Interactive Stories and Video Game Art: A Storytelling Framework for Game Design

by Chris Solarski

The success of storytelling in games depends on the entire development team--game designers, artists, writers, programmers and musicians, etc.--working harmoniously together towards a singular artistic vision. Interactive Stories and Video Game Art is first to define a common design language for understanding and orchestrating interactive masterpieces using techniques inherited from the rich history of art and craftsmanship that games build upon. Case studies of hit games like The Last of Us, Journey, and Minecraft illustrate the vital components needed to create emotionally-complex stories that are mindful of gaming's principal relationship between player actions and video game aesthetics.

This book is for developers of video games and virtual reality, filmmakers, gamification and transmedia experts, and everybody else interested in experiencing resonant and meaningful interactive stories.

Key Features:
*The first book to define a common visual and interactive language for understanding and orchestrating sophisticated stories in video games
*Accessible to industry professionals as well as non-developers
*Featured concepts apply to all media with an interactive component including: transmedia, gamification and interactive art
*The definitive framework for designing interactive stories

Genres: Game Design, Games, Nonfiction, Narrative, Design

192 pages, Paperback

Published January 17, 2017

About the author

Chris Solarski is an artist-game designer and author of the seminal book, Drawing Basics and Video Game Art: Classic to Cutting-Edge Art Techniques for Winning Game Design (Watson-Guptill 2012), which has been translated into Japanese and Korean. Chris' professional background--which mixes game art development at Sony Computer Entertainment and fine art figurative painting--has led him to lecture on emotions and storytelling in video games at international events including the Smithsonian Museum's landmark The Art of Video Games exhibition, SXSW, Game Developers Conference, and FMX. Chris' personal projects at Solarski Studio continue to explore the intersections between video games, classical art and film to develop new forms of player interaction and emotionally-rich experiences in games.

Reviews

[Marta Szymańska · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me this is one of the most impactful book about storytelling and game design. The shape concept Chris is presenting is really simple to follow. It is actually impressive how easy we can integrated shape concepts into game design approach; from poses, pathways, movement to dialogue, camera angles and audio.
I learned a lot and recommend this book to anyone who want dig deeper into the art of making video games or simply want to appreciate games with well constructed storytelling.

[xenia]

Bauhaus for games!

. ﾟーﾟ.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books out there. On point and full of absolutely interesting stuff.

[Tamuna Tsertsvadze · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative and innovative book. It provides a fresh perspective on video game creation and suggests new ways in which video games can be designed and by which they can be analysed. I recommend this book to every video game designer, whether they are new to the field or veterans!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in the acknowledgements of this book, which I think is pretty cool.