Storytelling & How It's Woven Into Game Design

By Jennifer Marie Anderson


If someone makes the claim that video games are incapable of telling stories, chances are that they haven't played many modern titles. Simply put, game design has blossomed into one of the biggest storytelling platforms imaginable, regardless of how simple or intricate those tales might be. With that said, I think that it's important to discuss just how this endeavor can be carried out. Here are just a few points of interest worth covering.

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.

Does this necessarily mean that bigger budgets can be a detriment? I believe that it depends on what creators do with it. For example, "The Last of Us" is often regarded as one of the finest video games of all-time, especially from a storytelling standpoint. The plot of said game featured all kinds of twists and turns, and they were played out by some of the finest characters in this art form. As a result, a unique experience was created for anyone to get into.

It's also worth noting the emphasis on creativity over technological greatness. Yes, you may have all of the tools at your disposal to create the finest game imaginable, but this doesn't necessarily mean that the final product will be good. Game design graduates across various art colleges must account for the importance of storyboard writers and the like. It's due to the efforts of these individuals that the process of game design can be made that much more seamless.

If storytelling is left out of the equation of game design, it's likely that developers will not find the success they would desire. Video games have evolved so much over the past decade or so; as a result, players expect greater experiences for the money they put forth. Developers must work hard to create gripping experiences. What this means is that storytelling must play a role, and to say that this element matters would be an understatement.




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