Category: Playable Stories Archive

Gameful Experiences, Playable Stories ArchiveLeave a comment

Storyteller

Jason

https://annapurnainteractive.com/en/games/storyteller Entry by Leila Kazeminejad A. BASIC INFORMATION Creator(s): Daniel Benmergui (Developer): http://ludomancy.com  Jeremias Babini (Artist) Zypce (Composer) Creation technology: Unity Publisher: Annapurna Interactive: https://annapurnainteractive.com/en  Date of Original Release: March 23, 2023 Platforms: PC, MacOS, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, Netflix Peripherals Required: Keyboard/mouse or Touchscreen-enabled device; speakers/headphones ESRB Rating: T (Teen) Awards & Distinctions:  Independent Games Festival 2012: Nuovo/Innovation Award Thinky Awards 2024: Most Approachable Game Version used for entry: 1.1.18 (October 16, 2023) for PC B. GAME INFORMATION Game/eLit Genre(s): Narrative Puzzle Time to complete: Approximately 2 hours. Time to completion largely depends on how quickly the player is … Continue reading Storyteller

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Dredge

Jason

https://www.dredge.game/ Entry by Kevin Ghouchandra A. BASIC INFORMATION Creator: Black Salt Games Nadia Thorne (Producer) Joel Mason (Programmer/Author) Alex Ritchie (Art Lead) Michael Bastiaens (3D Art/ Animation) David Mason (Composer/Audio Lead) Studio website: https://www.blacksaltgames.com/ Creation technology: Unity Publisher: Team17 Date of original release: March 30, 2023 Platforms: Windows; macOS; PlayStation 4/5; Nintendo Switch; Xbox One; Xbox Series X/S; iOS; Android Peripherals required: Mouse/keyboard, game controller  ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Awards/Distinctions: Bitsummit 2023: International Award DoesItPlay? Awards 2023: Best Indie Game, Best Horror Game IGN Awards 2023: Best Indie Game PC Gamer Awards 2023: Best Setting SDHQ 2024: Best Indie Game … Continue reading Dredge

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Overboard!

Jason

https://www.inklestudios.com/overboard/ Entry by Jeremy Andriano A. BASIC INFORMATION Creator(s): Inkle (https://www.inklestudios.com/) Jon Ingold (Writer & Director) Tom Kail (Development & Audio Design) Joseph Humfrey (Art Direction & Graphic Design) Anastasia Wyatt (Characters & Art) Emily Morganti (Marketing & PR) Creation Technology: ink, Unity Publisher: Inkle Date of Original Release: June 2, 2021 Platform(s): Windows, MacOS, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android Peripherals Required: Mouse or Touchscreen-enabled device, Speakers or Headphones ESRB Rating: T (Teen) Awards & Distinctions:  Apple Design Awards 2022, Delight & Fun Category Writers’ Guild Awards 2022, Best Writing in a Video Game Version Used for Entry: Apple iPad iOS, … Continue reading Overboard!

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The Stanley Parable and The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe

Jason

https://www.stanleyparable.com/ Entry by Jason Boyd A. BASIC INFORMATION Note: The Stanley Parable was originally released by Davey Wreden on July 31, 2011 as a free modification for Half-Life 2. This entry describes the 2013 ‘remake’ as well as The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe, which is not an extension or DLC of the ‘remake,’ but a remaking of the remake in Unity, with additional content.  Creator(s): Davey Wreden & William Pugh (Writers & Designers) Kevan Brighting (Narration) Collin Eddings & Jack Parsons (Additional Level Design) Jesus Higueras (Programming) Andreas Jorgensen (Modelling) Robin Arnott & Eduardo Ortiz (Sound Design) Blake Robinson, Yiannis … Continue reading The Stanley Parable and The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe

Gameful Experiences, Higher Education & Scholarship, Playable Stories ArchiveLeave a comment

Unpacking

Jason

https://www.unpackinggame.com Entry by Kevin Ghouchandra A. BASIC INFORMATION Creator: Witch Beam (https://witchbeam.com.au/) Wren Brier (Creative Director) Tim Dawson (Technical Director) Jeff van Dyck (Audio Director) Angus Doolan (Pixel Artist) Michelle Whitehead (Pixel Artist) Angela van Dyck (Audio Assistant) Creation Technology: Unity, Wwise (in-game audio), Aseprite (pixel art) Publisher: Humble Bundle Date (of original release): 2 November 2021 (Windows, Switch, Xbox), 10 May 2022 (Play Station 4/5), 24 August 2023 (iOS, Android) ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) Platform(s): Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Play Station 4/5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One Peripherals required: Keyboard/mouse (PC); speakers/headphones Awards/Distinctions: BAFTA Game Awards 2022: EE Game of … Continue reading Unpacking

