The time period is named “ludonarrative dissonance” and it’s the incongruity between the participant character in gameplay and the participant character in narrative. Usually, this occurs when the narrative design doesn’t work carefully sufficient with the gameplay design to make sure a cohesive narrative and gameplay expertise. This usually occurs due to the totally different speeds at which these get designed – not all gameplay methods exist or are mapped out when preliminary narrative design occurs, and we will proceed engaged on gameplay lengthy after main narrative voiceover recording is already set in stone. The participant character complaining about killing a story enemy stands out as bizarre whereas the social gathering already slaughters hundreds of anonymous minions in gameplay for ranges and loot.
The other idea additionally exists – it’s known as “ludonarrative concord”. These are video games the place the gameplay and mechanics of the sport work in tandem with the narrative to bolster and assist one another hit tougher. The Phoenix Wright Ace Legal professional video games are a reasonably good instance of this – the participant is utilizing detective and interviewing expertise to advance a case and discover a killer. The issues the participant does and the narrative normally line up effectively sufficient that the weather really feel congruous and work collectively to turn into greater than the sum of their components.
The overall significance of this is dependent upon how essential the staff management cares about it. If the inventive and staff management desires to embrace ludonarrative concord, they must implement it by the staff’s tasking and prioritization.
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