1. The Player’s Journey
Seth Sivak
MIT GAMBIT Game Lab - Spring 2010

2. On the Index Card
Favorite story-based game
Favorite non-story based game
Last game you played to the end and hated
Last 5 games you played

3. Disclaimer
Video games are complicated
Experiences are dependent on the person
There is no “right” answer
The goal is to have more tools ready

4. Disclaimer
Video games are complicated
Experiences are dependent on the person
There is no “right” answer
The goal is to have more tools ready

5. Disclaimer
Video games are complicated
Experiences are dependent on the person
There is no “right” answer
The goal is to have more tools ready

6. Disclaimer
Video games are complicated
Experiences are dependent on the person
There is no “right” answer
The goal is to have more tools ready

7. Disclaimer
Video games are complicated
Experiences are dependent on the person
There is no “right” answer
The goal is to have more tools ready

8. To-do List
What is the Hero’s Journey?
How does the Hero’s Journey work?
Who uses the Hero’s Journey?
How does this apply to games?
Activity!
How does this apply to players?
What is the Player’s Journey?
Acitvity!
How can we use the Player’s Journey?

9. What is the Hero’s Journey?

10. What is the Hero’s Journey?

12. How does it work?

13. What is it about?

14. What is it about?
TRANSFORMATION

15. Hero’s Journey (Abridged)
The Call to Adventure
The Road of Trials
The Vision Quest
The Meeting with the Goddess
The Boon
The Magic Flight
The Return Threshold
The Master of Two Worlds

16. Hero’s Journey (Abridged)
The Call to Adventure
The Road of Trials
The Vision Quest
The Meeting with the Goddess
The Boon
The Magic Flight
The Return Threshold
The Master of Two Worlds

17. Hero’s Journey (Abridged)
The Call to Adventure
The Road of Trials
The Vision Quest
The Meeting with the Goddess
The Boon
The Magic Flight
The Return Threshold
The Master of Two Worlds

18. Hero’s Journey (Abridged)
The Call to Adventure
The Road of Trials
The Vision Quest
The Meeting with the Goddess
The Boon
The Magic Flight
The Return Threshold
The Master of Two Worlds

19. Hero’s Journey (Abridged)
The Call to Adventure
The Road of Trials
The Vision Quest
The Meeting with the Goddess
The Boon
The Magic Flight
The Return Threshold
The Master of Two Worlds

20. Three Act
Hero’s Journey
Structure
Setup Departure
(Inciting Incident) (Threshold)
Confrontation Initiation
(Midpoint) (Ordeal)
Resolution Return
(Climax) (Resurrection)

21. Three Act
Action Hero’s Journey
Structure
Setup Departure
Before the Action
(Inciting Incident) (Threshold)
Confrontation Initiation
During the Action
(Midpoint) (Ordeal)
Resolution Return
After the Action
(Climax) (Resurrection)

22. Act 3 Act 1
Act 2b Act 2a

23. Act 2b Ordeal Act 2a
Overcome the Ordeal, Survive in
get the Reward the Wilderness
Crossing
Road Back
the Threshold
Return Home Escape the
to Safety Ordinary World
Act 3 Act 1

24. Four-ish Act
Action Hero’s Journey
Structure
Explaining the
Setup Departure
Action
Preparing for the
Confrontation Initiation
Action
Climax During the Action Ordeal
Resolution After the Action Return

25. Who uses the Hero’s Journey?

26. Who uses the Hero’s Journey?

27. Who uses the Hero’s Journey?

28. Who uses the Hero’s Journey?

29. Who uses the Hero’s Journey?

30. Who uses the Hero’s Journey?

31. Who uses the Hero’s Journey?

32. Who uses the Hero’s Journey?

33. To-do List
What is the Hero’s Journey?
How does the Hero’s Journey work?
Who uses the Hero’s Journey?
How does this apply to games?
Activity!
How does this apply to players?
What is the Player’s Journey?
Acitvity!
How can we use the Player’s Journey?

34. Video Game Stories

35. Video Game Stories

36. Game Structure

37. Game Structure
1. Introduction (Tutorial)

38. Game Structure
1. Introduction (Tutorial)
2. Levels (Mini-Bosses / Challenges)

39. Game Structure
1. Introduction (Tutorial)
2. Levels (Mini-Bosses / Challenges)
3. Final Boss

40. Game Structure
1. Introduction (Tutorial)
2. Levels (Mini-Bosses / Challenges)
3. Final Boss
4. Ending

41. Four-ish Act
GAMES! Hero’s Journey
Structure
Setup Intro/Tutorial Departure
Confrontation Levels/Challenges Initiation
Climax Final Boss Ordeal
Resolution Ending Return

43. Story Time!
The HERO!!!
Call to Adventure (The Problem)
Crossing the Threshold (Escape the Oridinary World)
Surivive in the wilderness and prepare for the Ordeal
The Ordeal (The Solution and the Reward)
Return Home (The Transformation)

44. Story Time!

45. Story Time!
Hero: Link

46. Story Time!
Hero: Link
Problem: Stop Ganondorf!

47. Story Time!
Hero: Link
Problem: Stop Ganondorf!
Crossing the Threshold: Grabs the Master’s Sword and
is locked in the Temple of Time for 7 years

48. Story Time!
Hero: Link
Problem: Stop Ganondorf!
Crossing the Threshold: Grabs the Master’s Sword and
is locked in the Temple of Time for 7 years
Tasks and Trials: Link emerges in the desolate world
and must free the 7 Sages before he can face
Ganondorf

