Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Game Design & The Art Of Storytelling

By Jennifer Marie Anderson


In this day and age, video games have become nothing short of exciting storytelling vehicles. It's a great way for creators to bring their ideas to life, through the art of interaction, and to say that game design holds popularity would be an understatement. With that said, though, I think that it's important to talk about how stories can be told through gaming. To better understand this unique topic, here are a few points that are worth discussing.

One of the ways for storytelling to occur, in game design, is with actions. Sometimes, a game can tell so little and yet convey a tremendous amount of detail. Many independent developers have been able to overcome the hurdles of big budget costs and the like by simply using their games to present narratives. Many of these titles - "Thomas Was Alone" being one of the more streamlined examples - have gone on to become favorites amongst gamers. This is just one of the many talking points to be illustrated by any Long Island advertising agency.

Of course, established companies with greater budgets have an easier time creating stories. "The Last of Us," while strong in terms of gameplay, presented a story of loss and tragedy that helped players empathize with characters. They wanted to see the characters in question succeed at survival, before reaching a conclusion that any user could be satisfied with. It felt like watching a movie, in some cases, rendering the sense of immersion that much stronger.

Technological features can go a long way, but they do not always guarantee the greatest story. Game design hinges on creativity, and this goes for the writing as well. Even if someone doesn't have the greatest technical expertise, he or she can still get involved in game development as a draft or storyboard writer. That individual can receive feedback from their higher-ups, before returning to their work so that adjustments can be made. To say that art colleges feature various opportunities would be an understatement.

Without storytelling, game design stands a lesser chance of coming about. There's no denying the importance of this endeavor, not only from a creative standpoint but in the business sense as well. Game designers should work with the purpose of making money, which can only be done with the creation of gripping tales and high-quality products. Storytelling plays a massive role in this, meaning that it should never be discredited.




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