"Generative Storytelling. Unendliche Geschichten". Vortrag von Riad Djemili und Johannes Kristmann (Game Designer, Maschinen-Mensch) am 12. April 2016 im Rahmen der Games-Ringvorlesung "HERE THERE. Grenzerfahrungen zwischen realen und virtuellen Welten", Hamburg.

2. Riad
Djemili
Johannes
Kristmann

3. Combined 15+ years AAA

5. The roguelike expedition simulation
set in the 19th century

7. Procedural generation
of the world and the story

14. Many small events
each with player decisions

16. Example
Marie-Elise the superstitious cook

23. Levels of Generation

24. 1. World Level

25. World Level
Special Locations Random Camping

26. 2. Event Level

27. id: 'evt-sanity-fight',
charEffects: {
count: 2,
reqCharFlags: '+humanoid -special',
text: "A discussion between $name grew into a argument",
actions: {
actionText: "Arrest $name",
text: "We arrested $name.”
}
}
Event Level
declarative syntax

28. Event Level
id: 'evt-sanity-fight',
charEffects: {
count: 2,
reqCharFlags: '+humanoid -special',
text: "A discussion between $name grew into a argument",
actions: {
actionText: "Arrest $name",
text: "We arrested $name.”
}
}
declarative syntax

29. Event Level
id: 'evt-sanity-fight',
charEffects: {
count: 2,
reqCharFlags: '+humanoid -special',
text: "A discussion between $name grew into a argument",
actions: {
actionText: "Arrest $name",
text: "We arrested $name.”
}
}
declarative syntax

30. Event Level
id: 'evt-sanity-fight',
charEffects: {
count: 2,
reqCharFlags: '+humanoid -special',
text: "A discussion between $name grew into a argument",
actions: {
actionText: "Arrest $name",
text: "We arrested $name.”
}
}
declarative syntax

31. Event Level
id: 'evt-sanity-fight',
charEffects: {
count: 2,
reqCharFlags: '+humanoid -special',
text: "A discussion between $name grew into a argument",
actions: {
actionText: "Arrest $name",
text: "We arrested $name.”
}
}
declarative syntax

32. 3. Sentence Level

33. ”I decided it would be a [good idea|sound approach|proper
place] to stay here and told the people to [settle|rest].”
Sentence Level

34. Same Event
different interpretations

36. Classic Love Story?

37. Progressive Love Story?

38. …?

39. (Apples can kill you in Nethack)

40. That’s it!
No a grand story arch
but a very personal story

41. Events may be independent,
but the characters connect them

42. The trick is to come up with a shared vocabulary of
hooks & lugs

43. Embrace the chaos!

44. A unique story
to every player, every time they play

47. Does well on Youtube
Does not so well on Youtube

48. Travel Report
User generated content

50. A story that matters
beyond gameplay relevance

52. Why?
does the story matter so much to our players?

56. Cannibal

58. Racist

63. Allow yourself to lose control
it’s not your story, it belongs to the player

64. Thank you for your attention
@curiousexped @8bitbeard @riadd
www.curious-expedition.com