Video games have been a huge part of my life, with the best experiences going on to become some of my fondest memories. In contrast, my lovely wife has never touched a controller and never fully understood the appeal. I challenged myself to try and pique her interest in the medium, and asked her what she would like to learn about games.
Her answer? She struggled to understand how video game narratives worked in tandem with the gameplay. And so this YouTube series was born, out of an attempt to clearly and easily explain game narrative design to my wife.
In this initial video, I explore the concept of embedded narrative through the example of 2018’s God of War, to show how narrative informs gameplay – pushing the player to experience, emotionally share in, and complete the journey the characters embark on.
Give it a watch below, and check out my YouTube channel.