The MFP Narrative Design Framework

By Robert Gervais

Frameworks Allow Greater Communication

• Basis for the MFP Narrative Design Frame Work lies in mathematics.

• Just like mathematics, our goal is to add narrative design elements to a game with supporting evidence.

Let’s look at how math proofs work.

Hint: You start out with a hypothesis.

HYPOTHESIS

PROOF BASICS

HYPOTHESIS

PROOF BASICS

CONCLUSION/PREDICTION

HYPOTHESIS

PROOF BASICS

CONCLUSION/PREDICTION

PROOF

HYPOTHESIS

PROOF BASICS

CONCLUSION/PREDICTION

PROOF DATA

HYPOTHESIS

PROOF BASICS

CONCLUSION/PREDICTION

PROOF DATA

HYPOTHESIS

HYPOTHESIS

CONCLUSION/PREDICTION

HYPOTHESIS

CONCLUSION/PREDICTION

EXPERIMENT

HYPOTHESIS

CONCLUSION/PREDICTION

EXPERIMENT

PROOF

DATA/RESULTS

How does this translate to Narrative Design?

PRE-PRODUCTION

CONCLUSION/PREDICTION

EXPERIMENT

PROOF

DATA/RESULTS

PRE-PRODUCTION

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EXPERIMENT

PROOF

DATA/RESULTS

PRE-PRODUCTION

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PROTOTYPE

PROOF

DATA/RESULTS

PRE-PRODUCTION

??????????????????

PROTOTYPE

PLAYTEST

DATA/RESULTS

PRE-PRODUCTION

??????????????????

PROTOTYPE

PROOF

DATA/RESULTS

PRE-PRODUCTION

??????????????????

PROTOTYPE

PROOF

FEEDBACK

PRE-PRODUCTION

PROTOTYPE

PROOF

FEEDBACK

ENSO Zen Philosophy: “Freeing the mind so the spirit and body can create.”

MFP Narrative Design Framework

M. (Game Designer) F. (Producer/Lead Designer) P. (Narrative Designer)

PROS

SHARED VISION

PROS

SELF-DOCUMENTING

PROS

ITERATIVE

PROS

FLEXIBLE

PROS

METHODICAL

CONS

?

LEAD NARR. DESIGNER

CONS

?

LEAD NARR. DESIGNER

LEAD DESIGNER

CONS

?

LEAD NARR. DESIGNER

LEAD DESIGNER

LEAD PROGRAMMER

CONS

?

LEAD NARR. DESIGNER

LEAD DESIGNER

LEAD PROGRAMMER

LEAD ARTIST

CONS

?

LEAD NARR. DESIGNER

LEAD DESIGNER

LEAD PROGRAMMER

LEAD ARTIST

PRODUCER

THIS IS ONLY A TOOLFOR YOU TO

COMMUNICATE

LEAD NARR. DESIGNER

LEAD DESIGNER

LEAD PROGRAMMER

LEAD ARTIST

PRODUCER

WHICH FOSTERSA SHARED VISION

LEAD NARR. DESIGNER

LEAD DESIGNER

LEAD PROGRAMMER

LEAD ARTIST

PRODUCER

SO… CONTINUE COMMUNICATING!

LEAD NARR. DESIGNER

LEAD DESIGNER

LEAD PROGRAMMER

LEAD ARTIST

PRODUCER

AND MAKE A YOUR GAME!