Storytelling in Games

Does a strong storyline make a better game?

I think that it is very obvious that if the game has a strong storyline then the game will be much better. If the characters have a strong and believable back story, the player gets more familiarised to them, and in some senses indentify with the emotions they feel. This pushes the motivation to actually progress in the game, as there is more gratification than merely completing it 100%. There is an element of the equilibrium being restored, such as in a classic film narrative.

As a player, does the story happen to you, or do you make the story happen?

A story is pushed by the player, but only to the limits that the game engine allows. With branching storylines, this is extended, but again is only limited to what is programmed and possible with game attributes and capabilities. In some free roaming games, much of the level can be changed in some circumstance, but the storyline isnt always affected.

what's the story in Second Life?

Second life is a virtual world that allows players to escape from reality and build their own identity to a range of other people who would normally be unfeasable to interact with. The type of game contributes to the expanding virtual communities online.