Solving the Narrative Paradox in VEs – Lessons from RPGs

Narrative within Virtual Environments (VEs) is a compromise between pre-authored narrative structures and user freedom in terms of interaction and physical movement. We present results of a recent investigation on the narrative structures and mechanisms of Role Playing Games (RPGs), and assess the potential of non-conventional narrative forms for computer implementation. We address the potential benefits for the research currently undertaken by the AI community in terms of storytelling and interactive storytelling.