I’m about half way through reading Chris Crawford’s “On Interactive Storytelling”. I am glad I picked up this version. After reading the older version I realized he has made many changes; mostly for the better.
I do have to admit I am a bit concerned after reading Part III in his book, “Evolutionary Strategies”. He spends the four chapters analysing and criticizing all other attempts at Interactive Storytelling. While his observations seem to hold water I am a bit concerned of his decided fatality of each of the prior media formats leaves very little opportunity to jump to the next level.
The branching tree strategy seems very limited by its pure scale. I would agree this is far too limiting and not a good way to go..
Interactive Fiction seems very interesting. I can’t help but wonder if the obstacles this format faces are not similar obstacles a successful interactive story telling engine will have to overcome. It seems like limited vocabulary and the rut stuck in puzzles will be very formidable to overcome.
Role playing games are very dear to my heart. I loved playing Dungeons and Dragons when I was a kid. I love playing it with my kids. However, the warnings of the genre being too specialized and refined are valid. Folks who love role playing game don’t want interactive storytelling. However, I feel as if some kind of Juxtaposition between Interactive Fiction and Role Playing games is where Interactive Storytelling will need to grow from.
I also agree that Video games can not be Interactive stories. they are two separate mediums and combining them will not only be expensive but time consuming and ultimately wasteful. I do love the end note of the chapter that hints at procedurally generated environments. I like to deviate from the word “Procedural” and focus on Grammar Based Universes instead. I feel that GBU’s are a key component to Interactive Storytelling and thus I have devoted a large portion of my web site to this study.
I wonder why Crawford did not consider movies. He basically tore apart this concept earlier in the book. I guess he felt it was not necessary to beat a dead horse. Indeed fil is almost as non-interactive as you can get. But there are some very important components in film which will need to migrate. Timelessness, witty dialogue, strong character rapport, mystery, suspense, thematic representation and allegorical reference will all need to be found in Interactive Storytelling if it will ever gain popularity.
Interactive Storytelling will need to grow from one or all of these mediums. I hope Crawford can provide a little guidance in the rest of the book. Up to now I’m feeling a bit “hopeless”.
