Objective:
This lab encourages the writer to think about the elements of story in games as well as the functions of a writer in games besides driving plot.
Assignment:
In this assignment, you
will be adapting a short story to the interactive setting. This does not mean you
will be taking a piece of prose and converting it to a script. Instead, you will
take the key elements of the story, and explain how they will fit in the
context of a game. You will also analyze your results. Please start early on
this as I’d like you to get distance on your response before you do the second
half.
A.
(1) Find a short story you like, or think would be particularly suited to the interactive setting.
(2) Choose a genre for a game and adapt the story to it.
(3) Think about the plot. What are the key events? What gameplay elements can you use to pair with them?
(4) What is the point of view of the story? The voice? Are they going to work in this context? Why or why not. Is there a point of view that might be better? What voice might be more appropriate?
(5) Look at the sections of summary and description. What do these sections accomplish besides “setting the scene?” How do they interact with the plot and characters?
(6) Consider the atmosphere of the game. What gameplay elements can you use to reflect this?
(7) How are you going to tell the story? Is there a way to tell it without interrupting gameplay?
(8) What needs to change? This is an adaptation, not a port. Do you need to add a new character to act as the narrator? Are there passages that aren’t necessary to the meaning?
(9) What metaphors exist in the story? How will you translate these into the game?
Choose a second genre of game and answer (2) – (10) again.
B. Put this aside for a while.
C. Revisit your part A. How successful do you feel your adaptations were? What worked? What didn’t? What do you think might be a good solution to the issues you have with your adaptations? Are there any solutions? Which adaptation was better? Why? Which was truer to the story? Which was truer to the spirit of the story? Feel free to add your own analysis.
This lab project is due Friday, September 22rd by 11:59pm (midnight).