SpaceTime&

Interactivity

SpaceTime&

InteractivityWeek 11

Juli GriffoBen Hansford

Week 11Juli GriffoBen Hansford

What is time?What is time?Space-TimeTime is an observed phenomena

Gravity:

Space-TimeTime is an observed phenomena

Gravity:

How do these affect each other?

How do these affect each other?

A mathematical model that puts space and time together in one continuum (in physics)

Do these go together in media?

A mathematical model that puts space and time together in one continuum (in physics)

Do these go together in media?

Time/Space/NarrativityTime/Space/Narrativity

Okay, math & science aside:

There’s a model of representation for media. Pretty classic stuff.

Okay, math & science aside:

There’s a model of representation for media. Pretty classic stuff.

Time & PlotTime & Plot

There are two parts to the traditional idea of time structure in narrative…

Discourse-time and plot-time.

And for more traditional media… these make sense.

There are two parts to the traditional idea of time structure in narrative…

Discourse-time and plot-time.

And for more traditional media… these make sense.

First, let’s get these two down…

First, let’s get these two down…

1. Discourse-time

The time in which the story is received(This involves the order in which

the same events are being told in)(The time it takes to

peruse the discourse)

1. Discourse-time

The time in which the story is received(This involves the order in which

the same events are being told in)(The time it takes to

peruse the discourse)

Pick your Favorite Movie or Book.

Pick your Favorite Movie or Book.

The story is unchanging. No matter what you do, you can’t cut up the film or rip up your book and actually change the story-time in these narratives.

Maybe you shouldn’t try this at home…

The story is unchanging. No matter what you do, you can’t cut up the film or rip up your book and actually change the story-time in these narratives.

Maybe you shouldn’t try this at home…

The Smaller ArgumentThe Smaller ArgumentWhen reading a book, you are going to have slightly different discourse time than other readers. If you pause a movie and get up and make popcorn, again, it changes it a little… but this changes the experience in a physical space. Does this really impact the way in which you are receiving the story?

When reading a book, you are going to have slightly different discourse time than other readers. If you pause a movie and get up and make popcorn, again, it changes it a little… but this changes the experience in a physical space. Does this really impact the way in which you are receiving the story?

Simple way to make this argument end…Simple way to make this argument end…But, you guys probably still can be willing to accept that little differences like this are not really what discourse time is supposed to encompass. That’s more about audience reception than time of the narrative.

But, you guys probably still can be willing to accept that little differences like this are not really what discourse time is supposed to encompass. That’s more about audience reception than time of the narrative.

Non-changing.Non-changing.

Your favorite movie is still your favorite movie with a set time for the narrative to be told. A 90 minute movie is always a 90 minute movie.

A 300 page book is still a 300 page book.

Your favorite movie is still your favorite movie with a set time for the narrative to be told. A 90 minute movie is always a 90 minute movie.

A 300 page book is still a 300 page book.

Still following the Double Time Structure?

Still following the Double Time Structure?2. Plot-time

The time within the story itself

(This is the order in which events happen in the

story)(“Story-Time” - “The

duration of the purported events of the narrative”)

2. Plot-time

The time within the story itself

(This is the order in which events happen in the

story)(“Story-Time” - “The

duration of the purported events of the narrative”)

But why?But why?

Books and movies don’t have to have a linear narrative…

But these are unchanging stories.

What does interactivity do to this narrative-time relation?

Books and movies don’t have to have a linear narrative…

But these are unchanging stories.

What does interactivity do to this narrative-time relation?

ExamplesExamples

Let’s look at some examples for time in less traditional narratives.

Interactive Media.

How about “Changeables?” ^_^

Let’s look at some examples for time in less traditional narratives.

Interactive Media.

How about “Changeables?” ^_^

Prince of Persia Trailer

Prince of Persia Trailer

Link it.Link it.

The Gameplay in Prince of PersiaThe Gameplay in

Prince of Persia

Use game's plot-time to your advantage, creating a "clone" of yourself that passes through separate time (but same space) to complete quest.

Use game's plot-time to your advantage, creating a "clone" of yourself that passes through separate time (but same space) to complete quest.

For all these examples:

For all these examples:

Keep these questions in mind.

*Will the discourse time ever be the same for each user and playthrough?

*What about the story time?

*Does the narrative change entirely?

Keep these questions in mind.

*Will the discourse time ever be the same for each user and playthrough?

*What about the story time?

*Does the narrative change entirely?

Forza Motorsport 3Forza Motorsport 3

Racing Simulation Game

In single player mode, the player is now (in FM3) able to rewind the race.

If you crash, no worries, rewind to where you’re comfy and do it again.

Racing Simulation Game

In single player mode, the player is now (in FM3) able to rewind the race.

If you crash, no worries, rewind to where you’re comfy and do it again.

Like this:Like this:

Rewind It Up.

Ctrl+Z for Gaming?Ctrl+Z for Gaming?

Undo it up.

Undo directly causes branching in any endeaver.

Undo it up.

Undo directly causes branching in any endeaver.

StorytellingStorytelling

Branching Narrative:Essentially, narratives that are changing.

Embedded Narrative:Traditional media. 300 page book. 90 minute movie.

Branching Narrative:Essentially, narratives that are changing.

Embedded Narrative:Traditional media. 300 page book. 90 minute movie.

The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom

The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom

Trailer & Information

Static level puzzle game where necessary to use multiple (temporal) versions of self to complete puzzle.

Trailer & Information

Static level puzzle game where necessary to use multiple (temporal) versions of self to complete puzzle.

Game Space Awareness.Game Space Awareness.

If you warp the space in a game, you’re also warping the plot-time and not just the discourse time.

If you warp the space in a game, you’re also warping the plot-time and not just the discourse time.

Moving Around in the Narrative Space

Moving Around in the Narrative Space

Teleporters. Half-Life and Halo (and others) have portals/teleporters that allow the user to traverse space instantly to “pop up” elsewhere in space. You change the game space by NOT existing on the terrain you just “covered.”

Teleporters. Half-Life and Halo (and others) have portals/teleporters that allow the user to traverse space instantly to “pop up” elsewhere in space. You change the game space by NOT existing on the terrain you just “covered.”

Portal: The Flash Version

Portal: The Flash Version

GameThis is based on the “real” Portal – the one originally included in Half-Life. (Later, Orange Box)

Puzzle-based static level game in which your gun shoots an Open Portal and an Exit Portal. Use this to solve puzzles and move to next level.

GameThis is based on the “real” Portal – the one originally included in Half-Life. (Later, Orange Box)

Puzzle-based static level game in which your gun shoots an Open Portal and an Exit Portal. Use this to solve puzzles and move to next level.

Time Fcuk.Time Fcuk.

First, hehehehehehhehe!

Second, a quote from the site, “A game about not being able to succeed in this world without seeing it from the perspective of another world.”

Third, link it up for play!

First, hehehehehehhehe!

Second, a quote from the site, “A game about not being able to succeed in this world without seeing it from the perspective of another world.”

Third, link it up for play!

Coming around in a Circle.

Coming around in a Circle.

Interactive media long ago surpassed the limited definitions of discourse time and plot time reserved for traditional narrative media. Branching narratives imitated the agency and variability of our real world dynamics. However now interactive media has gone beyond imitating real-world physics by allowing meta and in-game time (& space) manipulations that demand an updated model for time in narratives.

Interactive media long ago surpassed the limited definitions of discourse time and plot time reserved for traditional narrative media. Branching narratives imitated the agency and variability of our real world dynamics. However now interactive media has gone beyond imitating real-world physics by allowing meta and in-game time (& space) manipulations that demand an updated model for time in narratives.