A Functional Perspective on Narrative in Computer Games - Wolf Maul

Riven – Left image: Atreus gives instructions as the game starts. Right image:
Strange creatures rest on some rocks before swimming away in one of Riven’s
animated sequences.
The perspective in Riven is first person. Views are life-like and presented in a slide-show
style in which movement (forward or turning) will flip to the next motionless view. The
interface uses simple point-and-click mouse control for movement and object manipulation
(push buttons, pull levers, turn valves, and so on). The cursor changes shape to indicate which
type of action is possible. Only a few items (the false linking-book and some diaries and notes)
are available to add to the player’s inventory. Nothing can be done with these items except to
read them or, in special circumstances, give them away.
Riven – Left image: Gehn’s laboratory notebook provides clues to the operation of
machinery on the islands. Right image: Walkway outside Gehn’s lab.
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