Revolutionizing Game Storytelling in Virtual Reality

Immersing oneself in a virtual reality (VR) experience is fundamentally different from traditional gaming. The removal of the screen barrier between the player and the game world creates a sense of presence, making the experience feel more intimate and personal. However, this newfound proximity also poses unique challenges for storytelling. When the player is no longer just a passive observer, but an active participant in the story, how do you convey character development and narrative progression? The solution lies in externalizing the protagonist, separating the player's actions from the story's narrative arc. This approach allows the player to drive the gameplay while the story's protagonist undergoes a transformative journey. In Coatsink's Augmented Empire, the player controls Craven, who makes tactical decisions, while the story's protagonist, Willa, evolves from a cold loner to a charismatic leader. Similarly, in Shadow Point, the player solves puzzles as Alex, but the story follows Lorna's transformation from a selfish brat to a wise adult. The use of player-character voice-over adds another layer of complexity, as it can be confusing for the player to hear their own character speak. To address this, Coatsink employed a solution in MIB: Most Wanted, where the player performs a positive action before hearing their character's voice, creating a direct connection between input and dialogue. Narrative delivery is also crucial in VR, with text being a cheap but suboptimal option. Recorded dialogue and character rendering can increase costs, but approaches like using 2D portraits or lip-synched sequences can help convey tone and emotion. In Jurassic World Aftermath, the story is conveyed through voice-over, allowing the art and animation teams to focus on the dinosaurs. Character interactions are the backbone of drama, but cutscenes can be challenging in VR, raising questions about player direction, movement, and comprehension. The solution lies in locking cutscene scope early, determining the amount of minutes and words, and ensuring only critical story beats are delivered this way. Environmental storytelling is also essential in VR, as environments become immediate and tactile. By creating detailed notes for artists, explaining the location's narrative significance and emotional resonance, developers can impart lore and backstory, rewarding the player's attention. Ultimately, respecting the player's time is paramount, as VR games require attention, input, and physical movement. Writing for established IP involves striking a balance between expectation and innovation, finding the right tone and theme to make the experience feel authentic. By understanding the franchise's thematic parameters and ideas, developers can create a story that feels true to the IP while offering something new and fresh.