ABSTRACT
Embarking on a new work of digital storytelling is usually a daunting proposition, even for veterans in the field. Some of the most effective tools of storytelling, tools that can inject an intense jolt of energy into any type of narrative, were not even developed by storytellers. Writers moving from the linear world of Hollywood screenwriting into the field of interactive media are often as struck by the similarities in crafting scripts in these two seemingly antithetical arenas. Games teach the critical importance of having a clear-cut goal, and also show the importance of putting obstacles in the way of that goal. Aristotle, one of the greatest thinkers of the ancient world, closely studied Greek theater, particularly the serious dramas, which were then always called tragedies. Interactive entertainment utilizes an array of tools, some drawn from extremely ancient sources, others from contemporary linear storytellers, and still others that are unique to new media.
