The Elements of a Narrative Environment

Reactions reflecting the psychology behind a user’s desire to play games have been addressed in a number of studies. However, this paper focuses on a more inclusive understanding of how game elements, such as controls and objects, play their part in interactive storytelling and games. Based on findings from user studies and game theory, an open game world was constructed, in order to serve as a test environment. A survey was then developed in order to identify reactions and patterns in user responses to frequently used game elements. This study thus attempts to provide an insight into general reactions to game elements in open game worlds, and it aims at laying the foundations for defining a process which can be applied to user relations with game elements. Furthermore, it has potential uses for improved game and interactive storytelling application design.