Journey of a Game Designer - Part II

“Great.. We passed the first Scene ! You’re alive ! we’re alive … That means…someone is reading our story. I succeeded with my hook!” Morte is excited and hover all over the place.

He suddenly stops and yell at the ceiling.

“Ha ha writer! What do you think?  You can’t fool me so easily ! I’ve already spotted your schemes! Oh.. And let me guess … a 3 Act Story based on Aristotle structure, right ? Sooo predictable !”, Morte add with a triumphant grin.

In the meantime, the young man starts to awake. His head hurt him so bad that his skull threaten to explode in any second.

“Why? He moans. “Why did you this to me freakin’ skull.

Morte stops and smile at him. A mischievous glint sparkles in his eyes.

“Well, Technically I didn’t.. Nameless did. Besides…l it was for your own good… our own good I may add.”

The young man now stands on his feet. He shakes his head.

“But.. This is nonsense. You said I needed a goal! I had a goal; I just wanted to go home.

“And you still want to go home right?”

“Yes, but not before I crush your skull with…”

“Don’t you listen stupid? I just saved your life!”

“What? You saved my life by hitting me with a Club?” shouts the young man.

“Such a drama for a little hit on your empty head! Now think about it, Ok... I get it.   You had your goal. But, if you succeed now, there is no story either. I had to prevent you from escaping your destiny this early in order not to let you vanish in the abysses of oblivion.

Young man open is mouth but no sounds come, he looks puzzled. Yet he seems to understand.

“Pal, you have to understand, we are not safe in this story!  Any turn off... And we disappear. As characters we have to thrive, we have to fight to reach our goal. We have to matter, to grow, to learn… to be remembered and survive in the memory of our readers! No one wants to see a hero succeed this early in the story! No one! You will have to suffer and change before you reach your goal! This is the only way!

“I think… I begin to understand... I can’t reach my goal now… it’s too early in the story”

“Good! You learn!  Maybe I should ask Nameless to hit you more often. I guess one good slam right behind your neck might trigger some interesting skills”

Nameless laugh silently.

“Morte, Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, shoot!” he replies

 “If the writer is in control of his story, he knows how to handle characters right? Why would you hit me like that? Was it your decision or his?

For a moment, more’s eyeballs seem to retract in their sockets. He is genuinely struck by the question.

“Damn… good question noob !  Let’s figure it out…If this writer is not an outliner plot control freak, he will be driven at some points by his characters, so - and this is pure theory- we might influence him… But for that to happen, he must be able to feel like we do, love us and… damn he won’t love you, not now at least !  He can’t love you … you are so... So…

“Yeah, i know, i’m flat, shallow, hollow..blabla…”

“You said it ! not me !”

“You didn’t answer the question… “

“Well I love to think the decision was mine… I have a strong personality and I think the writer let me handle the situation because he knew I would have done the right thing…”

A strong voice come from behind and judging by the tone, the man seems particularly unhappy

“Morte have you seen Dekard cain ?  This old fool messed again with his portal thing! We were hunting and we ask this beggar to create a portal leading home. But instead this portal led us just on the top of a deadly waterfall! This damn old man is crazy ! We lost good men today cause of this drunk… I almost drowned…

Deckard Cain, Diablo III, Blizzard, 2012

“Sorry for that Alistair, I did saw a portal in the tavern, but no one appeared from it.

“And hey Alistair, let’s me introduce our Savior… you know he will fix the rules and.. he’s the one who will bring us home !

“Morte will you stop with your nonsense ? We already talked about it  these prophecy or vision or whatever !

A young women, run toward them, she is dressed in a leather armor, her hair is pink.

“Hello Alistair ! says the young man.
Alistair give him a stern face and an incendiary glance.

Alistair, Dragon Age : Origins, Bioware, 2009

"Yes young man, my name is Alistair, and this is my wife Imoen…and you are ?

"I... I... " The young man, is panicked and don't really know what to answer.
Imoen, give him a strange smile. Her eyes seem empty.

“Heya! tis' me, Imoen. Good to see you again’

"Again ? the young man replies.  Why again, I never met this girl before !

Alistair’s face change, anger can be seen in his eyes.

“What do you mean! My wife is a liar?”

"No, no…I didn't mean that... I"

Morte whispers at the young man ear.

“Nah... don’t pay attention, Alistair won’t see it but… sometime she speaks alone and have this pet sayings.. There is a pattern, traces of an ancient live…not sure she is totally sane”

Imoen, Baldur's Gate 1 & 2, Bioware.

Alistair looks at the young man very suspiciously and conclude.

“Enough of this ! Morte, I’m not sure who he really is. It could be a trick. I want him examined and confined in the village till I’m sure he is not an enemy. This is not to be discussed”

“But Alistair…” beg Morte.

“Enough ! These are my orders! As a former grey warden I have to be careful and prevent darkspawn from reaching us, even in this world".
Alistair and Imoen leaves the tavern, slamming the door.

“Well, I guess that make sense” Morte says.

“Why?” Ask the young man.
“ This story seem based on a common structure where scene and sequel alternate... in first scene we were in a "scene". A scene has a goal, a conflict, a disaster. And know we are in a sequel witch as a reaction, a dilemma, and a decision."
"A dilemma ? asks the young man.

“Yes, the dilemma here is to listen to this narrow winded brainless warrior and his not-so-sane wife OR listen to me and start our journey right now even if this mean disobey and put our life in danger…because Alistair is not the forgiving type.

The final part is the decision, the decision is yours, but whatever you choose you will have…

“A new goal I get it…”

“Right a new goal ! You get it, you’re smarter than you look !”

“Thanks… I guess”

“So what is you decision…”

“Well, you seem to know your stuff and since my goal is to go home, I guess I will have to go with you!”

“Great, let's kill some rats now!”

TO BE CONTINUED !