Download - DIY Mystery
Setting Character Conflict Plot Action (rising/falling) Climax Resolution Conclusion
Quick Overview of Narrative
The driving force of Mystery and Suspense
The Big 5 Qs of Mystery
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◦ Who?◦ What?◦ Where?◦ When?◦ Why?
The 5 Ws
Let’s take a fun trip through time and look at some of the greatest Mystery
makers to gain some perspective.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1800s)
Creator of Sherlock Holmes
Over 56 stories Crime Fiction England
Most Known for Noir classics, “High Sierra”, “Little Caesar” and “Scarface”
37+ stories 35+ films Most recurring theme
was Redemption The appearance of the
“Femme Fatale”
W. R. Burnett (early 1930s)
Master of Suspense “Birds”, “NXNW”,
“Rear Window” and “Psycho”
Creator of the terms: twist endings, MacGuffin and crime psychological
Alfred Hitchcock (post 1930s-1960s)
Shifting focus…
From serious to funny…
Over 100 different animation cartoons, half of which were Mystery themed.
Scooby Doo Mystery was not just
about serious gangsters anymore
Supernatural elements, heroic characters and spy elements
William Hannah and Joseph Barbera(1960s-1990s)
Detective Comics, first appearance of Mystery and Hero theme
Gritty realism, gangs, drugs blackmail
Bob Kane(1930s) – Paul Dini(1980s)
The Different Kinds of Mystery Traditional Mysteries
(Locked Room and Puzzle Mysteries)
Legal Thriller Medical Thriller Cozy Mystery Police Procedural “hardboiled” –Private Eye
The bigger Question now is…
How do we go about writing mysteries?
How?
Because you already know your purpose.
Where does that Leave you?
Beginning Ending
To figure out the inbetween…
Middle
So let’s talk about what one of the first everyday
questions game designers ask themselves?
How do we engage our players? Practically the same question we teachers have, how do we engage our students?Well any answer from a producer will be sure to tell you to make sequels or introduce something new to the mix.
What does Mystery have to do with it?
Why should you care?
Supernatural
Doctor Who
How does this translate to Games?
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Mystery is a tool! What are you
solving? What is the purpose? How do we come to
a conclusion?
It is meant to help you.
Choose your Example:
FablesWorld of Warcraft
Being able to define your Question will help define your Mystery…
Any Questions?
Aspect Ratio Test
(Should appear circular)