Introduction xiii
         About the Game Development Essentials Series xiv
         About Game Story & Character Development xiv
         Who Should Read This Book? xv
         How is This Book Organized? xv
         How to Use This Text xvi
         key chapter questions xvi
         tips xvi
         sidebars xvi
         quotes xvii
         profiles xvii
         case studies xvii
         notes xvii
         chapter review xviii
         About the Companion CD xviii
         About the Instructor¿s Guide xviii
         About the Authors xix
         Acknowledgements xx
         Questions & Feedback xxii
         Dedication xxiii
         Part I: Story 1
         Chapter 1The History of Story:how we¿ve evolved as storytellers 3
         Key Chapter Questions 3
         Cave Paintings 4
         Oral Traditions 5
         Fable 7
         Myth 7
         Legend 7
         Urban Legend 8
         Ah, the Theater! 9
         The World of Text 11
         Film: Back into the Cave 12
         Television 14
         Chapter Review 17
         Chapter 2Game Genres:storytelling through style of play 19
         Key Chapter Questions 19
         Action 20
         Platformers 21
         Shooters 22
         Racing 24
         Fighting 25
         Adventure 26
         Action-Adventure 27
         Puzzle 31
         Role-Playing 32
         Simulation & Sports 36
         Turn-Based Strategy (TBS) 37
         Strategy 38
         Real-Time Strategy (RTS) 39
         Chapter Review 41
         Chapter 3Building Your Story:how to construct a story from concept to execution 43
         Key Chapter Questions 43
         Concept 44
         Springboard 45
         Setting 46
         Context 47
         Backstory 50
         Premise 53
         Synopsis or Treatment 54
         Theme 57
         Traditional Structures 58
         Three-Act Story Structure 58
         The Hero¿s Journey 60
         Episodic 63
         Devices for Execution 66
         Inciting Incident 66
         Foreshadowing 67
         Conflict 68
         Unity of Opposites 69
         Goals 70
         MacGuffin 71
         Ticking Clock 71
         Story versus Plot 72
         Plot Points 73
         Plot Twists 75
         Climax 79
         Deus Ex Machina 79
         Chapter Review 81
         Chapter 4Game Storytelling Devices:integrating game-specific elements into a story 83
         Key Chapter Questions 83
         Conveying Information 84
         Cinematics 85
         Cut-Scenes 86
         Triggered Events 87
         Player Control 89
         Character Customization 90
         Plot 91
         Consequences 92
         Engagement and Interactivity 92
         Collaboration 92
         Immersion 93
         Repetition 93
         Consistency 94
         Flow 94
         Non-Linearity 94
         Emotional Content 96
         Experiential Storytelling 96
         Creating the Emotional Experience 101
         Chapter Review 104
         Part II: Character 105
         Chapter 5Character Types:who are your characters? 107
         Key Chapter Questions 107
         Archetypes 108
         Hero 108
         Shadow 109
         Mentor 109
         Helpers 110
         Guardian 110
         Trickster 111
         Herald 111
         Contemporary Character Types 112
         Protagonist 112
         Antihero 113
         Co-Protagonists 114
         Antagonist 115
         Ancillary Characters 116
         Pivotal Character 117
         Sidekicks 117
         Lackey 118
         Allies 118
         Henchmen 119
         Mole 119
         Game-Specific Characters 119
         Player Characters (PCs) 120
         Avatar 120
         Non-Player Characters (NPCs) 121
         Chapter Review 125
         Chapter 6Character Development:building compelling characters 127
         Key Chapter Questions 127
         Creating a Character Backstory 128
         Character Physiology 128
         Character Sociology 130
         Character Psychology 132
         Discovering Character 134
         Internal Conflict 134
         Finding the Conflict: Free Writing 135
         Turning Up the Heat 136
         Compassion 138
         Ancillary Characters 139
         Consistency 139
         Character Growth 140
         Character Arc 140
         Relationships 144
         Dyad 144
         Triangle 144
         Point of View 145
         First-Person 145
         Third-Person 146
         Visual Character Development 147
         Back to the Drawing Board 147
         Character Movement 149
         Style 149
         Chapter Review 151
         Chapter 7Verbal Character Development:effective use of narration, monologue & dialogue 153
         Key Chapter Questions 153
         Narration 154
         First-Person 154
         Third-Person 155
         Monologue 156
         Dialogue 157
         Purposes of Dialogue 159
         Non-Verbal Dialogue 168
         In-Game Dialogue 168
         Writing Great Dialogue 172
         Chapter Review 177
         Part III: Gameplay 179
         Chapter 8Gameplay and Story:incorporating challenges and strategies into a game story 181
         Key Chapter Questions 181
         Conflict in Gameplay 182
         Balance 185
         Game Balance 187
         Dynamic Balance 191
         Building Tension 192
         Rules 196
         Gameplay Elements 197
         Game Theory 203
         Zero Sum vs. Non-Zero Sum 203
         Prisoner¿s Dilemma 204
         Tragedy of the Commons 205
         Level Structure 207
         Space 207
         Flow 208
         Time 209
         Choice 210
         Goal 211
         Relationship 211
         Progression 213
         Chapter Review 215
         Chapter 9Putting Your Plan into Action:implementing a successful storyplay 217
         Key Chapter Questions 217
         Your Game Plan 218
         What is the Theme? 218
         What is Your Story? 218
         What is Your Genre? 219
         What is Your Environment? 219
         What is Your Setting? 219
         What Character Types Do You Need? 220
         How to Tell It 221
         Goals 221
         Game Documentation 222
         Hamlet: Prince of Denmark 223
         Caesar¿s Quest 230
         Movies and Games 236
         Where Does the Writer Fit in? 239
         Chapter Review 243
         Resources 244
         News 244
         Directories & Communities 245
         Organizations 245
         Events 246
         Books & Articles 246
         Index 252
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