An Ontological Theory of Narrative Works: Storygame as Postclassical Literature

Abstract

<p> This&nbsp;article presents an ontological theory of the <em>narrative work</em> in order&nbsp;to identify the <em>storygame</em> (videogame with high narrativity)&nbsp;as a postclassical narrative phenomenon. The theory is demand-based, meaning that it perceives narrative works through the demands they set for their progression,&nbsp;<em>progression demands</em>. In the postulated ontological theory the article identifies the storygame primarily as an&nbsp;<em>extrademanding&nbsp;narrative work</em>: a narrative work whose progression entails input that is either <em>strategic</em> (constrained by indeterminacy) or <em>time-critical</em> (constrained by time limits). Observing that not all artifacts currently considered &lsquo;storygames&rsquo; set strategic or time-critical progression demands leads to the suggestion that some narrative works labeled as such might be better studied, in a very classical sense, as narrative literature.</p>