ABSTRACT
There’s a particular form of play that everyone does that is still rare in video games: dramatic play. You see it in LARPing, acting, superhero action figures, and children at the playground. Adults and kids saying “Let’s pretend we’re. …” We don’t even have a clear word for this kind of play in game design. I call it dramatic gameplay. Role playing in video games has taken on a broader meaning, more about tactics and progression then pretending. Player storytelling is sometimes used, but these players aren’t purposefully telling stories. They aren’t watching or thinking about narrative. They are
taking on a role,
making that role personal,
performing their role, or
expecting the game to recognize the role.
