Overview 

This standard is about creating an engaging experience for users by creating narrative scripts for interactive media projects.

This is about the underpinning narrative rather than the copy that users will actually see in instructions, hints, prompts or messages.

Interactive media projects can involve any type of interactive media content, products or services for multi-platform or multi-channel use, including, but not restricted to, games, websites, applications or online marketing campaigns and can also include the use of immersive technology. (Immersive technology can include, but is not restricted to, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR).)

This standard is appropriate for anyone who designs interactive media projects.

 

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. obtain and analyse project information to determine creative and technical parameters that affect narratives
  2. define story worlds and characters to the required level of detail for narrative creation
  3. create narratives that are engaging for target audiences, avoid stereotypes and are appropriate for the emotional intelligence of target audiences
  4. create narratives that are appropriate for target platforms and technologies being used
  5. write narratives that take account of the effect of the interactive and non-linear aspects of projects on user experience
  6. write narratives that are consistent and congruent with the story world and the characters’ backgrounds, agendas, personalities and abilities
  7. organise the narrative flow so that it is congruent with the story
  8. provide clear instructions for programmers and designers regarding how and when user interactions or other events should affect narratives
  9. liaise with designers and developers to ensure that narratives are appropriate and fit for purpose
  10. respond in a positive and constructive way to requests for changes to narratives

 

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. project purpose, mood, target audience, parameters and constraints including target platforms and their capabilities for delivering assets
  2. principles of narrative structure including different types of interactive narrative structure and how to create appropriate and engaging experiences for target audiences
  3. the characteristics and appeal of different genres of story including relevant theories relating to wider cultural impact
  4. user perspectives and points of view in relation to narratives in interactive products and how user interaction and non-linearity can affect the narrative and user experience
  5. principles of interaction design and real-time animation and the broad technical constraints applicable to combining narrative with interactivity
  6. the types of interaction that will be available to users and which might influence the structure or style of your narrative
  7. any requirement for the storyline, events, perspectives or other aspects of the narrative to change in response to events or user interactions
  8. the impact of diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, ethics, emotional intelligence and behavioural psychology on projects and how to create text that is appropriate for and easily accessible by its target audience
  9. the resource and time implications of using different types of interactive narrative structure
  10. who you need to liaise with from other specialisms to ensure narratives will work in interactive projects
  11. the inevitability of changes to scripts and products over time