Interface design of an interactive narrative

An interactive narrative

An interactive narrative is a form of the interactive digital interface in which users can select or construct an interesting plot for their actions. An immersive storytelling device is designed to immerse the user in an “unreal” environment in which they are led to believe they are a vital part of the overall plot. Users are led to feel that their decisions have a real impact on the narrative’s plot.

Storytelling across different forms of media

Stories have often been shared orally, visually, or in writing. The stories are transmitted across various forms of advertising, including newspapers, television, documentaries, books, and even theatrical productions. Storytelling may be explained through different types of narratives. Narratives are used on a broader scale in using narrative intelligence (Mikael & Peter, 2002). Narrative intelligence is the ability to put an experience in narrative form. Interactive intelligence is the most unique applications of narrative intelligence. Since it is a digital interactive experience, then the interface of the narrative needs to be good and creative. Interactive narratives are used as both forms of entertainment or in education institutions. The user always takes the role of a protagonist and then tries to make a storyline.

The goal of interactive narrative

The goal of using interactive narrative is to engage the user into the virtual world, get engrossed in the story to produce meaningful results. Interactive narrative is different from the other forms of digital entertainment is that it the user can chose to alter the storyline from what is expected. The key challenge is getting the user comfortable and able to navigate well throughout the storyline. That is the user has to feel he is in power of the narrative experience and the experience should be coherent too.

Interfaces in interactive narratives

From previous text, interactive narratives are an authored core story, with a social aspect in it and tend to involve the audience participation. Interface is a channel through which the user and the interactive system relate. The user has to issue some commands or signals through the interface and then the system responds regarding the command. For the audience to participate in the story, they need particular interfaces to be able to do that. Interactive narratives use technology, and are best suited since the current society is pacing fast technologically. Interactive narratives use tangible interfaces. This is the best way users can be able to maneuver and create their own storyline with ease. The interfaces create an atmosphere or environment suitable to create and get immersed in a particular storyline (Mikael & Peter, 2002).

Input devices in interactive narratives

There has to be input for the systems to respond. Most of the input devices are in hardware form. They include keyboards, mouse, and joysticks e.t.c. Other input devices are in software form. They include, menus, drop-downs, buttons and many more.

Interfaces beyond the visual and auditory sense

When one reads a novel, the imagination is always free for the reader to understand the story in their own way. When in a theatre, there is a large screen which gets us into the world of the story with ease. Same case with interactive, there are screens, mouse and maybe keyboards to be able to navigate through the story. However new tools have emerged which enable the user to go beyond the visual and auditory sense. The interfaces of interactive narratives are able to remember the navigations made by the user. This is important since they make up the whole story. The device help the user make their own links and does not get any help or assistance.

Importance of good interface designs

From my research, I think interfaces are very important and need good interface designs to attract the users. First of all, interactive narratives need an interface that can allow easy decision making nature. This is by providing the user enough information to be able to make meaningful decisions. In as much as the story is meaningful, the users should be able to exercise volition without breaking.

Designing the narrative structure

The designs should also reduce the number of oscillations and maintain integrity experience flow. The design should conceptualize the overall idea of the narrative. He would also try to determine at an abstract level the underlying narrative structure for the system (narrative structures are explained and illustrated in the next section (Ben, 2003) Finally, he would advice the programming team on the concept for the narration, but normally not initiates any direct programming tasks. The game author, on the other hand, tries to conceptualize the overall idea of the future computer game by creating a document written in a rich and colorful language. This is primarily done in an attempt to illustrate and define the atmosphere of the game. He is often faced with a different situation since he has to come up with a fictitious world.

Considerations in narrative structure design

The narrative structure should be designed in an abstract way based on a single or multiple selection paths. This path ensures the user is able to make a selection in the application. Single selection paths should be used for simple stories while the multiple selection should be used for complex stories (Ben, 2003) The design should consider interaction, narration and genres. The design of interactive is quite challenging. The introduction of the narration should be the key element. High interaction degree makes it hard to design and predict the use of the system. The design process is highly iterative. It consists of concept formulation, narrative structure design and narrative content design.

Recommended book: The Cambridge Introduction to narrative

The Cambridge Introduction to narrative book is a good book in comprehending all what narratives are about. The book will help me first know the relation between narratives and life itself. This will help in storyline coding, so that I can be able to design an interactive narrative that will be interesting to the users. The book will also aid in knowing how to organize time and express it as I design the narrative. The book contains a clear detailed introduction to narrative. A narrative will involve a succession of events; hence will require knowing how to balance them according to the time limit.(Harry, 2002)

The book will also equip me with knowledge of which boundaries I should not cross when designing and framing narratives. The most important part of a narrative is it’s narration. This is well explained in this book. All the aspects of narration, which include; narrator, voice, focalization, distance, reliability, direct style and narration on screen and stage, are all explained in the book. Having a good interactive narrative means having more users, and more users come as a result of a quality narration (Harry, 2002). Lastly, the book will help me understand how to close a narration. This is important since how a narration ends matters a lot. I need to know how to create suspense and to what level.

References

Porter H.A., (2002). The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative.

Ben Y.L., (2003). Narrative Interface Design: The use of interface elements to enhance the narrative experience in videogames.

Mikael B.S., Peter B.A.,(2002). Designing Interactive narratives