Newsgroups: rec.arts.int-fiction
Path: gmd.de!Germany.EU.net!mcsun!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!bert.eecs.uic.edu!steiner
From: steiner@bert.eecs.uic.edu (Karl Steiner)
Subject: Re: IF and AI
Message-ID: <1993Apr23.144238.20380@bert.eecs.uic.edu>
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago
References: <1993Apr21.153830.20734@bert.eecs.uic.edu> <JAMIE.93Apr22074812@kauri.vuw.ac.nz>
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 14:42:38 GMT
Lines: 43

Excerpts from Paul C Workman, IF and AI :
 
  >About theme:  suppose you try to write a tragic IF.  But the user
  >keeps behaving as if the IF were a comedy.
 
  >how can you maintain a theme if the user doesn't
  >follow it (it won't be a very good tragedy if the user makes
  >adolescent jokes all the way through), that is, is it even possible
  >to force theme?
 
I don't think forcing a theme is a desirable situation. The systems I 
am imagining are cooperative storytellers, rather than coercive. As 
such, the quality of the experience depends in part on the input of 
the participants. As long as this is understood, I think users would 
not feel overly restricted.
 
The user would participate in theme selection. If the user wants to 
make adolescent jokes, a tragedy may not be the best choice. If the 
user did choose a tragedy, the user shouldn't be surprised at 
thematically inappropriate results (maybe that's what they want). Or 
the user could choose (or the system could switch to) a tragicomic IF 
where humor is a more integral part of the scenario.
 
 
 
Excerpts from Jamieson Norrish: >IF and AI
  >This is all well and good, and I think that structure and coherence
  >in plot is a good thing, when it still allows for player freedom.
  >However, just how are you suggesting that this be done?
 
  >I doubt that computers can yet be programmed to be
  >sufficiently creative to change the events they present in order to
  >produce a coherent plot structure and theme.
 
 
How can a computer guide story development while still providing 
high interactivity? Good question. Although it may be difficult, I feel 
that it is a worthy goal to pursue.
 
 
Karl   <steiner@bert.eecs.uic.edu>
 

