Intro to Narrative Design IV - World Building

What's up gamers, we're back with another exciting topic in Narrative Design for video games – World-building!

World-building is the process of creating a believable and immersive game world that players can explore and interact with. A well-developed game world has a rich history, culture, and unique characteristics that make it feel like a real place... even if it's a totally bonkers place.

World-building is crucial to a video game's success because it sets the stage for the story and the characters. A well-crafted world can make a game feel like a living, breathing place, giving players a sense of immersion and making the game world feel like a character in itself.

So, what are the key elements of World-building? Let's take a look:

1. Setting: The setting of a game world is the physical space where the game takes place. It includes things like geography, climate, and architecture, and can create a unique atmosphere that sets the tone for the game.

One example of a game with a well-developed setting is Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Granted, the developers had a great reference for the game with it being set in Ancient Greece, however, they did an excellent job of creating a vibrant, living world that captures the essence of the time period. The world of Assassin's Creed Odyssey is a sprawling open-world environment set in ancient Greece, filled with breathtaking landscapes, stunning vistas, and diverse terrains such as mountains, forests, islands, and cities. The attention to detail in recreating the historical setting of ancient Greece is remarkable, with meticulously designed landscapes and architecture that immerse players in the ancient world. Set during the Peloponnesian War, a historically significant period in ancient Greek history. Players will encounter iconic historical figures such as Socrates, Hippocrates, and Leonidas, and explore famous locations like Athens, Sparta, and Delphi. The game's attention to historical accuracy and detail in depicting the ancient Greek world adds depth and authenticity to the overall experience.

2. Culture: The culture of a game world includes things like social norms, customs, and traditions. It's what makes the game world feel unique and adds depth and complexity to the story and the characters.

The Elder Scrolls series is an excellent example of a game with a well-developed culture. It features a wide variety of races, each with its own distinctive culture, traditions, and characteristics. From the noble and honorable Nords of Skyrim to the cunning and enigmatic Khajiit of Elsweyr, and the sophisticated and mysterious Altmer of Summerset Isle, each race brings its own flavor and uniqueness to the world of Tamriel. The diversity of races in the series adds depth and complexity to the world, making it feel like a living, breathing place with different cultures coexisting and interacting. These cultures are brought to life through detailed customs and traditions that are unique to each race. These customs and traditions can range from religious practices, festivals, rituals, social norms, and even language. For example, the Dunmer of Morrowind have complex religious practices centered around their belief in the Tribunal, while the Redguards of Hammerfell have a rich tradition of swordsmanship and honor. These details add depth and authenticity to the world, making it feel like a fully realized and lived-in place.

3. History: The history of a game world provides context for the story and the characters. It's what makes the game world feel like a real place, with a rich and complex past that informs the present.

A great example of video game world history is that of Fallout 3. Set in a post-apocalyptic world following a global nuclear war that devastated the Earth in an alternate timeline, the game takes place in the Capital Wasteland, formerly known as Washington D.C., and its surrounding areas in the year 2277, about 200 years after the nuclear war between various countries, resulting in massive destruction, death, and the collapse of human civilization as we know it. Prior to the Great War, the Vault-Tec Corporation constructed a series of underground bunkers called Vaults to protect select individuals from the nuclear devastation. These Vaults were intended to be self-sustained shelters equipped with advanced technology and designed to preserve humanity. However, many of these Vaults were actually part of unethical social experiments, and the inhabitants faced various challenges and dangers within. This fascinating history that was cleverly implemented into the main quest through direct and indirect exposition was the perfect set up for the rich world players went crazy for.

4. Rules and Magic Systems: The rules and magic systems of a game world are what make it unique and set it apart from other game worlds. They create a set of rules and limitations that govern the game world's magic and technology.

The Dark Souls series is a great example of how to correctly balance these rules and limitations. In Dark Souls, magic users rely on a limited resource called "attunement slots" to equip spells. Each spell requires a certain number of attunement slots, and players need to carefully manage their attunement slots to balance their offensive, defensive, and utility spells. This creates a strategic decision-making process for players, as they need to choose their spells wisely and allocate their attunement slots effectively. While magic in Dark Souls can be powerful, it comes with limitations and trade-offs. Casting spells requires a casting animation, which leaves players vulnerable to enemy attacks. Moreover, casting spells consumes "focus points" (FP), which are a limited resource that needs to be managed. Once players run out of FP, they can no longer cast spells until they replenish their FP through various means. This creates a risk-reward dynamic, as players need to weigh the benefits of using magic against the risks and limitations it entails. Essentially, in this world you have magic, but using it will cost you, and that keeps the game's world believable as it's the same law of compensation we're used to in the real world.

In conclusion, World-building is an essential part of Narrative Design for video games, providing players with a rich and immersive game world that they can explore and interact with. By understanding the key elements of World-building, Narrative Designers can create game worlds that are unique, immersive, and memorable, adding depth and personality to the overall gaming experience. So, next time you play your favorite game, take a moment to appreciate the well-developed game world and how it adds to the overall narrative of the game.

If you'd like help building an immersive world for your game, send me an email: olivernarrativedeisgn@outlook.com