Storytelling in Games

@scottishcolin@all_4_games

C4 has launched a number of games associated with TV programme brands, reaching mass audiences and consistently winning critical acclaim...

How Channel 4 got into games…

Snowman game installs

“Best Game”2013, 2014 & 2015

“Best Tablet App”2013“One to Watch”

2014

“Children & Young People”2015

All 4 Games was founded and then spun out of Channel 4 by by Colin Macdonald, a games industry veteran of 25+ years, ranging from starting a small 8-bit studio in the early 90’s, as Producer on the early Grand Theft Auto games, to co-founding and being Studio Manager of 300 developers at Realtime Worlds, which raised $80m in VC funding.

6

 • Linear• Comedic• Epic• Open• Interactive• Expressive• Dissonant• Literary• Inventive• Personality

(my) Ten ages of storytelling in games

7

TraditionalCraftedStrong attachment

egThe Last of UsBioshockLast Guardian

Linear

9

ObtuseInaccessibleFantasy

egGrim FandangoPortal

Comedic

11

Sprawling100+ hours gameplayCommitted

EgMass EffectThe Witcher

Epic

13

FreeformEntire worlds“Living breathing cities”Eg

Grand Theft AutoRed Dead Redemption

Open World

15

Linear storyChoice/Agency

EgWalking DeadHeavy RainFirewatch

Interactive

17

FreeformUser generated

EgMinecraft

Expressive

19

Ludo Narrative Dissonance

Eg Papers PleaseSweat Shop

Dissonant

21

NarrativeIntelligentPuzzling

egBlack barLifeline

Literary

23

Genre bustingTransmedia?!

EgHer Story

Inventive

25

Gameplay (mostly) irrelevantCompelling characterTight scriptTalented acting

EgThomas Was Alone

Personality

Blackbar / LifelineHer StoryThomas was AloneStraight white guy

@scottishcolin@all_4_games