Programme Phase II/1998

The training programme sagas Writing Interactive Fiction was held in English and took place in Munich in two modules
(March 5 – 11, 1998 and October 9 – 15, 1998).

Lectures with integrated working groups were held by multimedia experts
PROF. JAY DAVID BOLTER (Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta)
MICHAEL JOYCE (renowned hyperfiction author, Vassar College, NY). 

Module 1

March 5 – 11, 1998

The first module concentrated on exercises in multiple narrative building developing into an ethnographical focus-group workshop in which students served as audiences for each other's group-scenarios. Focus group audiences were trained to imagine, describe, and ultimately design modes of interaction which were grounded in the group-scenarios rather than the presentational medium and its interfaces. The groups developed their own treatments and scenarios from scratch, rather than working from the stimulus of a treatment. The problem of intervention within the frame of an unfolding multiple narrative is not primarily a technical one but an artistic one. The groups attempted to introduce temporal shifting into their scenarios and finally discussed representational schemes and possible delivery media.

Timetable of Module 1

Module 2

October 9 – 15, 1998

The second module extended the scenario building practice of the first module. Participants worked in groups and each group was asked to begin the process of producing a coherent treatment, scenarios, and storyboards for a proposed production. A series of physical exercises involved the participants in an exploration of methods to "break the frame" of visual narratives without losing dramatic intensity. Building upon the scenario building project, each group of participants created a physical story world for their group's narrative within the design studio using simple props, backdrops, costumes, and other design elements to suggest spatial design prototypes for narrative interaction. Then the participants "colorized", enhance, or otherwise manipulated a visual narrative to further explore spatial design prototypes.

Participants were invited to translate the spatial design prototypes to simple graphical computer environments as they continued work with the group-scenarios for their "House as Story" multiple narratives.

Timetable of Module 2 | Results 1998