SERIAL GAMES: SERIALITY AND MORAL CHOICES IN INTERACTIVE NARRATION

Matteo Genovesi

This book has two related objectives: to identify, from the 1970s to the present day, certain aspects of narrative seriality within video games designed for home platforms, and simultaneously to pinpoint those video games in which storytelling touches upon delicate themes, morally involving the user. Although episodic video games released at variable intervals in digital markets represent a relatively recent phenomenon, some pioneers have, since the 1970s, highlighted the implicit presence of certain formal aspects of narrative seriality that are well-established in other entertainment sectors. Thanks to the ongoing evolution of gameplay and narrative within the video game medium, these aspects have become increasingly explicit, culminating in the present day, where certain development companies have achieved success through serialized development and distribution.

This historical journey also underscores a progressive complexity in the storylines found in various video games, where narratives are structured based on user choices. These choices, often corresponding to moments of great dramatic intensity and significance in the narrative's development, frequently challenge players from a moral perspective, thanks to sophisticated design strategies.

The presence of both explicitly and implicitly serialized video games in the market, which seek to provoke substantial reflection during consumption, underscores an increasingly dissonant concept associated with video game entertainment. It is no longer solely anchored to the sole objective of providing amusement.

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