Narrative design in board games: mapping praxis
Date
2020
Authors
Du Preez, Kirsten
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Abstract
While board games have existed for thousands of years, narrative board games are a relatively new medium. While the medium shares some similarities with traditional narrative forms, there are significant differences that require interrogation. This research aims to map the current state of narrative board games and how they are designed and played. Narrative board games released in the last decade have demonstrated some of the exciting possibilities of narrative experience that the medium can create. The invention of new mechanisms and the creative deployment of characters as agents are two of many of the ways narrative board games allow the player’s action to reveal narrative. By mapping how this has been done through the lens of traditional narratology and game design theory, the work in this research will move towards a board game narratology
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Digital Arts, 2020