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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Main Author: Mika Letonsaari, Dr.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences 2019-06-01
Series:Seminar.net
Subjects:
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.
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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