Literature and Gaming: Exploring the Role of Story in Interactive Media

Tain Lee Barzso, Literature and Gaming: Exploring the Role of Story in Interactive Media. This lecture will explore the ways in which story defines the difference between intellectual puzzles and immersive games, discussing the role of literature and narrative play in creating the identification and interest that connect us to interactive media experiences. Pulling from examples and frameworks ranging from Joseph Campbell’s mythic structure to Choose Your Own Adventure series books, these literary concepts connect intimately to discussions on Narratology, or story, and Ludology, or form, to define these experiences. These ideas have application in gamified systems across disciplines, as well as games for learning and entertainment. Ultimately, from complex criticism to story basics to design fictions, story in the digital world has - and will continue to – matter.

Tain Lee Barzso is an educator and information technology leader with experience in project & service management, new media, games for learning & gamification, higher education, and technological research and innovation. He has taught at Stanford University, Arizona State University, the Art Institutes and Northern Arizona University, and holds an MA in English creative writing and an MS in information technology management from ASU's WP Carey School of Business. Past projects include directing technology for the Digital Culture program at ASU, teaching courses in story development for video game design, and overseeing the technology infrastructure for the Emerge series of interdisciplinary science, technology, and imagination conferences. He is also co-owner and principal at the media & consulting company Lab238 LLC.

Interactive media and games increasingly pervade and shape our society. In addition to their dominant roles in entertainment, videogames play growing roles in education, arts, science and health. This seminar series brings together a diverse set of experts to provide interdisciplinary perspectives on these media regarding their history, technologies, scholarly research, industry, artistic value and potential future. As the speakers and title suggest, the series also provides a topical lens for the diverse aspects of our lives.