164 – Storytelling in Video Games

April 1st, 2018 by Oren Ashkenazi, Wes Matlock and Rhys Subitch

What’s this? Rhys has returned and they wish to discuss storytelling in video games? Then that’s what we’re going to do this week. We cover the general best practices that apply across all mediums, and the specific factors that only apply to video games. Have you ever wondered what considerations should be made for video game protagonists? What about how well mechanics should match the story? Listen and find out!

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Opening and closing theme: The Princess Who Saved Herself by Jonathan Coulton. Used with permission.

Show Notes:

Extra Credits Hidden Mechanics

Planescape Torment

Pillars of Eternity

Abzu

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Comments

Julia
April 2, 2018 at 3:44 pm

You kids are spoiled! *wheeze* Back in my day we didn’t have storytelling in games. We just had two bars bouncing a black square back and forth, or a yellow pie chart eating pellets and fruit in a maze. And we liked it!

*shakes fist at the sky*

(jk – great podcast as always.)

Reply to Julia
Oren Ashkenazi
April 2, 2018 at 3:47 pm

And we had to install them uphill, both ways! We wore floppy discs for shoes!

Reply to Oren Ashkenazi
Sedivak
April 16, 2018 at 10:08 am

For storytelling in video games I was completely amazed by Secret World: Legends. Sure the graphics are quite standard and the combat system could be rightfully criticised but the atmosphere is unforgettable and the lore is both exquisitely written and engaging.

I recomend you try it for a while and learn about Gaia and the Buzzing, The Dreamers and the Filth, The Haunted House on Solomon Island or the League of Monster Hunters. The complete lore can probably be found somewhere on the game’s wiki but i think that finding it ingame is much more interesting.

“Our wisdom flows so sweet. Taste and see.”

Reply to Sedivak

164 – Storytelling in Video Games

Show Notes:

Comments

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