Environmental Storytelling as a Primary Narrative Technique
By: Rachel Maille
Supervisor: Michael McCoy
Master of Interactive Technology degree conferred May 17, 2008
Thesis / Project completed April 28, 2008

This thesis explores the effectiveness of using a game’s environment to imply narrative.  Games are an interactive media, and it is the designer’s role to provide those interactions while reducing or eliminating non-interactive elements.  For story-centered games, the designer must carefully balance the need to present goals and critical story elements with the player’s need to stay in constant control.  Unfortunately, the traditional storytelling techniques of dialogue and cutscenes usually remove the player from direct control of the game.  This thesis looks at environmental storytelling as a possible way to bridge the gap between providing an engaging story and providing an engaging gameplay experience.  The results of this research indicated that players were willing to interpret clues and create their own stories.  However, it indicated that combat and strong, interactive elements inhibited their ability to do so.

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