The Dunedin Festival of Interactive Narrative and Storytelling launches on 1 April. A number of events in the interactive storytelling space will feed into a larger weekend-long festival on 12-14 May.
The inaugural Festival of Interactive Narrative and Storytelling launches in Ōtepoti Dunedin on 1 April 2023.
Otago's English and Linguistics Department has teamed up with the New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE) to cultivate the practice of video game writing and narrative design.
Professor Mark Marino from the University of Southern California is in Ōtepoti Dunedin to launch the Festival with an opening address titled “Game Writing for Good by All,” on Saturday, 1 April. This address will be followed by a Locative Text Adventure based on Signal Hill.
CODE is a national organisation, based in Dunedin, designed to support a sustainable and equitable expansion of New Zealand's video game development industry.
Professor Marino is the first CODE Visiting Chair, and says he is excited to contribute to CODE's mission.
“So much of our lives have been game-ified, but we end up feeling like pawns. CODE is turning the tables, widening the circle of gamemakers, inviting in all to create the vehicles for rich and engaging play.
“I can't wait to meet, write, and play with everyone!”
Professor Mark Marino is our first CODE Visiting Chair. He says CODE is turning the tables by widening the circle of gamemakers and inviting all to create the vehicles for rich and engaging play.
CODE has arranged a series of events in the interactive storytelling space that will feed into a larger weekend-long interactive narrative design festival set for 12-14 May.
The Festival events will concentrate on upskilling existing creatives drawn from fiction writers, theatre, Māori creative industries, and creators of interactive media (including games) in narrative design.
“Dunedin, as a UNESCO City of Literature, is perfectly positioned to host a festival celebrating interactive narrative in all its forms,” explains Tim Ponting, Chief Executive, CODE.
“We're looking forward to welcoming all creative minds who are keen to see what digital interactivity can bring to their own disciplines, while also celebrating contributions from internationally recognised practitioners in the field of narrative for games.”
Join us for the opening address from Professor Mark Marino, “Game Writing for Good by All”
Saturday 1 April, 10am to 11.30am in the Moot Court, 10th floor of the Richardson Building, University of Otago, Dunedin.
The opening address will also be available live on Zoom, with the access link provided through the Eventbrite registration.
It's free but registration is required: register via Eventbrite
Locative Text Adventure based on Signal Hill
This event will be held on Saturday 1 April, from 1pm to 4pm: register via Eventbrite
Read more about CODE and the upcoming Festival of Interactive Narrative and Storytelling: www.codedunedin.nz