Mind Map: Narrative Architecture

On Narrative Architecture.

A mind map of “Game Design as Narrative Architecture” by Henry Jenkins.

Evoked Narratives

Kingdom Hearts is one of my favorite game series, and it makes use of evoked narratives by bringing Disney characters and stories into the game space. This crossover series between Square Enix and Disney shows the Disney world in a new light, challenging players’ pre-existing notions of what Disney is.

Enacted Narratives

Wii Sports was my childhood — it is an enacted narrative, seeing as players are immersed in the physical and bodily actions associated with the game. Players swing their Wii Remote like they’re swinging a tennis ball, stand ready as if they’re about to hit a home run, and focus, remote in front of them as if they’re about to release a bowling ball.

Embedded Narratives

Growing up, I would watch my older brothers play Heavy Rain, an action-adventure game that felt like a movie in its own right. Throughout the game, players explore the storylines of four different characters, completing tasks necessary to propagate the narrative. The narrative can change based on the choices players make. The story itself is intense and allows players to feel like they’re the detective themselves, trying to solve the mystery of the Origami Killer.

Emergent Narratives

The Sims is, again, one of my favorite game series of all-time. I love it because of its emergent narrative, seeing as stories evolve as the gameplay progresses. The fact that other characters’ lives progress just as your Sims’ lives do mimics real life, and I don’t know of many other games that accomplish this. Games like This Sims demonstrate how players can truly craft their own stories while getting to learn about the stories of the characters in their worlds.