotle say about plot?
A plot (action that unfolds over time) is more than just a chronicle (sequence of facts) b/c it implies design/causation. Aristotle believed a plot meant events were at least connected causally, and that all stories need a beginning/middle/end.
Give examples of movies & games that play with sequencing of events
Movies-Rashomon, 4 competing narratives of same event-Groundhog Day, same day over and over-12 Monkeys, flashes b/t past and futureGames-Heavy Rain, 4 competing narratives progress about origami killer-Braid: same events repeatedly, player can change history and move on-Chrono Trigger: hero flashes b/t past/future, affecting each
What kind of narrative do games feature that make them stand apart from other literary sources?
Games are unique b/c they often feature non-linear narratives.
How is the five-part structure usually seen? What is it more like?
t is often seen as a gentle curve, but actually more jagged as tension builds/subsides.
Describe each part of the five-part dramatic structure along with…-Who proposed it?-Example for each from Another World
- Exposition-Characters introduced, protagonist given quest/motivation-Physicist zapped by lighting, transported another world2. Rising Action-Main objectives of prot. revealed, series of struggles overcome-Lester faces predators, imprisoned by aliens and saved3. Climax-Main struggle: fight/battle/moral choice/refusal to act-Battle Royale in Gladiator Arena4. Falling Action-Minor struggles resolved, major struggle complete (sometimes villain appears to win here…)-Lester seems dead, alien friend saves him againDenouement-All loose ends tied, heros cheered/rewarded, villain cast out…-Lester flies on back of dragon bird home
What did we learn from Mass Effect 2 interview with writer? Razor? How resolve disagreements? How deal with branching narratives?
-razor: what will the player come away from a level with to tell their friends?-If there is a disagreement on story, resolve with what solution will satisfy as many people as possible or stay true to the razor?-When dealing with branching narratives, they have anchors, or characters that will always be there no matter who dies, and weave other characters around them.
What is genre? Why is it hotly contested? Why are they useful?
-A genre is a set of conventions used to classify a medium. It is contested because it reflects cultural assumptions and stereotypes. Genres useful because they have built-in conventions that experienced readers accept.
Explain the tension that storytellers find inspiration from when playing with genre.
The tension between what we expect and reject in genre is where best storytellers find inspiration.
We will suspend our disbelief in implausible narratives as long as…
We will suspend our disbelief in implausible narratives as long as it remains internally consistent.
