StoryTelling for New Media

Students presented their final projects this last week. The assignment was to produce a narrative that took advantage of digital technologies. The rest of the guidelines were pretty broad, and thus the projects I received were fairly wide ranging, from digital games, to blog fiction, to a few that defy categorization. Below is a sampling of a few of them along with a brief description (the first contains the explanation for my new twitter icon.)

The “Story” Virus: This was one of the more inventive ideas I have received from students (not just this semester but in general). The idea is to create a website which if accessed downloads an unwanted computer program (read virus) onto your computer. This program slowly takes over your computer, mimicking a sentient AI. As the AI grows, takes over more of your computer, it tells the story of how it escaped from NEDtech, and asks users to help fight the conspiracy. Essentially this story hijacks your computer in order to deliver the narrative. While the group didn’t write the code for this narrative, they did spend a lot of time developing the pieces, from how the virus would look, sound, and appear on your computer, to the the website which would deliver the virus (don’t worry it’s safe), and most importantly a fake news article covering the virus once the creators were discovered. (It is from this article that I took my new twitter icon, as apparently I would go to jail for encouraging dangerous student behavior.)

One Frigid Morning: This is a humorous murder mystery told through various internet platforms. The setting: the refrigrator. The victim: the butter. The murderer: (I am not going to spoil it.) You can download the stop motion video of the crime and if you want to see the details of who dunnit.

Perplexing Perplex: This is also a mystery, but told as blog fiction. The authors used google maps, and photos to create a dark but humorous story. The visuals for this one are particularly striking and worth checking out. The story develops via reader input, as individuals can help track Bob through the comment section.

Robyn: This is a serial video narrative, following Robyn and her group of friends. The twist, as this video explains, is that the audience supplies the music. We talked a great deal in class about allowing user input, but also limiting the channels via which users are allowed to contribute. This narrative is a creative take on that problem.

More later as students hand them in and give me permission to share.

Nothing you need to do to prep for class on Tuesday, just show up (on time) and bring material you need to work on your final project as there will be time in class.

On Thursday we will be discussing Super Columbine Massacre RPG!. Download and play the game (you will need a PC to do this, or a virtual machine on a Mac). Play the game for at least an hour (but leave yourself a little longer as it could take you 20-30 minutes to get it installed). If you are interested there is also a movie, Playing Columbine, about the game and the controversy it caused which is on reserve at the library.

For Tuesday take a look at argn.com and the forums for unfiction these are two of the “hubs” for ARG related content.

Also over the weekend some time send me what you have so far on your final project so that I can give you and your group some feedback.

P.S. On Thursday we will be discussing Super Columbine Massacre RPG!. Download and play the game (you will need a PC to do this, or a virtual machine on a Mac). Play the game for at least an hour (but leave yourself a little longer as it could take you 20-30 minutes to get it installed). If you are interested there is also a movie, Playing Columbine, about the game and the controversy it caused which is on reserve at the library.

Thursday we will begin looking at Alternative Reality Gaming. For class read “The Puppet Master Problem” by Jane McGonigal. (This article is a critical piece, so save some extra time to read it.) Jane is one of the designers behind the now famous I Love Bees. Finally check out her latest project/ARG (now complete): The Lost Ring.

If you are unfamiliar with ARGs you might want to read the Wikipedia entry before you read the above article.

Tuesday we will continue our discussion of digital games and look at two articles which address the question of how simulation differs from other forms of representation and what it means to “play a character.” Read “Playing the Bad Guy” (eReserve) and “Representation, Enaction, and the Ethics of Simulation” (First Person). Come prepared to discuss violence and the ethics of making and playing video games.

Thursday we will continue with our discussion of Grand Theft Auto. Find an example (either online, or from one of your own personal experience) of players doing something interesting/creative/different with one of the GTA games. Come prepared to talk about this example.

Tuesday we will begin by discussing the Moulthrop piece from First Person (”From Work to Play”). If you have not already read it for last Thursday’s class do so, and come prepared to explain why, according to Moulthrop, there is such a generational conflict/angst about video games.

We will also begin our discussion of Grand Theft Auto, so play GTA (San Andreas) for at least 3 hours before Tuesday.

Note: Tuesday your one page proposal for your final project is also due.

Thursday we will continue our discussion of the relationship between storytelling and digital games by adding two additional perspectives to this question. Read “Narrative, Interactivity, Play and Games” by Eric Zimmerman and “From Work to Play” by Stuart Moulthrop. Both are available in First Person. Also you should begin to think about your final project, as Tuesday your proposal will be due. If you missed class you can download the Final Project Guidelines.

After spring break we will turn to discussing games and narrative. For Tues. March 24th read “Game Design as Narrative Architecture” by Henry Jenkins & “Towards Computer Game Studies” by Markku Eselinen. Both are in First Person. (See you after the break.)