Julialicia Case – författare

This Element provides an in-depth analysis of digital mystery game narratives through the lens of game studies approaches, game design principles, and literary theory. Beginning with an overview of important game studies concepts, the Element argues that the narrative effects of video games cannot be fully understood without an understanding of these principles. Next, the Element incorporates these ideas into a detailed analysis of digital mystery stories, illustrating how game design elements augment and enhance narrative impact. Finally, the Element applies these principles to several print texts, illustrating how game studies principles help to articulate interactive strategies. Ultimately, this Element argues that incorporating digital mystery narratives into the field of crime studies goes beyond simply broadening the canon, but rather that an understanding of game studies principles has the potential to augment discussions of interactivity and reader participation in all crime narratives, regardless of media form.

This Element provides an in-depth analysis of digital mystery game narratives through the lens of game studies approaches, game design principles, and literary theory. Beginning with an overview of important game studies concepts, the Element argues that the narrative effects of video games cannot be fully understood without an understanding of these principles. Next, the Element incorporates these ideas into a detailed analysis of digital mystery stories, illustrating how game design elements augment and enhance narrative impact. Finally, the Element applies these principles to several print texts, illustrating how game studies principles help to articulate interactive strategies. Ultimately, this Element argues that incorporating digital mystery narratives into the field of crime studies goes beyond simply broadening the canon, but rather that an understanding of game studies principles has the potential to augment discussions of interactivity and reader participation in all crime narratives, regardless of media form.

A 2024 Choice Outstanding Academic TitleAgainst the backdrop of a hyper-competitive AAA industry and the perception that it is a world reserved for top programmers and hard-core ‘gamers’, Story Mode offers an accessible entry-point for all into writing and designing complex and emotionally affecting narrative video games. The first textbook to combine game design with creative writing techniques, this much-needed resource makes the skills necessary to consume and create digital and multi-modal stories attainable and fun. Appealing to the growing calls for greater inclusivity and access to this important contemporary apparatus of expression, this book offers low-cost, accessible tools and instruction that bridge the knowledge gap for creative writers, showing them how they can merge their skill-set with the fundamentals of game creation and empowering them to produce their own games which push stories beyond the page and the written word. Broken down into 4 sections to best orientate writers from any technological background to the strategies of game production, this book offers: - Contextual and introductory chapters exploring the history and variety of various game genres. - Discussions of how traditional creative writing approaches to character, plot, world-building and dialogue can be utilised in game writing.- An in-depth overview of game studies concepts such as game construction, interactivity, audience engagement, empathy, real-world change and representation that orientate writers to approach games from the perspective of a designer.- A whole section on the practical elements of work-shopping, tools, collaborative writing as well as extended exercises guiding readers through long-term, collaborative, game-centred projects using suites and tools like Twine, Audacity, Bitsy, and GameMaker. Featuring detailed craft lessons, hands-on exercises and case studies, this is the ultimate guide for creative writers wanting to diversify into writing for interactive, digital and contemporary modes of storytelling. Designed not to lay out a roadmap to a successful career in the games industry but to empower writers to experiment in a medium previously regarded as exclusive, this book demystifies the process behind creating video games, orienting readers to a wide range of new possible forms and inspiring them to challenge mainstream notions of what video games can be and become.