Contextal Studies Christopher Booker

‎Thursday, ‎29 ‎October ‎2015
Contextual Studies
Stories and Charactes: what are they? and where do they come from?
- Stories were originally told through image
⦁ These images were often only available in places of worship
⦁ Giotto chapel
- There are seven basic plots
⦁ Seven basic plots - Christopher Booker
⦁ Hero or heroine
⦁ Other characters are there to help resolve issues
Examples - Expand on these in your blog:
I. Voyage and return (Final Fantasy XIII, Pokemon, The Longest Journey)
II. Comedy (The Stanley Parable, Octodad)
III. Overcoming evil (Mario)
IV. Rags to riches (Settlers, AdVenture Capitalist, Katamari Demacy)
V. The quest (Skyrim)
VI. Tragedy (Persona 4, Sonic 06)
VII. Rebirth (Far Cry 3)
⦁ Actions taken throughout the story can change the given genre

The Longest Journey

Arguably one of the best games I have ever played. The player begins in a world not unlike ours, aptly names "Stark"; and is before long thrust into the magical world of  Arcadia. Though the player is thrown back and forth throughout the game, there are large portions where the player is trapped in one world. the  This story fits perfectly into the 'Voyage and Return' model defined by Booker.

The Stanley Parable

This game is sheer comedy gold. I have never laughed so much whilst playing a video game. Every action the player makes is narrated, ignoring the narrator leads to some quite comical conclusions. This game fits the "Comedy" genre as defined by Booker.

Super Mario Sunshine

After the protagonist Mario is framed as a vandal, he must hunt down and capture the character who has framed him to clear his name. The act of overcoming evil is repeatedly apparent in this game.

Settlers Franchise

A simulation game in which the player must build up a settlement into a town or city, using gathered resources and trade to their advantage. This style of game-play fits perfectly into the "Rags to Riches" category.

The Elder Scrolls Franchise

These games are 'questathons', if you're not doing a quest you're doing it wrong. This fits them snugly into Booker's "The Quest" category. They also fit into "Rags to Riches", due to beginning the game as a prisoner and finishing as a hero, and "Overcoming Evil" as there is a great evil that must be defeated to complete the game.

Persona 4

Persona 4 falls into the "Tragedy" category, the player must hunt down a murderer and see some truly awful events unfold as they do so.

Far Cry 3

After crash landing onto a tropical island the player, the definition of a 'first world boy', must come to terms several tragedies. He develops into a powerful warrior throughout the game. This slams the game firmly into the "Rebirth" category.