{"product_id":"9781914487347-when-worlds-collide","title":"When Worlds Collide","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHow Video Games Reinvent Storytelling and Why It Matters\u003cbr\u003eAn industry writer reveals the art of storytelling in video games and how it is increasingly shaping wider culture, society and even politics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA video game insider reveals how stories power the best computer games\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eVideo games are now bigger than the global film and music industries combined – and they’re quietly transforming how stories are told. \u003ci\u003eWhen Worlds Collide: How Video Games Reinvent Storytelling and Why It Matters\u003c\/i\u003e is a groundbreaking video game storytelling book that shows, in clear and compelling prose, exactly how this new medium works – and why every writer, designer and curious player should care.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eDrawing on decades as a game writer, narrative designer and academic, Colin Harvey takes you inside the writers’ rooms, VR labs and blockbuster studios where today’s most innovative stories are made. From Sony’s VR action game \u003ci\u003eBlood \u0026amp; Truth\u003c\/i\u003e to epics such as \u003ci\u003eThe Last of Us\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGhost of Tsushima\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eGrand Theft Auto\u003c\/i\u003e and cult indie titles, he reveals how video games reinvent storytelling by handing agency to the player – and what that means for plot, character and emotion.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOrganised in short, highly readable chapters, the book explores:\u003cbr\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGames versus stories – why games aren’t just “interactive films”, and how interactive storytelling and game narrative must solve problems other media never face.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe hidden history of non‑linear and participatory tales, from \u003ci\u003eTristram Shandy\u003c\/i\u003e to \u003ci\u003eChoose Your Own Adventure\u003c\/i\u003e, that paved the way for modern games.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe craft of narrative design in video games – pacing, player choice, “ludonarrative dissonance”, and the tricky business of aligning what the player does with what the story wants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDialogue, character arcs and “world logic” – the nuts and bolts of writing stories for video games so they feel alive rather than scripted.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTime, space and open worlds – how game storytellers choreograph exploration, repetition, side‑quests and hub‑and‑spoke structures to create satisfying journeys.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePipelines, performances and collaboration – how writers, level designers, actors, coders and artists actually work together on large productions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe ethical dimensions of game design: choice, consequence, violence, representation and the politics of letting players “do anything”.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorldbuilding in the age of franchises, live services and streaming – from tightly crafted indie gems to sprawling universes, Harvey offers a practitioner’s guide to worldbuilding for video games.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cbr\u003eLater chapters look ahead to the metaverse and mega narrative, interrogating what happens when stories stretch across films, comics, novels, streams and persistent online worlds – and how the tools of game storytelling help us make sense of these tangled universes.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eHe also examines storytelling in games and VR, and asks what the future of interactive storytelling might look like as AI, virtual reality and new platforms accelerate the collision between the player’s world and the fictional one.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAccessible yet rigorously informed by game studies narrative theory, \u003ci\u003eWhen Worlds Collide\u003c\/i\u003e is both an introduction for newcomers and a thoughtful video game narrative design guide for working professionals and students. Whether you are:\u003cbr\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ea novelist, screenwriter or playwright curious about writing for games\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ea game designer or developer who wants to understand story craft\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ea narrative designer or writer looking to deepen your toolkit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ea lecturer or student on a game design, creative writing or media course\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eor simply a player who loves story‑rich games and wants to peek behind the curtain\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cbr\u003e…this book will change how you see the games you play, the stories you watch – and the stories you might create yourself.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIf you care about where narrative is going next, \u003ci\u003eWhen Worlds Collide\u003c\/i\u003e is your essential guide to the most exciting storytelling laboratory on the planet.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eDrawing on his expertise as both a practitioner and a storyteller\u003c\/b\u003e, Harvey skillfully examines the ways in which games are revolutionising how we engage with, experience, and create stories. Each chapter blends theory with practice, making the ideas accessible and engaging, while inspiring both creators and fans alike to rethink the boundaries of narrative. Whether you're a gamer, writer, or simply a lover of storytelling, \u003ci\u003eWhen Worlds Collide\u003c\/i\u003e is an eye-opening and thought-provoking read that will forever change the way you look at stories.' – \u003ci\u003eDamien Goodwin (Star Wars Outlaws, The Casting of Frank Stone, Returnal)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e'People often ask why I care about storytelling in games. From now on I'll just give them this book'\u003c\/b\u003e – \u003ci\u003eAntony Johnston (Dead Space, Resident Evil Village, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBuy the book and start learning the secrets of video games\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56453659623798,"sku":"9781914487347","price":15.85,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_36123620.jpg?v=1760499748","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781914487347-when-worlds-collide","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}