Nonlinear Storytelling Method and Tools for Low-Threshold Game Development
In our research project, an educational computer game was developed. To enable a low-threshold participation to the game development process for people with low information technology skills, tools for nonlinear storytelling software were reviewed. Nonlinear storytelling is a method in digital story...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
2019-06-01
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Series: | Seminar.net |
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Online Access: | https://journals.hioa.no/index.php/seminar/article/view/3074 |
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author | Mika Letonsaari, Dr. |
author_facet | Mika Letonsaari, Dr. |
author_sort | Mika Letonsaari, Dr. |
collection | DOAJ |
description | In our research project, an educational computer game was developed. To enable a low-threshold participation to the game development process for people with low information technology skills, tools for nonlinear storytelling software were reviewed. Nonlinear storytelling is a method in digital storytelling where the storyline is not linear but has branches. This is typical for interactive stories such as computer game plots. The aim of the study was to find easy to use tools suitable for educational game development. The history of nonlinear storytelling is shortly discussed from the early experimental literacy in pre-information technology age to hypertext and game development tools of information technology. Software for nonlinear storytelling is reviewed. Special attention is paid for usability, software licensing models, and integration with modern game engines. An open source storytelling software Twine was chosen for this project. Nonlinear stories (n = 14) were collected during the game development project. Participants were over 30 year old adults who had low information technology skills. A qualitative analysis of the collected stories is performed. Writing nonlinear stories is activity that is not familiar to most people. Common errors and misconceptions in collected stories are studied. Usability of the stories in the context of game integration is examined. These observations and findings are used to develop storytelling process more meaningful to students and to harness the nonlinear storytelling method more effectively in educational game development. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:35:51Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-aee4faa5adb94a22aae0cf770d182fc3 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1504-4831 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:35:51Z |
publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
publisher | Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences |
record_format | Article |
series | Seminar.net |
spelling | doaj.art-aee4faa5adb94a22aae0cf770d182fc32022-12-22T04:23:37ZengInland Norway University of Applied SciencesSeminar.net1504-48312019-06-01151Nonlinear Storytelling Method and Tools for Low-Threshold Game DevelopmentMika Letonsaari, Dr.0South-Eastern Finland University of Applied SciencesIn our research project, an educational computer game was developed. To enable a low-threshold participation to the game development process for people with low information technology skills, tools for nonlinear storytelling software were reviewed. Nonlinear storytelling is a method in digital storytelling where the storyline is not linear but has branches. This is typical for interactive stories such as computer game plots. The aim of the study was to find easy to use tools suitable for educational game development. The history of nonlinear storytelling is shortly discussed from the early experimental literacy in pre-information technology age to hypertext and game development tools of information technology. Software for nonlinear storytelling is reviewed. Special attention is paid for usability, software licensing models, and integration with modern game engines. An open source storytelling software Twine was chosen for this project. Nonlinear stories (n = 14) were collected during the game development project. Participants were over 30 year old adults who had low information technology skills. A qualitative analysis of the collected stories is performed. Writing nonlinear stories is activity that is not familiar to most people. Common errors and misconceptions in collected stories are studied. Usability of the stories in the context of game integration is examined. These observations and findings are used to develop storytelling process more meaningful to students and to harness the nonlinear storytelling method more effectively in educational game development.https://journals.hioa.no/index.php/seminar/article/view/3074digital storytelling, nonlinear storytelling, educational game, storytelling software |
spellingShingle | Mika Letonsaari, Dr. Nonlinear Storytelling Method and Tools for Low-Threshold Game Development Seminar.net digital storytelling, nonlinear storytelling, educational game, storytelling software |
title | Nonlinear Storytelling Method and Tools for Low-Threshold Game Development |
title_full | Nonlinear Storytelling Method and Tools for Low-Threshold Game Development |
title_fullStr | Nonlinear Storytelling Method and Tools for Low-Threshold Game Development |
title_full_unstemmed | Nonlinear Storytelling Method and Tools for Low-Threshold Game Development |
title_short | Nonlinear Storytelling Method and Tools for Low-Threshold Game Development |
title_sort | nonlinear storytelling method and tools for low threshold game development |
topic | digital storytelling, nonlinear storytelling, educational game, storytelling software |
url | https://journals.hioa.no/index.php/seminar/article/view/3074 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT mikaletonsaaridr nonlinearstorytellingmethodandtoolsforlowthresholdgamedevelopment |