how to use gamification for non-fiction storytelling

ulfgruener.de | 20151
Storytelling
& Gamification
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look into
the engine
room
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what could we learn
from Gamification to
improve our storytelling?
ulfgruener.com/edu

1. introduction
2. example & analysis
3. how to: a thesis
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1
introduction
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Storytelling
s
brains only light up
when they detect a story
–- particularly if it evokes
emotion.
http://www.reachstoryu.com/about/ ulfgruener.com/edu

that's why we need
to intensify storytelling
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not an entirely new way to do so:
use games &
learn from games:
• newsgames
• editorial games
• persuasive games
• immersive storytelling
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2013
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the ﬁrst book
on newsgames:
MIT Press, 2010
& "How to Do Things
with Videogames"
2011
bogost.com

journalism conference
discussing newsgames:
London, 2011
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ulfgruener.de | 201511 ulfgruener.com/edu
a reader should
“develop a deeper sense of
the underlying themes
of a story” by playing a game
journalism conference
discussing newsgames:
London, 2011

http://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2014/piratefishingdoc/

... but:
in real life?
How to use Gamification
in everyday storytelling?
For non-fiction storys?
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How to use
the techniques
of Gamification in
our newsroom for
immersive storytelling?
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2
example
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. bushfires in Australia
. family escapes
by jumping into a lake
and waiting under the
landing stage
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. onepage storytelling
parallax
. linear
. multimedia
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http://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2013/may/26/firestorm-bushfire-dunalley-holmes-family

ulfgruener.de | 2015ulfgruener.com/eduhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2013/may/26/firestorm-bushfire-dunalley-holmes-family

... analyze with
SRF "story bulding kit"
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1. the elements of a story
2. the storyline
3. the structure
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Storytelling: basic elements of a story
a story needs
a main character
(hero)
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Storytelling
main character
(hero)
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Storytelling
main character
(hero)
…
with intention
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Storytelling
main character
(hero)
…
with intention
wants to rescue his grandchildren
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Storytelling
main character
(hero)
…
with intention
and
quality
fearless, persistent
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Storytelling
a goal
sth to aim for
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a story needs:

Storytelling
xgoal
survive & rebuild their home
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Storytelling
obstacle
(or enemy)
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a story needs:

ulfgruener.de | 2015ulfgruener.com/edu

Storytelling: basic elements of a story

2. the storyline
3. the structure
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http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/11/a-wonderful-visual-outlining-7-steps-of.html

http://visual.ly/kurt-vonnegut-shapes-stories-0

2. the storyline
3. the structure
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http://de.slideshare.net/ulghh/onepageparallax-storytelling-a-quick-guide

http://de.slideshare.net/ulghh/onepageparallax-storytelling-a-quick-guide
ulfgruener.com/edu

Plot-Points > scenes pushing the story
Magic Moments > adding emotion
& experience

what could we learn
from Gamification to
improve longform stories
like this one?
ulfgruener.com/edu

... and in real life:
How to use Gamification
in everyday storytelling?
For non-fiction storys?
ulfgruener.com/edu

3
thesis
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Storytelling
The perfect story creates different effects simultaneously:
• organizes and simplifies
• provides context and relevance
• creates emotions
• visualizes, creates images and improves memory
• creates trust between author and audience
• leads to action (for example: commenting, sharing ...)
http://www.reachstoryu.com/about/ ulfgruener.com/edu

... it's a story because
I'm involved
I've learned sth
& use it immediately
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Storytelling
... that's quite similar
to the mechanics of games.
But we still have to add sth:
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key features of games:
(quotes from MasterClass eSports & Gamification, Berlin, March 2016,
Eurovision Academy & Institut für Ludologie;
slide from the presentation by Dr. Maximilian Schenk, biu-online.de)

Storytelling
What we have to add to our stories
by learning from Gamification:
• interactive elements
• instant feedback (!)
• collaboration ("User Generated Content")
• motivation
• concentration
• intuitive storyline
ulfgruener.com/edu

Storytelling
How to apply this to storytelling?
• interactive elements: quizzes, quick games ... and ?
• instant feedback: discuss with author ... and?
• collaboration: "User Generated Content", crowdsourcing ... and?*
• motivation: by explaining things, by background, relevance ... and?
• concentration: clear focus, hero, strong dramaturgy ... and?
• intuitive storyline: easy to follow ... and?
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* Dan Gillmor, 2009: "We would invite our audience to participate in the journalism process ..."
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/oct/02/dan-gillmor-22-rules-news

slide from the presentation by Roman Rackwitz, engaginglab.com)

Storytelling
• novelty: that's our job to deliver news
• challenge our audience: with new angles of a story, unknown heroes ... and?
• think creatively: "surprise your readers" - one of the oldest rules in journalism
• do things the hard way: as journalists we're focused on telling stories the most comfortable way
• - is it Gamification to urge our readers out of their "comfort zone"?
ulfgruener.com/edu

slide from the presentation by Roman Rackwitz, engaginglab.com)

Storytelling
• clear goals, milestones: a good story has a clear goal, every paragraph is a clear milestone
• well known rules: how to read this story?
• room for maneuver: let your reader find his/her own way through the story - or at least give some options
• transparency: be transparent on what do we know, what we don't know *
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* Dan Gillmor, 2009: "Transparency would be a core element of our journalism. One example of many: every print
article would have an accompanying box called "Things We Don't Know," a list of questions our journalists
couldn't answer in their reporting. TV and radio stories would mention the key unknowns. Whatever the medium,
the organisation's website would include an invitation to the audience to help fill in the holes, which exist in every
story." http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/oct/02/dan-gillmor-22-rules-news

more key features of games:
Eurovision Academy & Institut für Ludologie)
• "personal path to mastery": how could a story be a path to mastery?  
by making sense, explaining sth, telling new angles of a topic ... and what else?
• level up - more, better, increasing complexity: challenge your audience,  
don't hesitate to tell complex stories ... and what else?
• overview: help navigating through the story at any time and any place,  
this is also indispensable to give room for maneuver ... and what else?
• shop: offer individual add-ons to your story ... and what else?

Storytelling
If journalists use Gamification in their storytelling –
these 3 features are the most challenging:
• instant feedback for our audience while reading a story
• challenge our audience and don't make it too easy, too simple
• do things the hard way and therefore urge our readers out of their "comfort zone"
ulfgruener.com/edu

let's go, play!
adapt the the techniques of
Gamification for
your TV/Radio/Online
immersive storytelling
ulfgruener.com/edu
see all my presentations at http://de.slideshare.net/ulghh/

how to use gamification for non-fiction storytelling

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