Product Description

The first professional book to explore and analyze digital storytelling across interactive media and genres-this book examines how digital storytelling draws on classic narrative techniques and utilizes interactive digital technologies to create today's entertainment.

Digital Storytelling explains key strategies for conveying narrative through digital technologies, based on personal experience and numerous case studies, providing project managers, interactive content designers, and writers with the tools necessary for planning a successful interactive project, including ideas for product development and conceptualization.

Detailed planning processes for all types of interactive projects are discussed, including videogames, massively multiplayer online games, the Internet, interactive TV, cross-media productions, smart toys, virtual reality, immersive environments, wireless devices, kiosks, and DVDs. The book also covers topics such as: structure, characters and emotions; tackling projects for children; finding work and staying employed; and more.

Miller has written Digital Storytelling for the professional and the student, and details what interactive content developers and project managers need to know in a clear, enthusiastic manner.

*Covers case studies, providing numerous ideas for creating and managing engrossing, interactive entertainment products from development to production

*Explains the uses of digital storytelling for both entertainment and entertainment blends -- projects that teach, inform, and promote

*Takes an international approach to digital entertainment, exploring ground-breaking projects in Asia, Africa and Europe as well as in North America

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #919652 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 472 pages

Review
"Covering a massive area of media and topics, this is a fascinating read. It's more of a history than a how-to (though it contains elements of the latter) and anyone interested in the world of interactive entertainment is sure to be inspired by it." - Digital Creative Arts

From the Publisher
An interactive entertainment creator's guide to digital media product development, from concept to completion.

From the Inside Flap
The new digital technologies are offering a multitude of fresh creative possibilities to storytellers. These new kinds of stories can be highly effective vehicles not only for entertainment purposes, but also for teaching, informing, promoting and training. But digital storytelling adds something new and challenging to narrative: interactivity.

Interactivity impacts on everything from character design to structure to dialogue. To successfully creative narratives for the new media, it is imperative to know how to handle interactivity and how to fully involve the audience in the unfolding of the story. This book offers valuable insights into this process, giving concrete guidelines and examples drawn from cutting edge projects in over a dozen forms of interactive storytelling.

Learn to create content for these interactive vehicles: massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs), videogames, immersive multiple-site Web fictions, pervasive games, smart toys, DVDs, kiosks, entertainment on wireless devices (phones, PDAs, etc.) interactive movies, interactive TV, and virtual reality simulations.

Learn by example from case studies of ground-breaking projects applicable to a variety of interactive media.

Gain insight from engaging behind-the-scenes anecdotes from successful digital media practitioners.

Understand the how & why of interactive storytelling with guidelines for developing characters, structures, and content specifically for digital entertainment.

Customer Reviews

It's not the Future anymore, it's the Now
DIGITAL STORYTELLING
Carolyn Handler Miller

From sitting in front of the camp fire to sitting in front of a computer, story-telling has always been rewarding, yet often frustrating. The challenges of telling a story using different media, particularly a new one, can be intimidating, especially to someone who wasn't born with a mouse in their mouth.

Not to worry, though, for in the first chapter of Carolyn Miller's book, she lays those concerns to rest by noting that interactive stories are similar to myths, rituals, and games. I immediately felt better and dove right into this comprehensive book.

DIGITAL STORYTELLING is valuable on a number of levels.
It's a scholarly revue and investigation of interactive media and thus an excellent resource for researchers.
It explains the terminology and theories.
It offers specific tools for digital storytelling development of plot, structure, and characters.
It has guidelines for specific uses of digital storytelling such as information, education, and advertising.
Children's projects have their own helpful chapter.

As a story consultant moving more into games design work, and as a writer desiring to keep up with the latest techniques and technologies, I know I'll be reaching for DIGITAL STORYTELLING a lot. And I know I'll always find it a rich resource of information and inspiration.

Terrific Resource
A thoughtful, comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of interactive media. The screen captures, urls, and illustrative case studies that populate the pages of this cleverly-written book help the reader to develop a deep and practical understanding of the subject matter. Proof of the pudding: I'm using it myself, as a resource on a cutting-edge, interactive project that I'm spearheading. I highly recommend it.

Indespensible
This book brings clarity to a complex and often confusing subject. After co-writing several CD-ROM games, I thought I knew what I needed to know about interactive entertainment. This book made me realize how much more there is to this world and the vast potential that's there for creating new forms of entertainment and education. Instead of making you feel overwhelmed by the possibilities, Ms. Miller lays it all out for you in ways that are not only informative but actually inspirational. The chapters are well organized and the real-world examples are plentiful. On the one hand, it's an indespensible reference for anyone who writes (or wants to write) interactive material. On the other, it works as a muse, helping you to see things in a new light and often sparking ideas. It's a must for those who want to work in this field.