Experiencing interactive narrative: A qualitative analysis of Façade

The topic of interactive narrative has been under research for many years. While there is research exploring the development of new algorithms that enable and enhance interactive narratives, few research projects focused on the question of how users interpret and experience an interactive narrative. In this paper we specifically focus on a single user interactive narrative experience since most work within this area focused on technological advancement and less on measurements of participants' experiences. Taking this angle, we aim to report on an in-depth qualitative content analysis study, specifically analyzing users' interpretations, emotions, and behavioral responses to an interactive narrative called Façade. We analyzed user data, including interviews and action logs, which include dialog uttered between participants and characters that inhabit Façade. Results from this analysis are discussed in the paper along with the methodology used and its limitations. These findings uncover several useful lessons that can help guide the design of future single user interactive narratives similar to Façade.