Presentation/Proposal

1. What I've been working on: a location-based game, played with hand-held device with integrated GPS.*

2. Key themes and interests:

• the virtual and the real;
  
• narrative;
  
• interactivity;
  
• (human) interaction;
  
• play;
  
• interfaces.

3. Important features of interactive narrative:

• Interface/aesthetics;
• Quality and context of narrative;
• Pace and suspense as key to good narrative;
  
• Emotional and dimensional perspectives;
• Repetition/patterns -> deepens interaction (familiarity);
• Feedback encourages interaction;
• Context -> prediction -> participation -> interactivity;
• Observation -> Exploration -> Modification -> Reciprocal Change;
• Player as investigator;
• Choice -> cause and effect;
• User-generated content;
  

4. Influences:

• Blast Theory;
• The works of Neil Gaiman (in particular The Sandman comics and American Gods);*
• Hellblazer comic, created by Jamie Delano and John Ridgway (John Constantine originally created by Alan Moore in Swamp Thing);
  
• The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - comic by Alan Moore;
• His Dark Materials Trilogy, by Philip Pullman;
  
• H.G. Wells;
• Brunel;
• Modernism;*
• Brazil - film by Terry Gilliam;*
• The Sims computer game, by Will Wright;
• Grand Theft Auto;
• IPerG - EU Pervasive Gaming project - 'Persistent virtual world' and LARP (live-action role-playing) games.

5. Initial Future Research:

GAMES (in order to deepen/broaden understanding of diverse experience of gaming):

• Shadow of the Colossus - tactics and interface;*
• Neverwinter Nights - role-playing, user-generated content (characters and modules);
• Dreamfall - The Longest Journey - adventure/quest game with two realities/worlds;
• Spore (when it comes out!) - user-generated content.*

READING (in order to broaden understanding of theory):

• Half Real by Jesper Juul - fiction and rules in computer games;
  
• Gender Inclusive Games Design by Sheri Graner-Ray;
• This Is Not a Game by Dave Szulborski - Alternative Reality Games
• Theory of Fun by Raph Koster.

INTERNET (in order to keep up to date):

• Blast Theory
• IPerG
• Gamasutra - game news;
• Games Without Frontiers blog (Finnish Ph.D researcher)*
• The Lodologist Jesper Juul's blog.