[Video] Storytelling and Video Games

I am an educated nerd with a great appreciation for storytelling. I have an MA in English Literature with a focus in 18-century British Literature.  My primary focus in these days included the works of Jonathan Swift, William Shakespeare, and John Milton. 


The following video is about 10 minutes, which is the type of talks that we want to have at the Big Design Conference. 

Key Takeaways

Games have the potential for great storytelling.  The gaming systems of today are interactive with all of the visual flare of films--plot, character, action, and so on.  Characters can now move through space and time, overcoming great obstacles, which is the primary purpose of any game.

Some interesting notes made in the video:

• Well-written games do not usually sell like action games.
• Developers are creating the narratives, which makes storytelling in games poor.
• Writers are usually brought in the last minute to clean up dialogue.

Game narratives can create a deeper, more meaningful experience for the participants.  Gaming narratives should be the work of writers, who are well versed in the concepts of plot, pacing, character development, themes, and so on.

What to Expect at Big Design Conference 2011

We are planning to have speakers talk about game narratives at the conference. We want to look at the game track in a different way.