Fable, Myth, and Narrative: Creating Multi-Screen Experiences

What does interactive storytelling mean in a digital world? The proliferation of screens and devices means we can spread our narratives across multiple viewports. We have so many options available to tell children's stories, mysteries, even non-fiction, but are we using them effectively?

This talk was given at WebVisions NYC, in March 2013.

Transcript

1. Fable, Myth & Narrative: Creating Multi-Screen Experiences Senongo Akpem senongo.net @senongo
2. How I fell in love with interactive storytelling.
3. Kwagh-hir (Thing of Magic) http://www.nairaland.com/naptu2
5. pixel-fable.com/sky
6. These were our bedtime stories. Tales that haunted our parents and made them laugh at the same time. We never understood them until we were fully grown and they became our sole inheritance. -Edwidge Danticat “
7. pixel-fable.com/crab
8. mixel.cc
9. The way publishers used to do it...
15. Interactive storytelling has evolved a bit since then.
16. Different screens imply context, not just capability.
17. Sensors
18. Mobiles & Tablets
19. Desktops & TVs
20. Public and Immersive Screens
21. Essentials for Multi-Screen Storytelling
22. First, think of a fable or story from your corner of the world.
23. Here are two examples:
26. William Still Father of the Underground Railroad http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Still
27. 番町皿屋敷 Okiku and the Nine Plates
28. Hokusai and Utagawa Yoshitaki
29. Divide your story into separate narrative blocks
30. Kolobok
31. bit.ly/RkeUwa
33. Where are the breakpoints in your story? Can those content blocks exist independently?
34. Where are the breakpoints in your story? Can those content blocks exist independently?
35. Offer people control of multiple characters
36. Bear 71 bear71.nfb.ca/#/bear71
38. Does your narrative change when viewed from a different perspective? What data-sets are you going to import?
39. Does your narrative change when viewed from a different perspective? What data-sets are you going to import?
40. The world is chaos and beauty. We all experience it differently.
41. Redefine a tradition
42. The Story of Monkey http://www.michelbergermonkey.com/
44. Will people love/hate your version? If people talk about your narrative, will it bring about change in society?
45. Will people love/hate your version? If people talk about your narrative, will it bring about change in society?
46. Certain myths try to define our entire society. Will your stories do the same?
47. Immerse people in the narrative
48. The Walking Dead amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead
50. Will people forget where they are? Do the screens you have chosen feel natural? What will the story world look like?
51. Will people forget where they are? Do the screens you have chosen feel natural? What will the story world look like?
52. Will people forget where they are? Do the screens you have chosen feel natural? What will the story world look like?
53. Design contextual interactions
54. http://thesilenthistory.com/
55. http://mapbox.com/blog/custom-maps-silent-history/
56. Cricket & Mud Brick pixel-fable.com/cricketandbrick
57. Sometimes fables show the ugly side of humanity.
58. Does the device matter? Can you design the interface to be a seamless part of the narrative? Will your story remember anything?
59. Does the device matter? Can you design the interface to be a seamless part of the narrative? Will your story remember anything?
60. Does the device matter? Can you design the interface to be a seamless part of the narrative? Will your story remember anything?
61. When designing interactive stories, ask yourself these types of questions.
62. Bring your fables and myths to life with multi-screen storytelling.
63. Thank you! @senongo