Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
skip to main content
10.5555/1109180.1109214acmotherconferencesArticle/Chapter ViewAbstractPublication PagesieConference Proceedingsconference-collections
Article

The Game Master

Published: 23 November 2005 Publication History

Abstract

The concept of a Game Master (GM) is associated with a range of functions in role playing-based games, from pen and paper role playing games to live action-, computer- and massively multiplayer online role playing games. The functionality of the GM across game platforms is directly related to a handful of variables.In spite of being a core concept in role playing games, the full range of tools provided to GMs have not been fully integrated across the game platforms. The introduction of GM functionality in multiplayer computer role playing games such as Vampire the Masquerade: Redemption and Neverwinter Nights, indicate a substantial potential for development of toolsets for human-controlled interactive, emergent storytelling environments in virtual worlds, at several levels of functionality. Giving control of the game world to the players encourages a dynamic form of storytelling in games which is more reactive, and tailored to the specific players, than what is currently possible using pre-programmed static narratives or automated storytelling engines.

References

[1]
Bartle, R. A. Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades: Players Who Suit MUDs. The Journal of Virtual Environments. 1, 1, 1997.
[2]
Bøckman, P. The Three Way Model. Revision of the Threefold Model for Scandinavian LARP. In As Larp Grows Up - Theory and Methods in Larp. Gade, M. (ed.), 2003, pp. 12--16.
[3]
Castranova, E. Virtual Worlds: A First-Hand Account of Market and Society on the Cyberian Frontier. CESifo Working Paper Series, 618, 2002
[4]
Combs, N. The Intelligence in the MMOG: From Scripts to Stories to Directorial AI. In Proceedings of the Other Players conference, 2004.
[5]
Darlington, S. The history of role-playing, parts I-IX, Places to go, People to Be, 1--1998 to 9--1999, 1998--1999.
[6]
Dibbell, J. The Unreal Estate Boom. Wired Magazine, 11.01, 2003.
[7]
Edwards, R. GNS and Other Matters of Role-playing Theory, Adept Press, 2001.
[8]
Falk, J. and Davenport, G. Live Role-Playing Games: Implications for Pervasive Gaming. In Proceedings of the ICEC. 2004 LNCS, 2004, 127--138.
[9]
Fine, G. A. Shared fantasy: Role Playing Games as Social Worlds. University of Chicago Press, 2002.
[10]
Henry, L. Group Narration: Power, Information, and Play in Role Playing Games. Darkshire.net, 2003.
[11]
Hetland, M. L. The rec.games.frp.advocacy FAQ: Part I: The Three-fold Model. rec.games.frp.advocacy newsgroup, 2004.
[12]
Kim, J. H. Story and Narrative Paradigms in Role-Playing Games. Gamingoutpost.com, 2003.
[13]
Kim, J. H. Origin of the Threefold Model. Gamingoutpost.com, 2003.
[14]
Laws, R. D. Robin's Laws of Good GMing. Steve Jackson Games, 2001.
[15]
Logas, H. The Taoist Storyteller, Skotos Pleasures of the Flesh Series, 2004.
[16]
Louchart, S. and Aylett, R. Solving the narrative paradox in VEs -- lessons from RPGs. In IVA 2003 Proceed., 2003, 244--248.
[17]
Lynch, S. Border Dispute: Drawing the Line Between LARP and Tabletop Gaming, or A Tale of Two Roleplaying Modes. Rpg.net, 2000.
[18]
Mackay, D. The Fantasy Role-Playing Game: A New Performing Art. McFarland and Company, 2001.
[19]
Manninen, T. Towards Communicative, Collaborative and Constructive Multi-Player Games. In Proceedings of the CGDCC conference. Mäyrä, F. (ed.), 2002. pp. 155--169.
[20]
Padol, L. Playing Stories, Telling Games: Collaborative Storytelling in Role-Playing Games. RECAP: Publications, 1996.
[21]
Peinado, F. and Gervás, P. Transferring GMing Laws to Interactive Digital Storytelling. In TIDSE 2004 LNCS 3105 Proceedings, Springer Verlag, 2002, 48--54.
[22]
Salen, K. and Zimmerman, E. Rules of play. Game Design Fundamentals. MIT Press, 2004.
[23]
Söderberg J.; Waern A.; Åkesson K.-P. Enhanced Reality Live Role Playing. Swedish Institute of Computer Science and PLAY Studio, Interactive Institute, 2003.
[24]
Tychsen, A. and Tosca, S.: Tales for the many: Storytelling in RPGs and MMORPGs. In press for: Online Gaming, Stald, G. (ed.).

