University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses

Revisions: an exploration of metafiction and metaphors in game design

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Revisions: an exploration of metafiction and metaphors in game design

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

REVISIONS :
An Exploration of Metafiction and Metaphors in Game Design

Hyung Cha

Professor Dennis Wixon
CTIN 594
9 August 2016
Master of Fine Arts
(INTERACTIVE MEDIA AND GAME DESIGN)

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Table of Contents

Abstract 3
Design Process 3
Methodology 4
Evaluation 5
Conclusion 6
Works Cited 7
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1. Abstract
This writing seeks to illustrate the creative process behind REVISIONS , Steve Cha’s thesis project
at the University of Southern California’s Interactive Media and Games Division. This explication will
discuss the project’s production methodology, design process, and findings.
1.1 Introduction
REVISIONS is an autobiographical, metafictional vignette videogame that unfolds in two acts.
The first act of the game manifests as a series of five 2D mini games. Each mini game chronicles a
particular struggle in the designer’s life. REVISIONS ’ second act instructs the player to revisit each mini
game while enabling the player to view and traverse each scene in 3D. The shift to 3D unveils to the
player various illusions employed in 2D game design. For example, a 2D racing game in viewed in 3D
space reveals the objects do not move forward. Instead, racers shrink to create the illusion of movement.
Players explore the mini games in 3D to find notes detailing how these illusions serve as metaphors for
various life insights. Continuing with the racing game example, finding a note in the racing car level
clarifies that the shrinking racers serve as a metaphor for false progress; people believe they are moving
towards a goal but are instead shrinking as they sacrifice their health for their ideal lifestyle. The game
concludes with the game’s narrator and designer discussing the illusions of game design.
1.2 Prior Art and Literature
REVISIONS influences range from digital videogames to theatre. The game’s metafictional
elements take cue from Annie Hall , M. Butterfly , Undertale , and The Stanley Parable . The interactive
vignette structure and expressive mechanics draw inspiration from Dys4ia and Loneliness . Like Dys4ia,
“there's a lot of existing game vocabulary i'm piggybacking on in” REVISIONS (Alexander).
2. Design Process
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The primary user experience goal of REVISIONS is to impart the sensation of epiphany through
reflection. This necessitates a two act structure; the first act establishes a shared history between the
player and character while the second act allows revelations through replay and hindsight.
REVISIONS also served as an exercise in art history. Each vignette followed the tropes of a specific genre
of 2D videogames. The vignettes emulated a platformer, a missile defense game, a tower defense game, a
puzzle, and a racer.
2.1 Gameplay Changes
Originally, REVISIONS played with the concept that players could revise the designer’s memories
by changing the camera’s properties. Revisions came by helping the characters reenvision a scene. Early
prototypes did not feature 3D movement in the second act. Instead, the player had access to a set of 5
powers – dubbed REVISION powers – that altered the camera’s perspective, angle, or color rendering. If
players employed the correct combination of camera manipulations, the game rewarded the player with an
insightful note. The designer aspired to keep players engaged and challenged by creating a more
puzzlelike experience.
The REVISION powers proved confusing to players. During early playtests, players expressed
surprise and delight sudden vantage shifts but could not solve the puzzles. The game failed mechanically
and narratively during the second half. Many players expressed frustration at the lack of 3D movement in
the game’s second act.
To address these issues, the designer pivoted both gameplay and narrative. Originally, the story
culminated in a midpoint confrontation between the game’s narrator and designer. The designer would
chastise the narrator for his linear storytelling then task the player with revising the game with
aforementioned REVISION powers. The final story presents an entirely different midpoint twist. In place
of a narratordesigner showdown, the player finds a note from the designer pleading with the player to
revisit the scenes and find his design notes. To complement this narrative shift the gameplay now allowed
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players to explore the scenes in 3D and search for the designer’s notes. Testing showed the changes to be
promising.
3. Methodology
The following sections will delineate the production process of REVISIONS .
3.1 Team Recruitment
Between May 2015 and May 2016, 11 individuals have contributed to REVISIONS . The
mostlystudent, allvolunteer team met on Sundays for twohour work sessions. The team attributed its
strong retention rate to the work agreement between the Creative Director Steve Cha and the volunteers.
Volunteers were only expected to work on REVISIONS during scheduled work meetings to alleviate any
pressure added onto their academic workload. Work meetings were catered.
3.2 Production Delays
Originally, the producers slated the game’s Alpha milestone for the University of Southern
California IMGD’s December showcase. However, critical feedback from the Winteractive showcase
catalyzed another round of design iterations. From those sessions arose the aforementioned narrative and
design changes, necessitating additional technical developments. The newly incorporated 3D movement
would require a flexible 3D camera system that followed industry standards. Text display also became an
issue as the fluid camera became a new feature.
The game reached Alpha by late February. While the projects pivot added technical hurdles and
requirements, the simplified gameplay liberated the design team from creating puzzled for the original
REVISIONS power mechanic. Overall, the project’s scope shrank rather than expand.
4 Evaluation
To evaluate the game’s overall usability and achievement of user experience goals, the
REVISIONS team conducted a series of usability tests via the RITE method. Production deemed this
method appropriate as RITE encouraged constant development of the product.
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Testing for player recognition of the game’s themes, the usability testers followed observed playtests with
an interview. They asked players to describe the game and discuss highlights from the experience. From
this qualitative analysis, the team drew conclusions about REVISIONS usability, emotional impact, and
achievement of user experience goals.
4.1 Results
Throughout the process, the testing team found that players did not articulate a sense of epiphany
through nostalgic recollection. However, many players identified the metafictional nature of the game and
reported many portions of the experience as emotionally resonant.
5. Conclusion
While the project did not convey a sense of epiphany through reflection to its users, the author
experienced the sentiment while creating the game. In discussions around the project, one professor
mentioned that the game’s value may lie in its designercentric approach to game design, which may go
against the popular playcentric approach to game design.

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Works Cited
Alexander, Leigh. "Road to the IGF: Anna Anthropy's Dys4ia." Gamasutra Article. Gamasutra, 12 Mar.
2013. Web. 1 May 2016.

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Asset Metadata

Creator Cha, Hyung (author)

Core Title Revisions: an exploration of metafiction and metaphors in game design

School School of Cinematic Arts

Degree Master of Fine Arts

Degree Program Interactive Media

Publication Date 09/28/2016

Defense Date 08/09/2016

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag design,game design,Games,metafiction,OAI-PMH Harvest,video games

Format application/pdf (imt)

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Wixon, Dennis (committee chair), Lemarchand, Richard (committee member), Watson, Jeff (committee member)

Creator Email hcha@usc.edu,hyungs.cha@gmail.com

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c40-306602

Unique identifier UC11281342

Identifier etd-ChaHyung-4822.pdf (filename),usctheses-c40-306602 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier etd-ChaHyung-4822.pdf

Dmrecord 306602

Document Type Thesis

Format application/pdf (imt)

Rights Cha, Hyung

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the a...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 2810, 3434 South Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2810, USA