Elaborating the Role of Narrative and Self-Determination Theory in Video Game Design Research

Narratives, defined as stories involving two or more events arranged in a chronological or causal sequence, are fundamental and ubiquitous characteristics of human communication and serve as an integral feature of many video games. Moreover, narratives can be understood in nuanced ways through the l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Interacting with computers
Main Authors: Lu, Amy Shirong, Moller, Arlen C
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England 04.12.2024
Subjects:
concepts and models
human–computer interaction
media psychology
computer games
narrative
applied computing
empirical studies in HCI
HCI theory
game design
self-determination theory
story
ISSN:0953-5438
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:Narratives, defined as stories involving two or more events arranged in a chronological or causal sequence, are fundamental and ubiquitous characteristics of human communication and serve as an integral feature of many video games. Moreover, narratives can be understood in nuanced ways through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Yet, the intersection of SDT and video game narratives has been surprisingly underexplored. This article reviews research on narrative media and examines how narratives can be integrated into games from the perspective of SDT and potential boundary conditions. We then explore how concepts from narrative theories and SDT can be integrated. The goal of this integration is to help guide future game design and identify new questions for future research related to: (1) the integration of parable narratives in video games, specifically parable narratives featuring characters' personal transformation and growth and (2) predicting which video games people choose and prefer. We argue that scholars working with narrative theories and SDT can collaborate to advance video game research.
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ISSN:0953-5438
DOI:10.1093/iwc/iwae058