Interactive Narrative Design/Week 3

 Interactive Narrative Design

Cai Zihan / 0378043

23/9/2025-30/9/2025/Week 3

Interactive Narrative Design/Bachelor of Design in Creative Media / Taylor's University

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TABLE OF CONTENT

INSTRUCTIONS

LECTURES

TASK 1 

FEEDBACK

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INSTRUCTIONS

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LECTURES

Lecture outline

1.Introduce 5 Narrative Elements

2.How to Design Each Element Effectively

3.Case Studies: Apply Framework For Analysis

Five Core Elements：Character，Setting，Conflict，Plot，Theme

Character

Core Question: Whom do we follow? What are their motivations and flaws?

Key Points:

-Players embody the hero through actions and choices. 

-Personality and morality shown through behavior, not just words.

-Their actions drive the plot forward, plot doesn’t happen to them

-The world reacts — NPCs, lighting, tone respond to actions.

Characteristics of a good character:

-Clear goals and reasonable motivations.

-Possesses believable flaws and undergoes gradual change.

-Players can empathize with or identify with them.

Setting

Time + Place = Mood + Meaning

In the game, scenes unfold through exploration and environmental clues that reveal the story.

A good scene should feature:

-Visual and emotional resonance.

-Rewards exploration (environmental storytelling).

-Dynamic changes based on plot progression or player actions.

Conflict

Conflict is the source of dramatic tension.

Types of Conflict:

Person vs Person – rival or enemy 

 Person vs Self – inner struggle 

 Person vs Society – oppression 

 Person vs Technology - questions around change and ethics

Characteristics of Good Conflict:

-Clear stakes (consequences for failure).

-Gradual escalation of tension.

-Choices reflecting emotional or moral struggle.

-Actions with real consequences.

Plot

Structure: Beginning → Inciting Incident → Rising Action → Climax → Resolution

Game Features: Non-linear, Choice-based, Multiple Endings.

Characteristics of Good Storytelling:

-Clear progression of goals and challenges.

-Consequences at key decision points.

-Elevated emotional pacing.

-Player actions driving the narrative.

Theme

Players “experience” themes through actions and outcomes, rather than being told.

Characteristics of good themes:

-Universally relatable (e.g., freedom, loss, love, control).

-Conveyed through gameplay, not dialogue.

-Consistent with visuals, tone, and endings.

Bringing It Together

Five elements collectively form the emotional system.

Every action and discovery reinforces core emotions.

Players are not spectators but “perform” the story through their choices.

When the world, the story, and the player's experience merge, meaning emerges naturally.

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Feedback

The professor introduced five narrative elements in class, using examples to help us understand them. After reviewing our proposals, the teacher advised me: Like the plot outlined in the lesson plan, the storyline should have twists and turns, and include references to the game.