Video Game Storytelling Fundamentals: Setting, Power Status, Tone, Escalation

Synonyms

Game writing; Narrative; Narrative design; Story; Storytelling

Definitions

Narrative is a fictional universe made up a mythology of characters and settings bolstered by a story (but often a series of stories), theme, and tone.

Introduction

Budget constraints in game development often dictate the primacy of silent, visual storytelling. This entry will identify and describe the four most critical elements of said storytelling.

Overview

Alfred Hitchcock once said, “If it’s a good movie, the sound could go off and the audience would still have a perfectly clear idea of what was going on.” In video games, where narrative is often a secondary consideration or an after-thought to gameplay, Mr. Hitchcock’s words should not only be heeded, but they should serve as primary goal for narrative designers and game writers alike.

Why though? Shouldn’t the narrative be at the forefront of every gamer’s attention? It should, but industry reality dictates otherwise. The typical and historical...