Narrative Urgency: Motivating Action in Interactive Digital Media

Bjørn Anker Gjøl; Niels Valentin Jørgensen; Luis Emilio Bruni

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-33894-7_19

Narrative Urgency: Motivating Action in Interactive Digital Media

Bjørn Anker Gjøl, Niels Valentin Jørgensen, Luis Emilio Bruni

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Article in proceeding › Research › peer-review

Abstract

In this paper, we address specific problems related to the temporal development of narratives in games and interactive media in general. Game narratives can be inconsequential when they progress isolated from coherent temporal aspects, which in turn affects the possibility for pacing and experiencing a dramatic arc. The problem arises when the agency afforded to the players leads them to pursue non-narrative activities, which “put the story on hold”.
We introduce the concept of narrative urgency in interactive narratives as a means of discussing and avoiding this issue. While ‘agency’ is the potential to act in interactive narratives, ‘urgency’ would be the desire to do so in the narrative context. This may serve as a starting point for designers to explore how players can be motivated to take actions that enable optimal narrative coherency and enhance suspension of disbelief.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Interactive Storytelling : 12th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling, ICIDS 2019, Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT, USA, November 19–22, 2019, Proceedings
Editors	Rogelio E. Cardona-Rivera, Anne Sullivan, R. Michael Young
Number of pages	5
Publisher	Springer
Publication date	2019
Pages	178–182
ISBN (Print)	978-3-030-33893-0
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-030-33894-7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33894-7_19
Publication status	Published - 2019
Event	12th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling - Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT, United States Duration: 19 Nov 2019 → 22 Nov 2019 https://icids.eae.utah.edu/

Conference

Conference	12th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling
Location	Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT
Country/Territory	United States
Period	19/11/2019 → 22/11/2019
Internet address	https://icids.eae.utah.edu/

Series	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume	11869
ISSN	0302-9743

Keywords

Interactive digital narratives
Narrative-driven games
Storytelling
Narrative time
Time frames
Temporality
Urgency
Agency

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10.1007/978-3-030-33894-7_19

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Cite this

Gjøl, B. A., Jørgensen, N. V., & Bruni, L. E. (2019). Narrative Urgency: Motivating Action in Interactive Digital Media. In R. E. Cardona-Rivera, A. Sullivan, & R. M. Young (Eds.), Interactive Storytelling: 12th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling, ICIDS 2019, Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT, USA, November 19–22, 2019, Proceedings (pp. 178–182). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33894-7_19

Gjøl, Bjørn Anker ; Jørgensen, Niels Valentin ; Bruni, Luis Emilio. / Narrative Urgency : Motivating Action in Interactive Digital Media. Interactive Storytelling: 12th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling, ICIDS 2019, Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT, USA, November 19–22, 2019, Proceedings. editor / Rogelio E. Cardona-Rivera ; Anne Sullivan ; R. Michael Young. Springer, 2019. pp. 178–182 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 11869).

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title = "Narrative Urgency: Motivating Action in Interactive Digital Media",

abstract = "In this paper, we address specific problems related to the temporal development of narratives in games and interactive media in general. Game narratives can be inconsequential when they progress isolated from coherent temporal aspects, which in turn affects the possibility for pacing and experiencing a dramatic arc. The problem arises when the agency afforded to the players leads them to pursue non-narrative activities, which “put the story on hold”.We introduce the concept of narrative urgency in interactive narratives as a means of discussing and avoiding this issue. While {\textquoteleft}agency{\textquoteright} is the potential to act in interactive narratives, {\textquoteleft}urgency{\textquoteright} would be the desire to do so in the narrative context. This may serve as a starting point for designers to explore how players can be motivated to take actions that enable optimal narrative coherency and enhance suspension of disbelief.",

keywords = "Interactive digital narratives, Narrative-driven games, Storytelling, Narrative time, Time frames, Temporality, Urgency, Agency",

author = "Gj{\o}l, {Bj{\o}rn Anker} and J{\o}rgensen, {Niels Valentin} and Bruni, {Luis Emilio}",

year = "2019",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-030-33894-7_19",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-3-030-33893-0",

series = "Lecture Notes in Computer Science",

publisher = "Springer",

pages = "178–182",

editor = "Cardona-Rivera, {Rogelio E.} and Anne Sullivan and Young, {R. Michael}",

booktitle = "Interactive Storytelling",

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note = "12th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling , ICIDS 2019 ; Conference date: 19-11-2019 Through 22-11-2019",

