The Game Master

  • Authors:

  • Anders Tychsen;Michael Hitchens;Thea Brolund;Manolya Kavakli

  • Affiliations:

  • Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW;Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW;University of Technology, Broadway, Sydney, NSW;Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW

  • Venue:
  • Proceedings of the second Australasian conference on Interactive entertainment
  • Year:
  • 2005

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Abstract

The concept of a Game Master (GM) is associated with a range of functions in role playing-based games, from pen and paper role playing games to live action-, computer- and massively multiplayer online role playing games. The functionality of the GM across game platforms is directly related to a handful of variables.In spite of being a core concept in role playing games, the full range of tools provided to GMs have not been fully integrated across the game platforms. The introduction of GM functionality in multiplayer computer role playing games such as Vampire the Masquerade: Redemption and Neverwinter Nights, indicate a substantial potential for development of toolsets for human-controlled interactive, emergent storytelling environments in virtual worlds, at several levels of functionality. Giving control of the game world to the players encourages a dynamic form of storytelling in games which is more reactive, and tailored to the specific players, than what is currently possible using pre-programmed static narratives or automated storytelling engines.