The simulation of narrative Nicolas Szilas IDtension nicolas.szilas@idtension.com

The simulation of narrative

Nicolas Szilas

IDtension www.idtension.com

nicolas.szilas@idtension.com

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Outline

Interactive Narrative/Drama

Various approaches in Interactive Drama

IDtension

Conclusion/discussion

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Interactivity and story in videogames

3 types :

Description / exploration

ObstaclesCognitive = puzzles

Motor = fights, etc.{

Branching

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Branching...

Explosion!

Frustration...

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Interactivity and story in videogames

3 types :

Description / exploration

ObstaclesCognitive = puzzles

Motor = fights, etc.{

Branching Explosion!

Frustration...

6

« Interactive Drama »

Virtual world with characters

Player = one character

Narrative

The player can perform any action on the virtual world that the other characters can perform.

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Three main points of view

User point of view– role of the user– HCI

Author point of view– Role of the author– Authoring tools

Technical point of view– How to make it work– Models of narrative

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Intelligents agents– Videogames (Creatures, B&W, Sims, Babyz,etc.)– Narrative characters (Univ. Teesside)– Emergence...

Generic (multi)linearity– Plot points (CMU, Inesc)– Scene succession (B. Majerko, Facade)– Propp model (Darmstadt)

Simulation– Planning (NCSU, N. Sgouros)– Structural description (U. Aalborg, IDtension)

The approaches

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Example: Creatures

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Example : Creatures

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Example : Creatures

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Example : The Sims

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Example : Univ. of Teesside

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Example : Inesc

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Example : Façade

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Example: IDtension

The approach:

Simulate the narrative

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Metaphor # 1

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Metaphor # 2

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The theoretical model

Discourse Layer

Story layer

Perception layer

Intention, system of values.

Characters, goals, obstacle, actions,transformation, etc.

Cognitive factors,emotions

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The Architecture

World of the story

User Model

User

Theatre

Narrative Logic

Virtual Narrator

User ModelWorld of the story

Discourse / Story / Perception

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Zoom on the world of the storyCharacters

{-X}

Goals

{+Y}

Y

Tasks

XObstacle

Values

-1

0

attt

-1

0

ACTIONSDecideInformEncourageDissuadeAcceptRefusePerformCondemnCongratulate

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Zoom on the narrative effects

Ethical consistencyMotivational consistencyRelevanceCognitive loadCharacterizationConflictSuspense, surprise, spectacle

Realism

Cognitive

Emotions

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Example

Anna Bill Sylvie Mr D.

Rich

Witnesshas

retracted

Havemoney

Takeholidays

Out of Europe

Not rich

-1

0

-1

0

Buy witness

Kill witness

NO

N V

IOL

EN

CE

LA

WF

UL

LN

ES

S

Travel to Bangkok

Rob the bank

Joe Mrs D

Out ofEurope

Policeincredulous

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Simulation: Initial conditions

Joe wishes to to change Mr D. ’s testimony

Anna and Bill know thatAnna knows Joe could buy Mr D.Bill knows Joe could kill Mr D.

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Simulation: Two modes

Automatic generation

Interactive

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Results in automatic mode (1/2)• Anna tells Joe he could try to buy Mr D., the witness

• Joe accepts

• Bill tells Joe to kill Mr D.

• Joe refuses to do that.

• Joe tells Anna he could kill Mr D.

• Anna encourages him to do so!

• Joe tells Anna he wants to buy Mr D.

• Anna encourages him to do so

• Bill incites Joe to kill Mr D.

• Joe meets Mr D.

• He proposes him some money for changing his testimony, but Mr D. wants a lot of money, and Joe is not rich enough

• He then decides to get money

• He tells Anna about it

• Joe tells Sylvie he could kill Mr D.

• Sylvie dissuades him to do so!

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Results in automatic mode (2/2)

• Joe tells her he is trying to get money

• He tells Bill too about it

• Bill inform him that he could rob the bank

• Joe accepts.

• He tells Anna he wants to rob the bank

• Anna encourages him to do it

• He tells Bill about his intention two

• Bill encourages to do it

• He tells Sylvie about his intention

• Sylvie dissuades him to do so

• Joe robs the bank, and he is successful

• He pays Mr D.

• He obtains the withdrawal of testimony from MR D.

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Results in interactive mode

First turn:Anna tells Joe he could try to buy Mr D., the witness

• Joe tells Bill he could buy Mr D.• Joe tells Sylvie he could buy Mr D.• Joe tells Mr D. he wishes to change Mr D.’s

testimony• Joe tells Mrs D. he wishes to change Mr D.’s

testimony• Joe accepts to buy Mr D.• Joe refuses to buy Mr D.

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Results in interactive mode

Second turn:Bill tells Joe to kill Mr D.

• Joe tells Anna he wants to buy Mr D.

• Joe tells Bill he wants to buy Mr D.

• Joe tells Sylvie he wants to buy Mr D.

• Joe tells Mr D. he wants to buy Mr D.

• Joe tells Mrs D. he wants to buy Mr D.

• Joe tells Anna he could kill Mr D.

• Joe tells Sylvie he could kill Mr D.

• Joe tells Mr D. he wishes to change Mr D.’s testimony

• Joe tells Mrs D. he wishes to change Mr D.’s testimony

• Joe accepts to kill Mr D.

• Joe refuses to kill Mr D.

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Conclusion: key points

SimulationA broad model of narrativeFrequency, range, significance

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Open questions

(Im)possibility of IN

The HCI

The meaning of the action

Art or entertainment?

Market?

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Nicolas Szilas1, rue des Trois Couronnes

75011 Paris, France

nicolas.szilas@idtension.com

IDtension www.idtension.com

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