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Florence

Jason

https://annapurnainteractive.com/en/games/florence Entry by Kevin Ghouchandra A. BASIC INFORMATION Creator: Mountains (http://mountains.studio/)  Ken Wong (Director) Kevin Penkin (Composer) Kamina Vincent Tony Coculuzzi Sam Crisp Creation Technology: Unity Publisher: Annapurna Interactive Date of original release: 15 February 2018 (iOS), 14 March 2018 (Android), 13 February 2020 (Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch) ESRB Rating: T (Teen) Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch  Peripherals required: Keyboard and mouse (PC), speakers/headphones Awards/Distinctions: The Game Awards 2018: Best Mobile Game New York Game Awards 2019: A-Train Award for Best Mobile Game 22nd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards 2019: Portable Game of the Year Game Developers Choice Award 2019: … Continue reading Florence

Diversity & Inclusion, Gameful Experiences, Higher Education & Scholarship, Playable Stories ArchiveLeave a comment

Venba

Jason

https://venbagame.com/ Entry by Leila Kazeminejad A. BASIC INFORMATION Creator(s): Visai Studios Abhijeeth (Abhi) Swaminathan (Lead Programmer, Designer, Writer) Shahrin Khan (Producer and Writer) Tatsuya Morita-Ahad (Programmer) Sam Elkana (Art Director) Rae Minos (Gameplay Artist) Danik Tomyn (VFX Artist) Nathan Pilla (UX Designer) Jason Roy (Character Designer) Cecile Richard (Logo Designer) Divya Vivekanandan (Recipe Designer and Food Consultant) Sashi Lavanya Appavuraj (Food Consultant) Vignes Ravi (Food Consultant) Alpha Something (Music Composer) Neha Patel (Sound Designer) Lynn Alexandria Morgan (QA Lead) Jace Hijazi (QA Lead) Creation technology: Unity Publisher: Visai Games Date of original release: 31 July 2023 ESRB Rating: T (Teen) … Continue reading Venba

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Gone Home

Jason

https://gonehome.com/ Entry by Kevin Ghouchandra A. BASIC INFORMATION Creators: The Fullbright Company (https://fullbrig.ht/) Steve Gaynor (Design, Writing) Johnnemann Nordhagen (Programming) Karla Zimonja (Art) Kate Craig (Art) Emily Caroll (Art) Chris Remo (Composition) Creation technology: Unity Publisher: The Fullbright Company and Majesco Entertainment (PlayStation 4/Xbox One), Annapurna Interactive (Nintendo Switch/iOS) Date of original release: 15 August 2013 (Linux, Windows, OS X) Platforms: Linux, Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Google Play Version used for entry: Nintendo Switch Ver 1.0.4 Peripherals required: Speakers/ Headphones Rating: ESRB Mature 17+ Awards/Distinctions: Independent Games Festival 2013: Excellence in Narrative British Academy Games … Continue reading Gone Home

Gameful Experiences, Higher Education & Scholarship, Playable Stories Archive, Unarchived podcastLeave a comment

‘Unarchived’ podcast featured on ‘Continuing Studies’ podcast episode

Jason

Playable Stories: Unarchived team members Jason Boyd and Patrick R. Dolan were guests on the Continuing Studies podcast broadcast on 16 September 2024. The episode, “Digital Narratives: Video Games in Literary Studies,” discusses the purpose of the Unarchived podcast and its relationship to the Playable Stories Archive. The Continuing Studies podcast explores the intersection of higher education and podcasting. Sponsored in part by the University Podcasters Network, this podcast delves into the uniqueness of university podcast production and podcast growth through the lens of seasoned podcasters across various higher education institutions. Listen to the episode. Continue reading ‘Unarchived’ podcast featured on ‘Continuing Studies’ podcast episode

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Unarchived (Season 2, Episode 7)

Jason

with Jason Boyd (Host), Jeremy Andriano, Patrick R. Dolan, Kevin Ghouchandra, and Chelsea Russell Broadcast date: July 15, 2024 Writer: Jason Boyd Producer: Patrick R. Dolan Time Index Introduction (0:00:00) Part One: Might and Delight, Indie Developers/Games (0:10:25) Crowdfunding (0:25:12) Early Access (0:37:53) Studying Early Access Games (0:47:50) Discussion of Book of Travels‘ Character Creation (1:00:37); Questlines (1:03:26); Day/Night Cycle (1:06:21); Player Interaction/TMORPG (1:09:55); Permadeath (1:16:55) Part Four: Aesthetics and Affects in Book of Travels (1:22:16) Gameplay (1:30:05) Narrative Design (1:36:50) Slow Gaming (1:56:36) The Risks of Innovation (2:05:35) Conclusion (2:11:35) Might and Delight’s Book of Travels (2021-) deliberately challenges … Continue reading Unarchived (Season 2, Episode 7)