Three Quick Tests for a Game Story's "Interactivity"

A wave of "Interactive Stories" in video games are hitting the market. But "how" is a game interactive? These 3 quick questions help you get started.

What is Your Favourite Ending?

If answering this question doesn't feel weird, then rest assured that somehow you have made a difference in the storyline. Surprisingly it doesn't take that much to do. But asking this question in the first place might put things in perspective very quickly.

Do I Feel a Guide or Walkthrough would be Useful?

If you said "yes" then most likely some form of strategy is required. (If it's a good kind of strategy is a different question altogether.) Then it also requires some active thinking from the player's part in order to progress. Which also implies some skill from the player is involved.

Do I Feel Confident that I would get the Same Experience that was given in the Review I Read/Watched?

If the game is really interactive, then doesn't that naturally mean the experience the reviewer gets might be different than the experience I would get if I played? Wouldn't all the reviews have different things to say as well? Why or why not?

From a Developer that has Dealt with Many Disillusioned Gamers On Interactive Stories

There are so many taglines on interactive stories in video games that the average gamer has heard so many before. So I have to work very hard on figuring out what to say so that they would actually listen. These questions help me make those taglines that pierce through those doubts.

These questions can also help you go in the other direction as well.