Handbook on Interactive Storytelling - by Jouni Smed & Tomi 'Bgt' Suovuo & Natasha Skult & Petter Skult (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Games are no longer 'just' entertainment or simply a leisure activity; multiple platforms that make games available at any moment of the day and connect the player to other players to become a part of a community play a big role in modern society. Interactive storytelling focuses on creating computer systems, where users experience a dramatically compelling narrative that responds to their actions. The objective of this book is to provide readers with a cohesive picture of the research currently being undertaken in interactive storytelling. In addition to the wealth of material, systematic structure, and extensive bibliography, each chapter provides a set of exercises ranging from implementational tasks to open research questions and starting points for further study. The book is also an inspiring source of information for game designers working in the game industry, focusing on the challenges in creating immersive narrative experiences for the player, irrespective of the technical aspects of game production. The case studies presented have been carefully selected with the aim of proposing specific design approaches where narrative is one of the main features of the gaming experience. Therefore, the book is also aimed at gaming industry- experts who wish to tackle the notion of interactive storytelling to its full potential"--

Book Synopsis

HANDBOOK ON INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING

Discover the latest research on crafting compelling narratives in interactive entertainment

Electronic games are no longer considered "mere fluff" alongside the "real" forms of entertainment, like film, music, and television. Instead, many games have evolved into an art form in their own right, including carefully constructed stories and engaging narratives enjoyed by millions of people around the world.

In Handbook on Interactive Storytelling, readers will find a comprehensive discussion of the latest research covering the creation of interactive narratives that allow users to experience a dramatically compelling story that responds directly to their actions and choices.

Systematically organized, with extensive bibliographies and academic exercises included in each chapter, the book offers readers new perspectives on existing research and fresh avenues ripe for further study. In-depth case studies explore the challenges involved in crafting a narrative that comprises one of the main features of the gaming experience, regardless of the technical aspects of a game's production.

Readers will also enjoy:

• A thorough introduction to interactive storytelling, including discussions of narrative, plot, story, interaction, and a history of the phenomenon, from improvisational theory to role-playing games
• A rigorous discussion of the background of storytelling, from Aristotle's Poetics to Joseph Campbell and the hero's journey
• Compelling explorations of different perspectives in the interactive storytelling space, including different platforms, designers, and interactors, as well as an explanation of storyworlds

Perfect for game designers, developers, game and narrative researchers, academics, undergraduate and graduate students studying storytelling, game design, gamification, and multimedia systems, Handbook on Interactive Storytelling is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the deployment of compelling narratives in an interactive context.

From the Back Cover

Discover the latest research on crafting compelling narratives in interactive entertainment

Electronic games are no longer considered "mere fluff" alongside the "real" forms of entertainment, like film, music, and television. Instead, many games have evolved into an art form in their own right, including carefully constructed stories and engaging narratives enjoyed by millions of people around the world.

In Handbook on Interactive Storytelling, readers will find a comprehensive discussion of the latest research covering the creation of interactive narratives that allow users to experience a dramatically compelling story that responds directly to their actions and choices.

Systematically organized, with extensive bibliographies and academic exercises included in each chapter, the book offers readers new perspectives on existing research and fresh avenues ripe for further study. In-depth case studies explore the challenges involved in crafting a narrative that comprises one of the main features of the gaming experience, regardless of the technical aspects of a game's production.

Readers will also enjoy:

• A thorough introduction to interactive storytelling, including discussions of narrative, plot, story, interaction, and a history of the phenomenon, from improvisational theory to role-playing games
• A rigorous discussion of the background of storytelling, from Aristotle's Poetics to Joseph Campbell and the hero's journey
• Compelling explorations of different perspectives in the interactive storytelling space, including different platforms, designers, and interactors, as well as an explanation of storyworlds

Perfect for game designers, developers, game and narrative researchers, academics, undergraduate and graduate students studying storytelling, game design, gamification, and multimedia systems, Handbook on Interactive Storytelling is an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the deployment of compelling narratives in an interactive context.

Review Quotes

"Interactive storytelling is a popular research area without a disciplinary framework where contributions are usually coming from different disciplines such as computer science, communication studies, games studies or film studies. This book, on the other hand, employs an interdisciplinary approach and provides an innovative framework to analyze interactive narratives. Students can use the book to understand the theory of interactive narrative and its impact on game design. Professionals can buy the book for a better understanding of the recent developments and approaches in this domain."
--Barbaros Bostan, Bahcesehir University

"The Handbook on Interactive Storytelling provides a remarkably clear introduction to what stories and storytelling are, their operation, and how they can be analysed and understood, and then proceeds to present various solutions for creating interactive storytelling. Rich in examples and loaded with concrete assignments, the Handbook is an excellent textbook on a significant, evolving phenomena, discussing art, techniques, users, as well as the conceptual and theoretical dimensions of interactive storytelling. The book is packed with insights, drawing from classic works of interactive fiction, story-driven computer games, interactive drama, and many scientific, artistic, and technological experiments. It should be of high value for students in game studies, interaction design, literary studies, drama, and computer sciences alike."
--Frans M yr, Professor & Director, Tampere University & The Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies

About the Author

Jouni Smed, PhD, holds his doctorate in Computer Science. He has twenty years of experience in the game development, from algorithms and networking in multiplayer games to game software construction, design, and interactive storytelling.

Tomi 'BGT' Suovuo focuses on the virtual barrier in mediated interaction, particularly between multiple users. He has taught Principles of Interaction Design for four years.

Natasha Skult is an active member of the Finnish and international game developers community as the Chairperson of IGDA and founder of Hive - Turku Game Hub.

Petter Skult, PhD, obtained his doctorate in 2019 in English language and literature from Åbo Akademi University. He is a game designer and writer.