Cited By

View all
  • (2023)The Challenge of Evaluating Player Experience in Tabletop Role-Playing GamesProceedings of the 18th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games10.1145/3582437.3582457(1-10)Online publication date: 12-Apr-2023
  • (2022)Readymades & Repertoires: Artifact-Mediated Improvisation in Tabletop Role-Playing GamesProceedings of the 14th Conference on Creativity and Cognition10.1145/3527927.3532798(298-311)Online publication date: 20-Jun-2022
  • (2021)Co-Designers Not TroublemakersProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/34747005:CHI PLAY(1-26)Online publication date: 6-Oct-2021
  • Show More Cited By

Recommendations

Comments

Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

cover image ACM Other conferences
IE '05: Proceedings of the second Australasian conference on Interactive entertainment
November 2005
238 pages
ISBN:0975153323

Sponsors

  • La Trobe University
  • Australian CRC For Interaction Design
  • Australian Film Television Radio School

Publisher

Creativity & Cognition Studios Press

Sydney, Australia

Publication History

Published: 23 November 2005

Check for updates

Author Tags

  1. GM
  2. dynamic
  3. emergence
  4. human control
  5. interactive narrative
  6. role playing game

Qualifiers

  • Article

Conference

IE05
Sponsor:
IE05: Australasian Conference on Interactive Entertainment
November 23 - 25, 2005
Sydney, Australia

Acceptance Rates

Overall Acceptance Rate 64 of 148 submissions, 43%

Contributors

Other Metrics

Bibliometrics & Citations

Bibliometrics

Article Metrics

  • Downloads (Last 12 months)24
  • Downloads (Last 6 weeks)4
Reflects downloads up to 08 Feb 2025

Other Metrics

Citations

Cited By

View all
  • (2023)The Challenge of Evaluating Player Experience in Tabletop Role-Playing GamesProceedings of the 18th International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games10.1145/3582437.3582457(1-10)Online publication date: 12-Apr-2023
  • (2022)Readymades & Repertoires: Artifact-Mediated Improvisation in Tabletop Role-Playing GamesProceedings of the 14th Conference on Creativity and Cognition10.1145/3527927.3532798(298-311)Online publication date: 20-Jun-2022
  • (2021)Co-Designers Not TroublemakersProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/34747005:CHI PLAY(1-26)Online publication date: 6-Oct-2021
  • (2018)A Scientific Foundation of Simulation Games for the Analysis and Design of Complex SystemsSimulation and Gaming10.1177/104687811876885849:3(279-314)Online publication date: 1-Jun-2018
  • (2017)A BDI Game Master Agent for Computer Role-Playing GamesComputers in Entertainment 10.1145/262970015:1(1-16)Online publication date: 1-Mar-2017
  • (2013)Villains, architects and micro-managersProceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/2470654.2470754(705-714)Online publication date: 27-Apr-2013
  • (2013)Theoretical Considerations towards Authoring Emergent NarrativeProceedings of the 6th International Conference on Interactive Storytelling - Volume 823010.1007/978-3-319-02756-2_25(205-216)Online publication date: 6-Nov-2013
  • (2012)Coffee tables and cryo chambersProceedings of the 5th international conference on Interactive Storytelling10.1007/978-3-642-34851-8_10(102-113)Online publication date: 12-Nov-2012
  • (2012)Game mastering in collaborative multiplayer serious gamesProceedings of the 7th international conference on Edutainment, and Proceedings of the 3rd international conference on E-Learning and Games for Training, Education, Health and Sports10.1007/978-3-642-33466-5_3(23-34)Online publication date: 18-Sep-2012
  • (2011)Guidelines for personalizing the player experience in computer role-playing gamesProceedings of the 6th International Conference on Foundations of Digital Games10.1145/2159365.2159372(46-52)Online publication date: 29-Jun-2011
  • Show More Cited By

View Options

Login options

View options

PDF

View or Download as a PDF file.

PDF

eReader

View online with eReader.

eReader

Figures

Tables

Media

Share

Share

Share this Publication link

Share on social media