Sparking Curiosity-Driven Exploration Through Narrative in Outer Wilds

Explore narrative's role in achieving curiosity-driven exploration in 'Outer Wilds' through this 2021 Independent Games Summit session. Delve into writer and narrative designer Kelsey Beachum's examination of specific narrative design choices and their effects on player experience. Learn about defining curiosity-driven exploration, using curiosity as a driving force, and crafting a compelling gameplay loop. Discover techniques for sparking player curiosity, balancing information delivery, and investing players in the story. Examine the three levels of content, the use of surface-level text, and how story rewards exploration. Gain valuable insights into narrative design for exploration-based games and takeaways applicable to various game development projects.

Intro
Sparking Curiosity-Driven Exploration Through Narrative in Outer Wilds
What is Outer Wilds?
Defining curiosity-driven exploration
Curiosity as Outer Wilds driving force
Gameplay loop
How does this affect narrative?
How do we make the player curious?
Initial major questions
Pushing vs. pulling information
Getting the player invested
Tracking progression
Three levels of content
Surface-level text
Couldn't a first-time player technically beat the game in a single time loop?
Using story to reward exploration
Takeaways