Narrative and Gameplay Design in the Story-Driven Videogame: a Case Study on the Last of Us
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NARRATIVE AND GAMEPLAY DESIGN IN THE STORY-DRIVEN VIDEOGAME: A CASE STUDY ON THE LAST OF US Kelsey Cameron A thesis submitted to Auckland University of Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Communication Studies (MCS) 2017 School of Communication Studies Abstract The story-driven trend over the last decade has experimented with incorporating narrative into the videogame alongside traditional gameplay. This study analyses some of the challenges when integrating narrative into the videogaming paradigm. A case study using formal analysis and close reading research methods analyses a critically and culturally acclaimed videogame titled The Last of Us. This study investigates the various design patterns of narrative and gameplay in The Last of Us to explore how narrative can be incorporated in the medium more effectively. Rather than using narrative as a subordinate feature within the system in The Last of Us, it is treated as a crucial component alongside the gameplay. Through various design methods, narrative and gameplay are layered together and overlap when the game is interacted with. Instead of competing for the player’s attention, both the narrative and gameplay support one another throughout the game. This case study on the narrative and gameplay design in The Last of Us and the emergent implications of the design decisions demonstrates how story can enhance the experiential capabilities in the videogame medium. ii Table of Contents ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ II TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ III LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................. VI LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................... VI ATTESTATION OF AUTHORSHIP ......................................................................................VIII ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................... IX CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 10 1.1 Research Problem .......................................................................................................................... 10 1.2 Significance of the Study ................................................................................................................ 13 1.3 Thesis Structure .............................................................................................................................. 14 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................... 16 2.1 Videogames as Complex Systems ................................................................................................. 16 2.2 Designed Systems: Videogames as Artefacts ................................................................................ 18 2.2.1 Embedded gameplay components .......................................................................................... 18 2.2.1.1 Rules ................................................................................................................................. 19 2.2.1.2 Goals ................................................................................................................................. 19 2.2.1.3 Mechanics ......................................................................................................................... 20 2.2.2 Embedded narrative components ............................................................................................ 20 2.2.2.1 Narrative structure ............................................................................................................. 21 2.2.2.2 Narrative devices .............................................................................................................. 22 2.2.2.3 Narrative architecture ........................................................................................................ 24 2.3 Emergent Systems: Videogames as Activities ............................................................................... 27 2.3.1 Emergence through play .......................................................................................................... 27 2.3.2 Emergent narratives ................................................................................................................. 28 2.4 The Player’s Role ............................................................................................................................ 30 2.4.1 A player’s perspective .............................................................................................................. 31 2.4.2 Meaningful agency ................................................................................................................... 31 2.4.3 Immersion ................................................................................................................................ 32 2.5 A Gaming Context: The Story-Driven Design Trend ....................................................................... 33 2.6 Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 37 CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................... 38 3.1 Mixed Methods ................................................................................................................................ 38 iii 3.1.1 Case study ............................................................................................................................... 38 3.1.2 Formal analysis ........................................................................................................................ 39 3.1.3 Close reading ........................................................................................................................... 39 3.2 Research Design ............................................................................................................................. 40 3.2.1 Major components of the game system: narrative, gameplay, and the player ........................ 41 3.2.2 Data analysis ............................................................................................................................ 42 3.3 Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 45 CHAPTER 4. GAMEPLAY AND NARRATIVE DESIGN IN THE LAST OF US .............................. 46 4.1 Case Description: Bill’s Town ......................................................................................................... 47 4.2 Components of Narrative Design .................................................................................................... 49 4.2.1 Narrative structure: The Hero’s Journey .................................................................................. 50 4.2.2 Narrative devices ..................................................................................................................... 53 4.2.2.1 Dialogue ............................................................................................................................ 54 4.2.2.2 Cutscenes ......................................................................................................................... 55 4.2.2.3 Point-of-view ..................................................................................................................... 57 4.2.3 Narrative architecture ............................................................................................................... 58 4.3 Components of Gameplay Design .................................................................................................. 61 4.3.1 Rules ........................................................................................................................................ 62 4.3.2 Goals ........................................................................................................................................ 64 4.3.3 Mechanics ................................................................................................................................ 66 4.4 Integrative Structure of Narrative and Gameplay Design and the Emergent Implications of Design Decisions .................................................................................................................................. 70 4.5 Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 74 CHAPTER 5. BRIDGING THE STORY-GAME GAP ................................................................ 75 5.1 The Players Role in Both Story and Game ..................................................................................... 75 5.1.1 A fixed narrative ....................................................................................................................... 76 5.1.2 Disguising the fixed narrative ..................................................................................................