From: broehl@sunee.waterloo.edu (Bernie Roehl)
Subject: Re: APPS: Game Design
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1992 03:29:32 GMT
Message-ID: <1992Mar23.032932.23032@watserv1.waterloo.edu>
Organization: University of Waterloo



In article <1992Mar15.200525.12243@cpsc.ucalgary.ca> sharp@cpsc.ucalgary.ca 
(Maurice Sharp) writes:

> There is a
>type of improvisational theatre called TheatreSports. It evidences two
>kinds of commonality of probability space. First, an improvised scene
>with 2 or more improvisors (actors), almost always has narrative
>coherance. That is, it has a commonality that the actors are orienting
>to (NOTE: there is NO preconcieved plan, nor is it possible for each
>actor to follow automat style tapes, the nature of the scene
>continually changes, it is the overall result that has order).

Amazing; I would never have guessed that there was *any* overlap between
Theatresports (which I've played since 1981) and VR -- neato.

Anyway...

In some sense, TS performers are always working to not only achieve a
commonality with each other on stage, but to involve the audience in that
shared experience.  The exceptions are those scenes in which a shift in
point-of-view is important, or in which some player is deliberately deprived
of information which is available to the other player(s) and to the audience
(and must try to deduce it).

>In other words, the addition of participants only adds complexity
>inasmuch as each participant has their own explanation of what is
>going on. However, these views are not critical to directing the
>action. It can be done by some observer using their own explanation of
>what is going on. The participants will orient to the new situation of
>action. Or if they do not, there will be detectable inconsistancies
>that can be used to change the action to something that works.

Yes, and this process of adjustment is key to successful improvisation.
Someone initiates an action, and others perceive it and add to it; dealing
with inconsistencies is half the battle (and a large part of the fun).
There is also a natural "feedback" that takes place; you do something, and
it alters the ongoing scene in some way... the results serve to guide you
in making choices about what to do next.

By the same token, participants in a shared VR are working to create a common,
shared reality and are constantly guided by seeing how their actions affect
the world around them.

>University of Calgary Computer Science Department
               ^^^^^^^
Is Keith Johnstone still in the Drama Department there?  (Is he on the net?)
-- 
	Bernie Roehl, University of Waterloo Electrical Engineering Dept
	Mail: broehl@sunee.waterloo.edu OR broehl@sunee.UWaterloo.ca
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