05 Jul 2017
Could interactive narratives be incorporated into visitor attractions?
BY Tom Anstey
An immersive storytelling expert has discussed the possibility of using new and evolving technologies to give visitors to attractions rein over interactive experiences, allowing them to make personal choices and drive narrative in a story unfolding before them.
Aaron Bradbury, who is VFX supervisor for immersive storytelling studio NSC creative and is working on how the medium can be applied to virtual reality, believes despite numerous roadblocks for this genre of storytelling, there are many avenues of that could still potentially be unlocked.
“Linear media loves to toy with the idea of interactive and branching narratives whether it be the setting for visitors to Westworld or the mind bending world of Rick and Morty,” said Bradbury, speaking in the latest edition of Attractions Management.
“These interactive and branching narratives are very much in the games industry and the optimistic path is a feeling that among the dead ends, there are many more avenues to explore with this medium.”
Netflix recently took a step into choose-your-own-story style adventures, with the company recently launching a new feature based on Puss-in-Boots. Aimed at children, the show uses interactive cut scenes to allow viewers to select from branching decision paths, a technique that could also be branched out in some fom to visitor attractions.
“We know there is a way to make interactive narratives work meaningfully,” said Bradbury. “As I embark on a journey into multi-narrative experiences within VR, I hope there is a meaningful destination. It makes sense to avoid travelling down paths that are already full of dead ends, but nothing is more rewarding than exploring new avenues and finding that special place hidden behind the trees.”
To read more from Bradbury and a panel of experts including Merlin Entertainments creative director Paul Moreton, Thinkwell Group principal for attractions and museums Chris Dumrick, and BRC Imagination Arts vice president Christian Lachel, the latest edition of Attractions Management is available here.
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