11-02-2018, 04:41 PM
Video: How devs can find the right branching narrative structure
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/video-how-devs-can-find-the-right-branching-narrative-structure.jpg" width="200" height="200" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p>For RPGs, choice, consequence and replayability are viewed as crucial aspects of the genre. How can developers provide players with a satisfying experience without tripling or quadrupling their workload?</p>
<p>In this 2016 GDC talk, academic Jay Taylor-Laird explains how to more effectively use a story map as a creative and analytical tool when making narrative games.</p>
<p>Taylor-Laird compares three common branching structures, discussing the positives and negatives from both story and production perspectives.</p>
<p>He explains why the repeating diamond narrative or parallel paths structure is most successful in providing a satisfying branching experience, without the headache of a traditional branching narrative.</p>
<p>It was an insightful talk that’s still worth watching, so developers shouldn’t miss the opportunity to do so now that it’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xrsn2HBs6w">freely available on the official GDC YouTube channel!</a></p>
<p>In addition to this presentation, the <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/">GDC Vault</a> and its accompanying <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0JB7TSe49lg56u6qH8y_MQ/feed">YouTube channel</a> offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent <a href="http://www.gdconf.com/">Game Developers Conference events</a>, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.</p>
<p>Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC or VRDC already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/inquiry/">a GDC Vault subscription page</a>. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/demo/">GDC Vault group subscription page</a>. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/contact_us.php">contact GDC Vault technical support</a>.</p>
<p><em><strong>Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Americas.</strong></em></p>
</div>
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/video-how-devs-can-find-the-right-branching-narrative-structure.jpg" width="200" height="200" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p>For RPGs, choice, consequence and replayability are viewed as crucial aspects of the genre. How can developers provide players with a satisfying experience without tripling or quadrupling their workload?</p>
<p>In this 2016 GDC talk, academic Jay Taylor-Laird explains how to more effectively use a story map as a creative and analytical tool when making narrative games.</p>
<p>Taylor-Laird compares three common branching structures, discussing the positives and negatives from both story and production perspectives.</p>
<p>He explains why the repeating diamond narrative or parallel paths structure is most successful in providing a satisfying branching experience, without the headache of a traditional branching narrative.</p>
<p>It was an insightful talk that’s still worth watching, so developers shouldn’t miss the opportunity to do so now that it’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xrsn2HBs6w">freely available on the official GDC YouTube channel!</a></p>
<p>In addition to this presentation, the <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/">GDC Vault</a> and its accompanying <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0JB7TSe49lg56u6qH8y_MQ/feed">YouTube channel</a> offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent <a href="http://www.gdconf.com/">Game Developers Conference events</a>, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.</p>
<p>Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC or VRDC already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/inquiry/">a GDC Vault subscription page</a>. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/demo/">GDC Vault group subscription page</a>. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/contact_us.php">contact GDC Vault technical support</a>.</p>
<p><em><strong>Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Americas.</strong></em></p>
</div>