Narration in the Video Game

Do video games tell stories? And if they do, how and
why do they do so? In this study, Dominic Arsenault
takes the reader through the battlefield of ludology
and narratology in video game studies, and argues for
a radically new narratological conception of the
video game. Like a Starcraft Zerg Drone, he extracts
ideas from the rich veins of new media and video game
studies, along with the latest developments of
narratology and French film theory, and morphs them
in with his own personal historical insights and
gameplay experience with video games and
pen-and-paper role-playing games. The resulting
theoretical approach finds that narration, as a
process, is intrinsic to video game playing,
independently of the "cut-scenes" usually much touted
by the proponents of interactive storytelling.
Academics with an interest in video game studies,
narratology or new media will find here a novel
perspective on a well-researched subject, while
like-minded students and amateur, professional and
prospective game developers will also appreciate the
quick, efficient and readable introduction to these
hot topics.