Task Objective:
To work collaboratively in small groups to design and build an original interactive narrative game. We must begin by mapping out a branching decision tree to visualize user journeys. It must also be ensured that we construct a complex web of at least ten passages, incorporating diverging paths and embedding multimedia elements (images/video) and custom typography.
My Objective (Self-Initiated Work)
To be determined...
The Architecture of Agency in Twine
Twine strips away the visual complexities of traditional game engines, focusing entirely on the relationship between text, space, and choice. The physical mapping of passages quickly reveals the actual boundaries of player agency, forcing a writer to confront whether their game offers genuine freedom or merely guided selection. The challenge lies in creating meaningful complexity without letting the narrative branch into a chaotic web of unmanageable paths.
Key Insight: True narrative depth comes not from maximizing the number of choices, but from maximizing the weight of irreversible consequences. The game is less about what the player chooses, and more about how they feel about the result of that choice.
Figure 1:
Work in progress
This reflection is a work in progress. We are still figuring out our game design. Thank you for your patience...