Synopsis for Creativity, Constraints, and Compromises

By using themes and other tools of storytelling, narrative designers strive to create meaningful narratives that are intertwined with the art, gameplay, and sound. Yet, in the majority of cases, freelance writers or narrative designers do not get a blank canvas, but must adjust to pre-existing parameters. The company may want to use existing art or perhaps there are specific goals outside of entertainment, as in the case of educational games. Even the whims of the client can be considered a constraint. Although these constraints may appear to limit creativity, constraints breed innovation and necessitate even more creativity. In this presentation, Dr. Ricardo Rademacher and narrative designer Sande Chen describe the constraints and challenges of creating an original IP for a fantasy MMORPG that also teaches physics. By detailing step by step the philosophy and compromises behind each decision, they scrutinize the creative processes behind this innovative work.