Who is the storyteller? Different narrative roles in video games
Here we are backstage, once again in the green room of game development! Last time we were here, we talked about the coveted role of tester and how more people than actual Quality Assurance specialists end up testing a game. This time we are looking into the elusive role of storyteller and we’re trying to answer the question who actually plays this part?
Like any interdisciplinary production, building a video game involves diverse talents and skills. Of course, small indie studios and solo devs are not uncommon, but most of the times, there’s a whole team behind a game and therefore, crafting the story is a collaborative task.
Although there is overlap between games, movies, television or theatre, video games have the added element of interaction, which sets them apart from other media. Being an interactive environment, stories live and breathe under our very eyes. We have the possibility to experience, influence and ultimately create the narrative. Storytelling seeps through every aspect, narrative points are added in the environment itself, sound design, item descriptions, naming conventions, movesets, mechanics and other parts of the game in which it might not even be apparent.
So, going back to our question, who should get the part of storyteller, if we look at who actively participates in creating the narrative of a video game, quite a few roles stand out:
📜Game Designer
📜Narrative Designer
📜Quest Designer
📜Writer
📜Visual Artists
📜Actor
📜Performance Director
📜Sound Designer
📜Music Composer
📜Player
Let’s dive in to see how each of them are involved in a game’s narrative and where do they contribute to the larger storytelling.
Imagine you have an ancient tome in front of you and you open it to find a roster of roles, each with some notes and succinct annotations.
As you open the book…
Chapter 1: Game Designer
The first character mentioned is the Game Designer, who imagines the entire player experience. They focus on interactions and how the game feels, which includes the overarching story and the player’s role in the narrative.
How do they contribute to storytelling?
- Envisioning the whole game
- Designing the overall player experience
- Building systems, gameplay and mechanics
- Making sure the game is fun and engaging
Where we might see the results?
- The design of the world
- Mechanics and gameplay loop
- Flow of the game
- Overall feel
- Player’s impact in the worldbuilding
You turn the page to…
Chapter 2: Narrative Designer
We might call the next character the leading role of game storytelling, because it’s the Narrative Designer. They are the ones responsible for establishing systems and important story points, while guiding the player’s emotional journey throughout the game.
How do they contribute to storytelling?
- Establishing how the story is told
- Designing narrative interactions
- Creating branching storylines
- Bringing cohesiveness between departments
- Making sure that choices feel meaningful
Where we might see the results?
- Across the entire game
- The cohesiveness of the worldbuilding
- Character development and arcs
- Depth of the theme throughout the game
You turn the page again…
Chapter 3: Quest Designer
Another character of similar name but different attributes, the Quest Designer is presented. They are the ones who handle things at a granular level, placing quests and interactions within the game. They create sequences and populate the world with the right characters.
How do they contribute to storytelling?
- Implementing quests and encounters
- Deciding where to place friendly NPCs in the environment
- Implementing story decisions
- Providing structure and a sense of accomplishment
- Expanding the world
Where we might see the results?
- Quests and questlines
- Level design and worldbuilding
- Secrets and hidden options
- Progression and goals
You turn the page once more…
Chapter 4: Writer
The wordsmith character of the Writer plays a different part in game development than they might in a book, a screenplay or anywhere else. Here, the Writer shifts into an execution role, bringing flavor to the worldbuilding.
How do they contribute to storytelling?
- Putting ideas into words
- Stepping in whenever there’s actual text involved
- Helping with plotlines
- Establishing tone and character personalities
- Enriching the lore
Where we might see the results?
- In-game dialogue
- Cinematic scripts
- Quest text
- Item descriptions
- Flavor text, lore and worldbuilding
You turn another page…
Chapter 5: Visual Artists
The visual artists are presented, veiled in a cloud of pigments. They might bear the name of 2D Artist, Concept Artist, 3D Modeler, and more, but one thing is clear – they master visuals and their focus is to bring the environment before our very eyes.
How do they contribute to storytelling?
- Iterating on the look of a game
- Building the world
- Designing characters and in-game assets
- Enriching the worldbuilding
Where we might see the results?
- World art
- Concept art
- Character design
- All in-game items
- Cinematics
You turn yet another page…
Chapter 6: Actor
Completely familiar with make belief and the concept of metamorphosis, Actors champion stories by bringing characters to life. Some of them might be more disguised than others, some more human-looking than others, all of them participating in their own way.
How do they contribute to storytelling?
- Populating the world with characters
- Lending their voices and expressions
- Creating movesets and animation (motion capture)
- Defining personalities
- Crafting memorable lines
Where we might see the results?
- In-game dialogue
- Cinematics
- Voiceover narration
- Movement
- Gestures and micro-expressions (motion capture)
You still turn the page…
Chapter 7: Performance Director
Although this is not their usual playground, Performance or Stage Directors come into the scene next to the actors. They add their own concepts and ideas in the game world and they help actors to mold their craft under careful direction.
How do they contribute to storytelling?
- Conceptualizing characters
- Advising in voice recording sessions
- Guiding motion-capture sessions
- Developing character backgrounds
- Ensuring coherence in performances
Where we might see the results?
- In-game dialogue
- Cinematics
- Character personalities
- Movement and choreography
- Expressions (motion capture)
You peek at the next page…
Chapter 8: Sound Designer
A knock. A wave. A chirp. The Sound Designer makes the world feel lively, they establish an aural identity for the game and contribute to the general feel of the story. They balance sounds to make sure the end result will evoke specific emotions.
How do they contribute to storytelling?
- Outlining the aural universe of a game
- Favoring immersion
- Supporting mechanics through sound
- Enriching worldbuilding
- Ensuring cohesion in sound
Where we might see the results
- Diegetic sounds
- SFX
- Dialogue
- Ambient noises
And then you look at another page…
Chapter 9: Music Composer
This character looks precise, their world moves on tempo. The Composer shrouds the game in the layer of sound, adding through music backstory, foreshadowing, turning points, and other narrative mechanisms.
How do they contribute to storytelling?
- Creating main themes
- Setting the tone
- Guiding the pace in combat
- Referencing culture or character backgrounds
- Enhancing plot points
Where we might see the results
- Scores and soundtracks
- Ambiance
- Character themes
- Cinematic music
- Loading screen music and credits
There’s one more page left to turn…
Chapter 10: Player
The last page has a strange sheen, it sparkles as you turn it. You finally realize – it’s a mirror. The last page shows you, the Player.
How do they contribute to storytelling?
- Interacting with the given environment
- Providing our own interpretation
- Bringing our own cultural background
- Creating characters and interactions
- Adding texts and objects within a game
Where we might see the results
- Character creation
- Choices and endings
- Cosplay
- Fan-fiction
- Forums and meta commentary
You’ve reached the end of the book (for now)
So here we are, closing this particular tome of knowledge. Storytelling in video games is multifaceted, there’s not one element that brings it to life. What would a line of text be without a character to speak it? What would an item description be without a usable object? What would a boss battle be without the music setting the tone? And then again, what would the world of a game be if not for a player to explore it? All of the elements intertwine to create a narrative that we live through and which lives through us.
