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One key aspect of my game would be strong storytelling. I took the initiative to find and do an activity to hopefully find a more engaging way to tell the story.

I decided to partake in an online course on Khan Academy: Pixar in a Box speficially on unit 2: the art of storytelling.

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1. Write about what you know. 
2. Telling a story is trying to get the audience to get the same feeling about how you felt. "So, why write about what you know? Well, it's because, probably what happened to you made you feel some particular way. And what you're trying to do really when you tell a story, is to get the audience to have that same feeling. "
3. Retell / reenvision stories until it becomes just right. "Well the truth is, our stories don't always come out exactly perfectly the first time, or the second time, or the third time, or the fourth time, up to the 30th time. And so you keep going again and again. And only after retelling the story many, many times, does it really sparkle."

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1. "No two people will experience life the same, so no two people will tell a story the same way. Think of this as a superpower we all have, your unique perspective. Only you see the world this way. Now I want you to think about a memory you have. It can be your most embarrassing memory, a frightening memory, or a time you were very surprised. Whatever it is, it's a memory you remember vividly. In this first exercise you'll have a chance to express this memory in various ways."
2. Nobody else can have the same insights as you because they haven't lived the same life as you.

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Activity 1: Expressing memories:

• Part A: Think of a memory that you remember vividly. It should be a memory that comes easily to you.
  • I had a sleepover at my friends house, we watched a series that was popular during that time, ate kastu curry, and I tried prawn stuff she got from Cosco. She already introduced me to new stories of an app I used to play.

• Part B: Why do you think you remember this so well? Try connecting one or more emotions to this memory.
  • Before the sleepover, I was angry over something, and she recommended me coming over to relax. I also liked how we cooked together, and the new show made us laugh alot and seeing the app I used to play brought me a nostalgic feeling

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1. Shrek
2. into the spiderverse
3. Princess and the Frog

• Part B: Why do you think you connected with these stories? Come up with at least one reason for each.
  • 1. I’ve always loved rewatching the Shrek series as a child speficially the first film, it ws so interesting to watch, and I partically likedit when Fiona was cooking an egg. It made me feel really hungry. Overall, I feel like I’d never get tired of rewatching the film, as it gives me a nostalgic feeling, and I liked the overall story.
  • 2. I picked into the Spider-Verse because the stories artstyle made it so interesting to watch, and the little easter eggs were a nice addition. I feel like with this film Id never get bored rewatching the impactful scenes of Miles.
  • For Princess and the Frog, it has to be my favourite Disney film. It does give me a nostalgic feeling, but the art style, the pace, the story, and the message of the film make it a really great story. I’d never get tired of rewatching. I love everything about the film and especially the food.

• Part C: What, if anything, do these three films have in common? How are they different?
  • For Shrek, Princess and The Frog, I think I was particularly interested in the food as a kid, and nostalgia. Whilst ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ gives me a more determined feeling, wanting to be that good at the art and creativity.

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• Part B: Now it’s your turn. Come up with 3-5 of your own “what if” ideas.
  • I’ll be referencing my narrator game for this exercise:
    • What if the narrator were a puppet master?
    • What if the player character knew they were in a story?
    • What if the siren was from a different story?
    • What if the fairy knew about the player character all along?
    • What if the forest were actually a maze?
    • What if the narrator were not evil?

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• Who are the main characters?
  • The narrator, the player character, wolf, lamb, siren, and fairy
• Is there a character you identify with most?
  • The player character
• Where does the movie take place? Is it one world or multiple worlds?
  • In a forest within a book

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Key takeaway: Storytelling involves trial and error and comes with practice. Ideas often start as notions and develop over time. Emotions play a key role in connecting with an audience; remember the initial feeling that drew you to an idea!