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Writer's pictureDavid Weatherly

Outlining a VR narrative

Some people write stories intuitively and others start with an outline. There is just too much for my poor brain to keep track of without an outline. And I feel like I have enough information now to get started on one.


VR experiences tend to start by giving your audience a few moments to get acclimated to their new surroundings. At this stage we need to describe the setting and world. We also need to start thinking in 360 since the viewer/player will be able to turn around. We need to make sure we amp up the conflict. Also, all stories have a beginning, middle, and end. So let's start with these.


Acclimation:

Fade in to you standing on the ocean floor looking out of the porthole of a diver's helmet

You begin facing into the deep blue void.

There is a wall of coral to your left, a kelp forest to your right, and a submarine behind you.

A school of fish swim by guiding you to turn around and face the submarine.

Beginning:

Looking at the submarine triggers the turtle to swim from behind it.

This also triggers the ominous Boogie Woogie music in the distance, circling you

Upon noticing you, he's scared and hides behind some coral.

Middle:

Creeping out, he asks if you're the Boogie Woogie.

You nod/shake your head in response

No: He’s not convinced since the music comes from behind you and he thinks it’s from you.

Yes: He says you’re big like the Boogie Woogie, but not ugly enough

He remains suspicious, but now the music rotates and comes from the right.

He swims back in front of the void looking out into it (causing you to turn to face him).

He turns to face you.

He asks if you’ve ever heard of the Boogie Woogie.

We learn the legend of the Boogie Woogie.

We learn his Daddy was eaten by the Boogie Woogie.

During this “dialog,” the Boogie Woogie (shark) slowly swims up behind him.

The turtle becomes mad because you aren’t paying attention to him.

He hears something and turns around.

End:

The turtle confronts the shark and smacks him.

Just as the shark has had enough, the turtle eats him.

The Boogie Woogie music begins again but this time coming from the turtle’s belly

The turtle jives and shimmies to the beat and swims away.

A Baby shark asks if you’ve seen his daddy, then hears the music and swims after it.


Next time we’ll look into visually representing branching stories.

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