Concepts

"Agency" is the degree of control, freedom, and decision-making power that one has within a game's systems and mechanics. It is one's ability to influence the outcome or progress of events through their choices, actions, and strategies. Agency can manifest in various forms, such as determining the narrative direction, solving puzzles, making tactical decisions, or shaping the character's development. It plays a crucial role in audience engagement, satisfaction, and immersion, as it empowers individuals to feel a sense of ownership and personal investment in the story's unfolding events and outcomes.

Autonomy, in the context of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), refers to the psychological need for individuals to have a sense of choice, volition, and self-direction in their thoughts, actions, and behaviors. It involves experiencing a sense of ownership and control over one's decisions and actions, allowing individuals to align their behaviors with their own values and interests, leading to increased motivation, well-being, and a sense of personal fulfillment.

Branching narrative refers to a narrative structure in which the storyline diverges into multiple paths or branches based on the choices and decisions made by the audience or participant. It allows for non-linear storytelling, where different outcomes and plot developments unfold depending on the chosen path, creating a sense of agency and interactivity in the narrative experience.

Capacity, in the context of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), refers to an individual's perceived competence and effectiveness in carrying out a particular task or activity. It encompasses the belief in one's ability to successfully accomplish goals and meet challenges, leading to feelings of mastery, self-efficacy, and personal growth. Capacity is an important psychological need that influences intrinsic motivation and well-being, as individuals are more likely to engage in activities they perceive themselves as capable of doing.

Conflict in a story refers to the central struggle or clash between opposing forces that drives the narrative forward. It creates tension, challenges the protagonist, and provides the foundation for the story's plot and character development. Conflict can take various forms, such as internal conflicts within a character's mind or external conflicts between characters, nature, society, or even supernatural forces, adding depth, suspense, and dramatic interest to the storytelling.

Diegetic refers to elements within a narrative that exist within the fictional world of the story, accessible to the characters and audience. Diegetic elements can include characters, events, dialogue, and sounds that are part of the story's reality, distinguishing them from non-diegetic elements like background music or voice-over narration that exist outside the story's world.

Docufiction is a genre or approach in storytelling that blurs the boundaries between documentary and fiction. It combines elements of real-life events, people, or situations with fictional elements or storytelling techniques to create a narrative that has both documentary authenticity and fictional storytelling elements.

Environmental storytelling refers to a narrative technique in which the details and design of a physical space or environment convey a story or narrative without the need for explicit exposition or dialogue. It involves the deliberate placement of visual cues, objects, and environmental elements to create a cohesive and immersive narrative experience, inviting the audience or players to piece together the story through observation and exploration of the environment.

Extradiegetic refers to elements or information that exist outside the narrative world of a story. These elements are not part of the story's internal reality and can include things like commentary, narration, or music that provide context or information to the audience but are not accessible or known to the characters within the story.

Extrinsic motivation refers to engaging in an activity or pursuing a goal primarily driven by external rewards, pressures, or incentives rather than personal interest or inherent enjoyment. It involves seeking external validation, tangible rewards, or avoiding negative consequences as the primary driving force behind one's actions or behaviors.

Genre refers to a category or classification system used to group works of literature, art, music, or media based on shared characteristics, themes, or styles. It serves as a framework that helps both creators and consumers to identify and understand the conventions, expectations, and conventions associated with a particular type of creative work. Genres can encompass a wide range of mediums and forms, including literature, film, music, visual arts, and video games, providing a way to categorize and analyze creative expressions within broader cultural and artistic contexts.

Immersive narrative refers to a storytelling experience that deeply engages and absorbs the audience or participants, creating a sense of being fully immersed in the fictional world or narrative environment. It combines various elements such as compelling storytelling techniques, rich world-building, interactive elements, and sensory stimulation to blur the boundaries between the audience and the narrative, enhancing the suspension of disbelief and creating a more captivating and experiential engagement.

Indexical storytelling refers to a narrative approach that relies on tangible or perceptible traces and evidence within the story world to convey meaning and drive the narrative forward. It emphasizes the use of concrete and sensory details, objects, or events that serve as direct or indirect indicators, pointing to deeper layers of significance, character motivations, or plot developments, enhancing the overall narrative experience.

Interactivity refers to the capability of a system, medium, or experience to respond to user input and provide dynamic feedback or changes based on those inputs. It involves a reciprocal relationship between the user and the interactive system, allowing users to actively engage, manipulate, and influence the content or functionality of the system, often resulting in a more engaging and personalized experience.

Intrinsic motivation refers to the internal drive or desire to engage in an activity or pursue a goal purely for personal enjoyment, satisfaction, or interest, without external rewards or incentives. It arises from an individual's inherent curiosity, passion, or sense of competence, leading to a deep sense of fulfillment and self-determination in the pursuit of the active.

The "magic circle" refers to the conceptual boundary or space that is created when individuals engage in a game. Inside this "magic circle," players enter a shared understanding that they are participating in a separate, fictional reality with its own rules, objectives, and social dynamics. It helps establish a temporary suspension of disbelief, allowing players to immerse themselves in the game's world and experience a sense of engagement, enjoyment, and meaningful interaction within the game.

Narratology is the study and analysis of narrative structures, techniques, and elements across various forms of storytelling, including literature, film, theater, and other narrative mediums. It explores the principles and functions of narrative, including aspects such as plot, characters, point of view, narrative voice, and storytelling devices, to understand how stories are constructed, conveyed, and interpreted.

Nonlinear storytelling refers to a narrative structure that deviates from traditional linear progression, presenting events, plot points, or character arcs out of chronological order or in a non-sequential manner. It often involves the use of flashbacks, multiple perspectives, parallel narratives, or fragmented storytelling techniques, allowing for a more complex and layered narrative experience that challenges traditional cause-and-effect relationships and encourages audience engagement and interpretation.

Ludology is an academic discipline and theoretical framework that focuses on the study of games and gameplay. It examines games as systems, analyzing their rules, mechanics, and structures to understand how they generate player experiences and interactions. Ludology emphasizes the formal aspects of games, considering factors such as game design, player agency, and the role of play in shaping culture and society.

Linear storytelling refers to a narrative structure in which events unfold in a sequential and chronological order. It follows a linear progression with a clear cause-and-effect relationship, presenting a straightforward narrative path from beginning to end without major deviations or alternate storylines.

Participatory culture refers to a social and cultural environment where individuals actively and collaboratively engage in creating, sharing, and consuming media content. It emphasizes the shift from passive consumption to active participation, empowering individuals to contribute, remix, and shape the media landscape through digital platforms, social networks, and online communities. Participatory culture blurs the boundaries between producers and consumers, and encourages diverse voices and perspectives to be heard.

Relatedness, in the context of Self-Determination Theory (SDT), refers to one of the three psychological needs that drive human motivation and well-being. It refers to the innate desire to establish meaningful connections and experience a sense of belonging and connectedness with others. Relatedness encompasses the need for social interactions, support, and positive relationships, which contribute to feelings of acceptance, affiliation, and interpersonal connection.

The illusion of choice refers to a situation in which individuals are presented with apparent options or decisions but are ultimately limited in their actual impact or outcome. It creates a perception of agency and control, giving the impression that meaningful choices are being made when, in reality, the available options lead to predetermined or limited consequences.

Transmedia refers to the practice of telling a story or sharing content across multiple platforms and media formats. It involves the strategic expansion of a narrative universe or concept through various interconnected media such as films, television shows, books, comics, video games, and more.