This is a comprehensive guidebook for long-term storytelling in mobile games and games-as-a-service (aka live games). The book formalizes creative techniques of game writing and narrative design for a platform (and revenue model) that has shown drastic growth and changes over the past few years. The unique challenges of mobile games and live games are also increasingly relevant across the whole games industry. With hybrid consoles like the Nintendo Switch, cloud gaming and cross-platform titles, the lines between mobile and console have begun to blur. Additionally, many games now offer live support to extend player engagement.
The book starts with an introduction to narrative design and the world of mobile games, followed by a deep dive into open-ended and seasonal storytelling. Besides the creative aspect of development, it covers areas of production like documentation, collaboration, and monetization. To illustrate its solutions, it uses examples from video games and other media, specifically screenwriting for TV shows.
This book will be of great interest to all game narrative and writing professionals working on mobile and live games.
PART I: INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Chapter 1 What is Narrative Design?
Chapter 2 An Overview of Narrative Design
Chapter 3 Why does Narrative Design matter?
PART II: INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING
Chapter 4 Introduction to Interactive Storytelling
Chapter 5 Interactive Storytelling Structures
Chapter 6 Open-Ended Storytelling Structures
PART III: LIVE GAME STORYTELLING
Chapter 7 Introduction to Mobile Game Storytelling
Chapter 8 Introduction to Live Game Storytelling
Chapter 9 Learning from Other Media
Chapter 10 Building the Narrative Foundation
Chapter 11 Narrative Tools
Chapter 12 Planning Your Seasons
Chapter 13 Writing a Season’s Plot
Chapter 14 Keeping a Long-running Story Interesting
Chapter 15 Best Practices
PART IV: BEYOND A GAME’S STORY
Chapter 16 Transmedia Storytelling
Chapter 17 Narrative Monetization
PART V: CONCLUSION
Conclusion
Biography
Valentina "Val" Tamer is a narrative designer and game writer with several years of experience in the games industry, throughout which she’s crafted engaging stories for a wide range of videogames, from mobile games to narrative adventures. Val is currently working as Senior Narrative Designer for Ubisoft Paris Mobile.
