Multiplayer interactive narrative experiences: understanding player interaction in authored non-linear narratives

Abstract

Interactive Narrative (IN) is a type of storytelling in which the dramatic storyline is created and influenced through the players’ actions, within a system defined by a set of rules. Examples of this range from gamebooks to hypertext to modern narrative games. However, research has predominantly focused on the single player narrative experience. Limited research exists that explores multiplayer interactive narratives, and many of its interesting properties are overlooked. These include multiplayer differentiability (where each player as a distinct narrative experience to the others) and inter-player interaction, and the role it plays it shaping the multiplayer experience. This thesis explores the concept of multiplayer narrative experiences (MINEs), which are INs that feature interplayer agency and distinct narratives for each player. It begins to answer questions like: How can we create MINEs? What types of interaction can exist within multiplayer narrative? How do those interactions affect the multiplayer experience? To begin answering these questions, a classification of interactions in multiplayer video games was performed, resulting in a framework consisting of 9 characteristics that distinguish between different interactions in a medium-agnostic way. Following this, a model was designed based on sculptural hypertext that supports each of these these types of interaction. This model was then implemented by extending an existing system for storytelling using sculptural hypertext, StoryPlaces, to create StoryMINE. An experimental narrative as co-authored with two creative writers. Written for StoryMINE, it allows a player to experience a range of interaction types in a controlled manner. This narrative was then experienced by 22 participants split into 11 pairs, who were then interviewed about their experience. Inductive coding and thematic analysis of the interviews reveal 5 themes and 4 supporting factors, along with other ways in which the multiplayer element modified the experience. These results show that MINEs offer an experience distinct from that of single player IN and multiplayer games, and that MINEs possess several interesting attributes that deserve further study.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Callum Spawforth: orcid.org/0000-0002-1751-4820

ORCID for David Millard: orcid.org/0000-0002-7512-2710

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