Dramatic level analysis for interactive narrative
- Authors: Macfadyen, Alyx , Stranieri, Andrew , Yearwood, John
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at NILE 2008: 5th International Conference on Narrative and Interactive Learning Environments, Edinburgh, Scotland : 6th-8th August 2008 p. 17-22
- Full Text:
- Description: In interactive 3D narratives, a user’s narrative emerges through interactions with the system and embodied agencies (characters) mediated through the 3D environment. We present a methodology that identifies and measures four factors in interactive narrative where agency is present. We describe a technique for measuring drama, agency and engagement and compare the centrality of a designed interactive narrative with the emergent participatory narrative. This methodology has application as an analytic device for any interactive narrative where agency is fundamental. The adoption of the FrameNet semantic resource and the interpretation of interaction in narrative, situate this work in the domain of 3D interactive narratives, mixed and augmented realities and polymorphic narratives that cross forms of media.
- Description: 2003006540
An interaction framework for scenario-based three dimensional environments
- Authors: Macfadyen, Alyx , Stranieri, Andrew , Yearwood, John
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at IE 2006, the 3rd Australasian Conference on Interactive Entertainment, Perth : 4th December, 2006
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Although popular and engaging, three dimensional environments are rarely deployed to depict strong narratives involving complex characters engaged in reasoning. The design of three dimensional environments rich in narrative and character depth can be facilitated with a detailed representation of interactions between characters. However, the representation of interaction in current 3D development environments such as game engines is quite basic. This work advances a scheme for representing interactions that integrates a representation of semantics from linguistics called FrameNet with conceptualizations of drama and narrative by Georges Polti and Joseph Campbell. The resulting interaction frame facilitates the design of 3D environments by providing designers rich, yet standard elements that include spatial and temporal data, with which to represent complex interactions in 3D environments. This has application for the authoring of dynamically generated interactive narrative environments.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001839
Dramatic flow in interactive 3D narrative
- Authors: Macfadyen, Alyx , Stranieri, Andrew , Yearwood, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Fourth Australiasian Conference on Interactive Entertainment, IE2007, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria : 3rd-5th December 2007
- Full Text:
- Description: The concept of dramatic level is crucial for a model of dramatic flow. We present a framework to maintain optimal dramatic flow in an interactive 3D environment where both linear and emergent narratives co-exist. Unlike all other interactive narrative prototypes the framework advanced focuses on the optimal dramatic flow of the emerging user narrative so that although fragmented, it can be engaging and make sense. Using a sample narrative from Ovid’s Metamorphoses [18] we demonstrate a method to evaluate dramatic levels as plot points so that movement across narratives retains a strong dramatic flow. Although users may never choose to explore any given linear narrative in its entirety, the result is an engaging and rich narrative experience.
- Description: 2003004706
A web-based Narrative construction environment
- Authors: Yearwood, John , Stranieri, Andrew , Osman, Deanna
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at NILE 2008: 5th International Conference on Narrative and Interactive Learning Environments, Edinburgh, Scotland : 6th-8th August 2008 p. 78-81
- Full Text:
- Description: This paper describes a web-based environment for constructing narrative from story snippets contributed by a community of interest. The underlying model uses an argument based structure to infer the next event in the narrative sequence. The approach makes use of both events and higher level story elements derived from Polti’s dramatic situations. Dramatic situations used are consistent with a theme, and events are generally constrained by the dramatic situation. The narrative generated is a function of the event history, the dramatic situations chosen and the plausible inferences about next events that are contributed by a community of interest in the theme. At this stage, a player’s actions are simulated using a random selection from a set and the implementation of a nonsense filter. Example outputs from the system are provided and discussed.
- Description: 2003006499