By Renske van Enschot
In our Master course Interactive Storytelling, students create their own strategic interactive digital narratives. In these interactive narratives, readers become interactors who can engage with the characters, choose which storyline to follow, which perspectives to explore, et cetera. The design of the interactive narratives is justified by theories about the experience and effects of (interactive) narratives.
In the ’22-’23 edition of the course, the theme for all interactive digital narratives was tackling crisis. With global and local crises looming and happening everywhere, students were asked to design an interactive narrative on how people tackle these crises. The students designed impressive interactive narratives on a diverse range of subtopics, from loneliness and depression to criminal offenses to earthquakes. How can you navigate through these crises, face the challenges, and survive? The interactive narratives below give a helping hand.
Old & forgotten is an interactive narrative about 89-year-old widower Bob. This beautifully designed interactive narrative makes you aware of the everyday loneliness prevalent among the elderly. Is there anything you can do? Try it out.
In Tired of covid, you get to experience what it would be like to have long covid yourself. How to deal with all your daily struggles while managing your energy level?
Fragile takes you on a journey of a group of friends in which one (unknown to the others) is dealing with depression. Your goal is to figure out who it is while navigating through the course of the story. You will learn how to recognize signs of mental illnesses in loved ones and how to best act in the given situation.
Hands off lets you experience a day in the life of a police officer. How would you deal with obtrusive bystanders, reckless drivers, or even aggressive hooligans? By playing this interactive game, you put yourself in the shoes of a police officer and will see the consequences of increasing violence against police and emergency workers.
Folding or cutting is about the drug scene. In today’s society, drugs use is being normalized more and more. But do you know the consequences of your seemingly innocent pill? The drugs world is a dark place, with many consequences for people involved. This interactive narrative gives you a first-hand experience of the story of Amir. An innocent teenager who gets stuck in to the drugs world.
In Guilty?, you play the role of a judge in a complex case about sexually transgressive behavior. You have the opportunity to experience the case from different perspectives. Throughout the court case, you are asked to form an opinion about whether a boundary has been crossed. Ultimately, you face a final judgment; is the defendant guilty or not guilty? This interactive narrative shows that the scope of transgressive behavior can be more complex than people expect.
Internationals working or studying in a foreign country face many struggles. Am I a criminal invites you to step into the shoes of an international student facing an issue that many people face in the Netherlands – a telephone scam. Which decisions are you going to make? How are you going to decide what is best for you and your future in the Netherlands?
Escape the quake prepares you for an earthquake that might happen while visiting countries like Japan, Indonesia, Turkey, and Greece. Your goal is to survive the chaos and bring yourself to safety. Do you know what to do when the earth starts to shake?