<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This article argues that multiple endings and narrative memory within interactive narratives can engender ethical self-reflection in relationship with broader discourses surrounding controversial issues. It introduces the term ‘expressed self’ to describe this process. The expressed self is how an interactive text ‘sees’ the player – through either their alignment, faction favour, flags, etc – and is used to generate a personalised response to the player through their unlocked ending. This concept is then applied to a close analysis of Papers, Please by juxtaposing the ‘Antegrian Husband and Wife’ choice with the ‘Snowier Pastures’ ending. The manner in which this process takes place has implications for the ways in which videogames and interactive narratives engage with open literacy.</p></abstract>

This article argues that multiple endings and narrative memory within interactive narratives can engender ethical self-reflection in relationship with broader discourses surrounding controversial issues. It introduces the term ‘expressed self’ to describe this process. The expressed self is how an interactive text ‘sees’ the player – through either their alignment, faction favour, flags, etc – and is used to generate a personalised response to the player through their unlocked ending. This concept is then applied to a close analysis of Papers, Please by juxtaposing the ‘Antegrian Husband and Wife’ choice with the ‘Snowier Pastures’ ending. The manner in which this process takes place has implications for the ways in which videogames and interactive narratives engage with open literacy.

Ethical Self-Reflection in <italic>Papers, Please</italic>

Cultural Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":{"italic":"Papers, Please","content":"Ethical Self-Reflection in"}}

This article argues that multiple endings and narrative memory within interactive narratives can engender ethical self-reflection in relationship with broader...

Ethical Self-Reflection in Papers, Please

Article Category: Research

Published Online: Dec 10, 2019

Page range: 41 - 53

Received: Nov 12, 2019

Accepted: Nov 12, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/csci.122

Keywords
Interactive Narrative, Multiple Endings, Player Choice, Expressed Self, Branching Narratives, Alignment, Open Literacy

© 2019 Antranig Sarian, published by De Gruyter

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Ethical Self-Reflection in Papers, Please

Article Category: Research

Published Online: Dec 10, 2019

Page range: 41 - 53

Received: Nov 12, 2019

Accepted: Nov 12, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/csci.122

KeywordsInteractive Narrative, Multiple Endings, Player Choice, Expressed Self, Branching Narratives, Alignment, Open Literacy

© 2019 Antranig Sarian, published by De Gruyter

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Interactive Narrative, Multiple Endings, Player Choice, Expressed Self, Branching Narratives, Alignment, Open Literacy