Tarantula at Arcola Theatre

How Does Theater Shape the Online Gaming Industry

As a precursor of other visual media, particularly in film and TV, theater has often set the tone for other forms of entertainment. Although many video gamers might think that their online gaming experiences are primarily shaped by the small screen than any other medium, some game designers would readily admit that they're also influenced by the stage. Of particular note are the big-budget musical extravaganzas that have become so popular in London's West End as well as on Broadway. How do theatrical experiences translate to the world of online gaming? Read on to find out.

Narrative Development and Online Games

The way stories are told in novels and storyboards doesn't always translate well to online games. This is because video games often allow players to enjoy a great deal more freedom. Of course, games still need to get from one plot point to the next while allowing for interactions to take place at the player's own pace, but they always need to make progress or signal beats where the story will develop. This is something theater directors are acutely aware of, especially when the end of one plot point or scene needs to be followed by a stage reset or altered lighting. To keep the narrative flowing, game designers often use the subtle cues that theater-goers experience live in the storylines. Games with excessive repetitiveness don't tend to go down well these days, so learning how to keep the story flowing, as so often happens in theater, is essential while still allowing for moments of reflection.

Visual Storytelling and Dramatic Aesthetics

From immersive multi-player games to the sort of one-person video slots you'll find at reputable gaming establishments like Spin Casino, online gaming is a visual medium. What players expect from the games they play is a mood, a vibe, or even an entire world they can explore. Sometimes, this means making games as visually appealing and cute as possible. Other game visuals generate tension and wonder, as so often happens in live performances. The power of color and shade is harnessed by game designers to show when games are in special modes or when a boost has been triggered, for example. Theatrical lighting design and video game graphics offer similar visual experiences, helping players to focus on something or providing them with cues to look around more.

Interactivity in Theatrics and Games

There is a discernible trend in modern theater for more and more interactivity. Although traditional staged productions remain the norm, there are plenty of performances that take place in the round and even among the audience. In these situations, actors must rely on their improvisational skills and sometimes shepherd audience-goers to where they need to be. In game design, similar elements allow players to explore almost lifelike online environments. Although non-playing characters might be more driven by AI than actors thinking on their feet, the same element of creating the illusion of the player being in control of events is common in both interactive theater and gaming.

Conclusion

Of course, theatrical productions and design innovations have helped to shape wider culture since the Ancient Greeks first started putting on plays. Today, theater's influence on other media is even more pronounced than ever before. For many, it is the crucible in which new dramatic ideas are first tested. Online game designers take the best of these ideas and run with them, adapting them in imaginative ways that players seem to only want more of.