A Functional Perspective on Narrative in Computer Games - Wolf Maul

critical quest information. Understanding and applying information imbedded in these
dialogues was often key to progression, and many quests and could be triggered and executed
at different times and in a variety of ways, leaving the game mechanics far more transparent
and allowing the player’s focus to remain with the player-character and the fiction frame.
Similarly, in a schoolroom in Riven, the player discovers an educational toy for learning
the D’ni’s counting system. The player is able to play with the toy and learn, gaining
information to use in later puzzles. Here also, the context supported and enhanced my sense of
agency.
Riven – Left image: The school room in the village on Riven; Right image: This is a
simple game. Click on the handle and it spins a wheel stopping at a random
character (seen in the base). The little man is then lowered a certain number of
notches (corresponding to the symbol). Click again and the other side is lowered
until finally one player is snapped by the fish mouth on the base. This is not only a
clever children’s game, it also very useful to learn D’ni numbers.
More directly, the game’s context can compensate for limits to agency by providing
explanations for them. Technology, time, and space constraints (as well as the making of a
coherent story) preclude unlimited agency. The player-character in any game will soon run into
inaccessible areas, but buildings can have corridors, rooms can have walls, doors can be
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