Chapter 3. Interactive Storytelling

Now That We Have Established some basic concepts of stories and interactivity in Chapters 1 and 2, our task now is to combine the two and ask, “What is interactive storytelling? What lies at the intersection of interactivity and stories?”

The plethora of terms used in discussing interactive storytelling indicates the confusion that surrounds the subject. Over the years, people have used “interactive story,” “interactive storytelling,” “interactive drama,” “interactive narrative,” “interactive fiction,” and “interactive movies” to describe this field. I use “interactive storytelling” because it seems to be the most commonly used term.

Moreover, there is a subtle but important source of confusion. Terms such ...

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