For my final paper I would like argue the idea that while not all video games are considered texts or stories, there are some video games out there that still can be used as a story telling device and could completely change the user opinion of the game. There are hundreds of sources arguing against the use of video games, but I have found some that refute this claim. The main focus of my paper will be examining one game and discussing how it is able to use different narrative devices in order to tell a exciting story while still remaining an enjoyable electronic game.
The game that I will be examining is Mass Effect. Mass Effect is a perfect example of how game creators were able to use narrative and interactive devices to create an excellent video game. While this game has a great story as well as great gameplay, there have been some interesting “bumps in the road” that may throw the user off. This may have been due to the rush to release this game (as many video games are done these days). Besides that, this game is a solid one.So here are some of my sources that I plan on using.
1. Kendira, A. "Virstory: A Collaborative Virtual Storytelling." Entertainment Computing: International Conference of Entertainment Computing 2006, Cambridge, UK, September 2006, Proceedings. Berlin ; New York: Springer, 2006. 1 Dec. 2010. Web.
This article focuses on a study that was done, where the researchers looked at the human interaction between digital storytelling and 3D gesture recognition technology. I want to use this because most gaming systems that are sold today come with some sort of 3D gesture recognition technology, which could phase out the use of a controller.
2. Jimenez-Diaz, G. "Pass the Ball: Game-Based Learning of Software Design." Entertainment Computing: International Conference of Entertainment Computing 2007, Cambridge, UK, September 2007, Proceedings. Berlin ; New York: Springer, 2007. 3 Dec. 2010. Web.
This article studies the way people, especially young children learn from video games. The authors devised a study where an entire class room was taught in game-based environment which was supposed to give that "virtual experience".
3. Clarke, Andy and Grethe Mitchell. “Film and the Development of Interactive Narrative.” Virtual Storytelling: Using Virtual Reality Technologies for Storytelling: International Conference ICVS 2001, Avignon, France, September 27, 2001: Proceedings. Berlin ; New York: Springer, 2001. 1 Dec. 2010. Web.
This article talks about there are different ways filmmakers use the camera to make the story more exciting. They then go on to talk about these techniques are used in the creation of video games. The authors agree that video games are a good source of storytelling, so this article will really help my report.
4. Lee, Y. “A Context-Based Storytelling with a Responsive Multimedia System.” Virtual Storytelling: Using Virtual Reality Technologies for Storytelling: International Conference ICVS 2005, Strasbourg, France, November/December, 2005: Proceedings. Berlin ; New York: Springer, 2005. 3 Dec. 2010. Web.
I found this article interesting because the author states that gaming systems that are in production today fall under the term RMS or Responsive Multimedia System. He goes on to state that people are able to understand information better through a virtual environment, however each experience was different depending on the user experience, knowledge, age, gender, etc.
