A rollicking conversation with
Ed McRae, kiwi LitRPG author, narrative designer and narrative paramedic for the video games industry. Ed's been a screenwriter and story designer for over 13 years, and was lead writer on the hit online RPG Path of Exile.
Outline
Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(01:23) - Introduction
(02:37) - Recent narrative experiences: The Haunting of Hill House, Spiritfarer by Thunder Lotus Games, Kingdom Two Crowns, Oxenfree, Grim Dawn
(20:42) - Narrative structure evolution: gameplay and story. Dungeon Keeper, Grand Theft Auto, A Dark Room, Dead Space, Resident Evil
(29:55) - Formative narrative experiences: Needful Things by Stephen King, The Invisibles by Grant Morrison, The Sandman by Neil Gaiman
(45:17) - What’s next? Self-publishing, and new audiences. Alan Moore, Warlock: Reign of Blood, LitRPG, Tempest Bay, Skulls of Atlantis
(69:02) - New Zealand/Aotearoa creatives, Horror: schlock horror/dark comedy, Black Sheep, The Locals, Bad Taste. Swedish horror and Scandi noir.
Mentioned
Spiritfarer, a cozy management game about dying.
The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix, a ghost story.
The Invisibles by Grant Morrison, a 90s comic about a secret organisation battling against physical and psychic oppression using time travel, magic, meditation, and physical violence.
Needful Things by Stephen King, about a monster that brings out what’s monstrous in everyday people.