49. Story Time!
Hero: Link
Problem: Stop Ganondorf!
Crossing the Threshold: Grabs the Master’s Sword and
is locked in the Temple of Time for 7 years
Tasks and Trials: Link emerges in the desolate world
and must free the 7 Sages before he can face
Ganondorf
The Ordeal: Link defeats Ganondorf, gets the Triforce
and the Girl

50. Story Time!
Hero: Link
Problem: Stop Ganondorf!
Crossing the Threshold: Grabs the Master’s Sword and
is locked in the Temple of Time for 7 years
Tasks and Trials: Link emerges in the desolate world
and must free the 7 Sages before he can face
Ganondorf
The Ordeal: Link defeats Ganondorf, gets the Triforce
and the Girl
Road Back: Link is sent back to relive his childhood?

51. To-do List
What is the Hero’s Journey?
How does the Hero’s Journey work?
Who uses the Hero’s Journey?
How does this apply to games?
Activity!
How does this apply to players?
What is the Player’s Journey?
Acitvity!
How can we use the Player’s Journey?

52. Good Story != Good Game

54. Super Mario Bros.

55. Super Mario Bros.
One day, the kingdom of the peaceful Mushroom Kingdom people was invaded by
the Koopa, a tribe of turtles famous for their black magic. The quiet, peace-loving
Mushroom People were turned into mere stones, bricks, and even field horsehair
plants, and the Mushroom Kingdom fell into ruin.
The only one who can undo the magic spell on the Mushroom People and return
them to their normal selves is the Princess Toadstool, the daughter of the Mushroom
King. Unfortunately, she is presently in the hands of the great Koopa turtle king.
Mario, the hero of the story (maybe) hears about the Mushroom People's plight and
sets out on a quest to free the Mushroom Princess from the evil Koopa and restore
the fallen kingdom of the Mushroom People.
You are Mario! It's up to you to save the Mushroom People from the black magic of
the Koopa!

56. Super Mario Bros.
One day, the kingdom of the peaceful Mushroom Kingdom people was invaded by
the Koopa, a tribe of turtles famous for their black magic. The quiet, peace-loving
Mushroom People were turned into mere stones, bricks, and even field horsehair
plants, and the Mushroom Kingdom fell into ruin.
The only one who can undo the magic spell on the Mushroom People and return
them to their normal selves is the Princess Toadstool, the daughter of the Mushroom
King. Unfortunately, she is presently in the hands of the great Koopa turtle king.
Mario, the hero of the story (maybe) hears about the Mushroom People's plight and
sets out on a quest to free the Mushroom Princess from the evil Koopa and restore
the fallen kingdom of the Mushroom People.
You are Mario! It's up to you to save the Mushroom People from the black magic of
the Koopa!
YOU!

58. Tutorial

59. Tutorial
Levels +
Challenges

60. Tutorial
Final Levels +
Battle Challenges

61. Ending Tutorial
Final Levels +
Battle Challenges

62. Games Player’s Journey Hero’s Journey
Tutorial Become the Hero Departure
Levels /
Master the Hero Initiation
Challenges
Final Boss Test the Hero Ordeal
Ending Leave the Hero Return

63. Every game should make
the player a HERO!

64. Every game should make
the player a HERO!

65. Every game should make
the player a HERO!

66. Every game should make
the player a HERO!

67. Every game should make
the player a HERO!

69. Every game should
TRANSFORM the player.

70. Send the Player on a Journey
Explain the rules and goals
Bring the player to a new place
Train them to survive in this world
Give them a chance to reach their goal
Send them back with a reward

71. Send the Player on a Journey

72. To-do List
What is the Hero’s Journey?
How does the Hero’s Journey work?
Who uses the Hero’s Journey?
How does this apply to games?
Activity!
How does this apply to players?
What is the Player’s Journey?
Acitvity!
How can we use the Player’s Journey?

73. The Puzzle Problem
Use a puzzle to create a journey
Crossword
Soduku
Rubik’s Cube

74. The Puzzle Problem
Give it a theme and story
Design a fun way to explain the rules
Create a goal
Design at least 3 “levels”
Design a final showdown
Leave the player with a reward

75. To-do List
What is the Hero’s Journey?
How does the Hero’s Journey work?
Who uses the Hero’s Journey?
How does this apply to games?
Activity!
How does this apply to players?
What is the Player’s Journey?
Acitvity!
How can we use the Player’s Journey?

76. The Mechanic Cycle
Explain the Mechanic
Teach the Mechanic (practice make perfect)
Test the Mechanic
Reward

77. Reasons for Failure
Lost or confused: Is your tutorial working?
Bored: Is your world interesting enough?
Repeated Failure: Do they have enough training?
Anticlimactic: Is the final showdown too easy?
Replayability: Is the reward good enough?

78. Reasons for Failure

79. Fulfill the Player’s Needs
Explain the rules and goals (boundaries, structure)
Bring the player to a new place (the spice of life)
Train them to survive in this world (learn something)
Give them a chance to reach their goal (judgement)
Send them back with a reward (reward)

80. Fulfill the Player’s Needs

81. Seth Sivak
sjsivak@gmail.com

82. Voyage of the Hero
Miraculous conception and birth
Initiation of the hero-child
Withdrawal from family or community for meditation and preparation
Trial and Quest
Death
Descent into the underworld
Resurrection and rebirth
Ascension, apotheosis, and atonement