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Published in:
Research into Interactive Digital Narrative: A Kaleidoscopic View Read chapter Read first chapter

2018 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

Filling in the Gaps: “Shell” Playable Characters

Authors : Trena Lee, Alex Mitchell

Published in: Interactive Storytelling

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

In this paper we propose a new character type, the “shell” playable character, which differs from the standard playable character types of avatars or “rich” characters. These “shell” characters are neither complete “blank slates” for the players to project themselves onto, nor do they provide enough information to be considered “well-rounded” characters with complete personalities and backstories. Drawing on the concepts of leerstellen and ambiguity, we explore this new playable character type through comparative close readings of three games: INSIDE, Emporium, and The Stanley Parable. Our findings suggest that “shell” playable characters are characters that encourage players to develop their own understanding of the character, enabled through gaps and ambiguities that allow players the space to “fill” up the character with an interpretation of who the character could be, and to view the character as a separate entity rather than simply an extension of the player.

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previous chapter Perceived Agency as Meaningful Expression of Playable Character Personality Traits in Storygames
next chapter A Model for Describing Alternate Reality Games
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Metadata
Title
Filling in the Gaps: “Shell” Playable Characters
Authors
Trena Lee
Alex Mitchell
Copyright Year
2018
Book
Interactive Storytelling

Print ISBN: 978-3-030-04027-7

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-030-04028-4

Copyright Year: 2018

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04028-4_24

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