Interactive Narrative from edX

The primary difference between video games and other art forms is interactivity. Players embody the characters in a game; instead of watching the protagonist make choices, they actively make choices for the player character.

For writers, choice takes on a different meaning in games that allow players to control the outcome of the plot. How do you ensure that game choices are meaningful, have consequences, and also don’t require an impossible amount of work for the game design team?

In this course we will explore how choice works in games, how branching plots work, and how to manage them with tools such as pinch points, bottlenecking and story silos. We’ll look at characters and dialogue, then get you authoring your own interactive narrative with commonly available online tools.

Verified learners will access additional game industry interviews, assignments and discussion topics, connecting with a community of other writers and game enthusiasts.

What you'll learn

How choice in games differs from choice in other stories
How branching narrative affects gameplay
The use of stakes and consequences to make choices compelling
How to think about and tame branching plots
Explore different conversation systems and narrative generation tools
Experiment with branching narrative using common online tools.

What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1: Choice in Games

Choice-based experiences

Types of branching narrative

Elements of choice

Module 2: Structuring Choice

Main branches

Trimming the tree

Making choices matter

Types of choices

Module 3: Characters & Dialogue in Branching Narrative

Characters

Branching dialogue

Non-linear storytelling

Tools

Module 4: Using the Tools

Features of Twine, Klint and others

Analyzing existing work

Planning for interactivity

Using the tools effectively

Module 5: Your Interactive Project

Managing interactivity

Dealing with excessive choices

Editing and revision

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Guides learners through the process of preparing written material that emphasizes multiple choices and paths for interactivity in game environments

Appropriate for students with existing writing skills and experience with narrative development in non-linear formats

Emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and efficient workflow to manage complex branching plots and extensive dialogue

Incorporates practical application of different tools such as Twine, Klint, and more, providing hands-on experience with industry-standard software

Introduces key concepts such as pinch points, bottlenecking, and story silos, equipping learners with techniques to achieve compelling and manageable interactive narratives

Suitable for individuals aspiring to develop interactive narratives, expand their writing portfolio, or gain insights into the design of non-linear storytelling in games

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Interactive Narrative with these activities:

Read 'The Art of Game Design' by Jesse Schell

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Gain a comprehensive understanding of game design principles and how they apply to interactive narratives.

View The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, Third... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key concepts and techniques.
Discuss the book's ideas with peers or mentors.
Apply the concepts to your own interactive narrative projects.

Attend Game Developer Meetups

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Connect with other game developers and interactive narrative enthusiasts to learn about industry trends.

Browse courses on Networking

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Identify local game developer meetups.
Attend meetups and introduce yourself to others.
Engage in discussions and ask questions about interactive narrative best practices.

Write an Interactive Narrative Demo

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Create a simple interactive narrative demo to implement the branching plot techniques discussed in the course.

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Design the plot and branching structure.
Write the dialogue and narrative text.
Code the interactive elements using a tool like Twine or Klint.
Test and iterate on the demo.

Two other activities

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Interactive Narrative Case Studies

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Analyze and learn from existing interactive narratives to understand effective techniques and approaches.

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Identify and select a range of interactive narratives to explore.
Play through the narratives and observe their branching structures, dialogue systems, and pacing.
Discuss and share insights and observations with peers or mentors.

Interactive Dialogue System

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Design and implement an interactive dialogue system that allows players to make choices that influence the flow of the conversation.

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Design the conversation structure and dialogue tree.
Write the dialogue text and code the conversation logic.
Test and refine the dialogue system.
Integrate the system into a larger interactive narrative project.

Career center

Learners who complete Interactive Narrative will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Learning Experience Designer

Learning Experience Designers craft interactive learning experiences. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make learning more engaging and memorable. This can lead to more effective learning outcomes and help learners retain more information.

See salaries and explore the career path for Learning Experience Designer

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers craft interactive learning experiences. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make learning more engaging and memorable. This can lead to more effective learning outcomes and help learners retain more information.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Educational Technology Specialist

Educational Technology Specialists help integrate technology into learning environments. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create interactive learning experiences that are more engaging and effective than traditional methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Technology Specialist

Game Designer

Game Designers create the storylines, characters, and gameplay for video games. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make their games more engaging and memorable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Narrative Designer

Narrative Designers create the storylines, characters, and dialogue for video games and other interactive media. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make their games and other media more engaging and memorable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Narrative Designer

Screenwriter

Screenwriters write the scripts for movies, television shows, and other forms of media. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make their scripts more engaging and memorable.

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Novelist

Novelists write novels, which are long works of fiction. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make their novels more engaging and memorable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Novelist

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create instruction manuals, user guides, and other technical documents. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make their documents more engaging and memorable.

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Copywriter

Copywriters write persuasive and informative text for marketing and advertising purposes. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make their copy more engaging and memorable.

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Interaction Designer

Interaction Designers create the interactions between users and digital products. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make their products more engaging and memorable.

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User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers create the user interfaces and user experiences for websites, apps, and other digital products. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make their products more engaging and memorable.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Information Architect

Information Architects design the structure and organization of websites, apps, and other digital products. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make their products more engaging and memorable.

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Project Manager

Project Managers oversee the implementation of new projects. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make their projects more successful.

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Product Manager

Product Managers oversee the development and launch of new products. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make their products more engaging and memorable.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts test software and other digital products to ensure that they meet quality standards. This course introduces the tools and concepts of interactive narrative, which they can use to create branching storylines and branching dialogue that make their products more user-friendly and bug-free.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst