Influencing Emotions and Interpretation: Investigating the impact of color grading on emergent narrative in an interactive experience

Amin, Amin Morad

4. term

Medialogy, Master

2016

2016-05-26

154

Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan visuelle virkemidler i videospil kan forme spilleres følelser og fortolkninger for at skabe mindeværdige og virkningsfulde oplevelser. Fokus er på color grading—bevidst justering af farver og toner—for at se, om det kan påvirke spillere til at opbygge en emergent fortælling, altså en historie der opstår ud fra gameplay og environmental storytelling (verdens- og miljødesign, der formidler fortælling gennem rum og detaljer) i stedet for at blive fortalt direkte. I et studie med 44 deltagere, opdelt i kontrol- og eksperimentgrupper, målte vi følelser og emotioner med tre selvrapporteringsværktøjer og indsamlede skriftlige fortolkninger af miljøerne. Sammenligningen mellem grupperne tyder på, at color grading påvirkede deltagerne og deres evne til at konstruere en emergent fortælling inden for environmental storytelling. Resultaterne peger på en meningsfuld effekt, men der er behov for yderligere undersøgelser af forskellige arketyper, metoder og stilarter af color grading i relation til emergente fortællinger og environmental storytelling i videospil.

This thesis examines how visual techniques in video games can shape players' feelings and interpretations to create memorable, impactful experiences. It focuses on color grading—intentional adjustment of colors and tones—to see whether it nudges players toward building an emergent narrative, a story that arises from gameplay and environmental storytelling (world design that conveys story through spaces and details) rather than being explicitly told. In a study with 44 participants split into control and experimental groups, we measured feelings and emotions using three self-assessment tools and collected written interpretations of the environments. Comparing the groups suggested that color grading influenced participants and affected their ability to construct an emergent narrative within environmental storytelling. While the results point to a meaningful effect, further research should test different color grading archetypes, methods, and styles in relation to emergent narratives and environmental storytelling in video games.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

Influencing ; Color grading ; Emergent Narrative ; Environmental Storytelling ; Feelings ; Emotions ; Narrative Experience ; Games

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Amin, Amin Morad:

• Influencing Emotions and Interpretation:: Investigating the impact of color grading on emergent narratives in an interactive experience (2016)