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Gjøl, BA, Jørgensen, NV & Bruni, LE 2019, Narrative Urgency: Motivating Action in Interactive Digital Media. in RE Cardona-Rivera, A Sullivan & RM Young (eds), Interactive Storytelling: 12th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling, ICIDS 2019, Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT, USA, November 19–22, 2019, Proceedings. Springer, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 11869, pp. 178–182, 12th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling , United States, 19/11/2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33894-7_19

Narrative Urgency: Motivating Action in Interactive Digital Media. / Gjøl, Bjørn Anker; Jørgensen, Niels Valentin; Bruni, Luis Emilio.
Interactive Storytelling: 12th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling, ICIDS 2019, Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT, USA, November 19–22, 2019, Proceedings. ed. / Rogelio E. Cardona-Rivera; Anne Sullivan; R. Michael Young. Springer, 2019. p. 178–182 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 11869).

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Article in proceeding › Research › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Narrative Urgency

T2 - 12th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling

AU - Gjøl, Bjørn Anker

AU - Jørgensen, Niels Valentin

AU - Bruni, Luis Emilio

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - In this paper, we address specific problems related to the temporal development of narratives in games and interactive media in general. Game narratives can be inconsequential when they progress isolated from coherent temporal aspects, which in turn affects the possibility for pacing and experiencing a dramatic arc. The problem arises when the agency afforded to the players leads them to pursue non-narrative activities, which “put the story on hold”.We introduce the concept of narrative urgency in interactive narratives as a means of discussing and avoiding this issue. While ‘agency’ is the potential to act in interactive narratives, ‘urgency’ would be the desire to do so in the narrative context. This may serve as a starting point for designers to explore how players can be motivated to take actions that enable optimal narrative coherency and enhance suspension of disbelief.

AB - In this paper, we address specific problems related to the temporal development of narratives in games and interactive media in general. Game narratives can be inconsequential when they progress isolated from coherent temporal aspects, which in turn affects the possibility for pacing and experiencing a dramatic arc. The problem arises when the agency afforded to the players leads them to pursue non-narrative activities, which “put the story on hold”.We introduce the concept of narrative urgency in interactive narratives as a means of discussing and avoiding this issue. While ‘agency’ is the potential to act in interactive narratives, ‘urgency’ would be the desire to do so in the narrative context. This may serve as a starting point for designers to explore how players can be motivated to take actions that enable optimal narrative coherency and enhance suspension of disbelief.

KW - Interactive digital narratives

KW - Narrative-driven games

KW - Storytelling

KW - Narrative time

KW - Time frames

KW - Temporality

KW - Urgency

KW - Agency

UR - https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-33894-7_19

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-33894-7_19

DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-33894-7_19

M3 - Article in proceeding

SN - 978-3-030-33893-0

T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science

SP - 178

EP - 182

BT - Interactive Storytelling

A2 - Cardona-Rivera, Rogelio E.

A2 - Sullivan, Anne

A2 - Young, R. Michael

PB - Springer

Y2 - 19 November 2019 through 22 November 2019

ER -

Gjøl BA, Jørgensen NV, Bruni LE. Narrative Urgency: Motivating Action in Interactive Digital Media. In Cardona-Rivera RE, Sullivan A, Young RM, editors, Interactive Storytelling: 12th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling, ICIDS 2019, Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT, USA, November 19–22, 2019, Proceedings. Springer. 2019. p. 178–182. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 11869). doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-33894-7_19

Narrative Urgency: Motivating Action in Interactive Digital Media

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

AUB Link

Other files and links

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ViZARTS: Visualization and Adaptive Real-Time Storytelling - for Film, Animation and Games

Cite this

Narrative Urgency: Motivating Action in Interactive Digital Media

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

AUB Link

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

ViZARTS: Visualization and Adaptive Real-Time Storytelling - for Film, Animation and Games

Cite this