Early Research

Class off today due to the 4th of July occurring yesterday. Using the time to scout out my early research. I can categorize it into a few specific categories so far:

• A ludography of games that showcase branching narrative or decision-making systems
• Psychological texts on cognitive psychology, judgment, and decision-making
• Books on game design, narrative in games, and interactive narrative in general
• Recent articles garnered from respected sources (IE: Gamasutra) concerning topics of choice in games and interactive narrative

What I've been hoping to see is some kind of psychological study of gamers' decision-making habits in tabletop role-playing games, but so far I've turned up just about nothing; every psychological study of games seems to be focused on whether or not they cause violence in children. Maybe I'm just using the wrong buzzwords; maybe "habits" and "virtual environment" should be the next ones I try.

The sources I've gathered thus far are as follows below. I'm hoping that with a few suggestions from my classmates I can broaden it out a bit more as the texts I've selected seem to have a very narrow focus.

Bibliography

• Fullerton, Tracy. Game Design Workshop: A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games. Burlington, MA: Elsevier, 2008
  
  
• Sheldon, Lee. Character Development and Storytelling for Games.
  Boston, MA: Thomson Course Technology PTR, 2004
  
  
• Murray, Janet. Hamlet on the Holodeck: The Future of Narrative in Cyberspace.
  New York, NY: Free Press, 1997
  
  
• Bateman, Chris, Ernest Adam, Richard Boon, et al. Game Writing: Narrative Skills for Videogames. Boston, MA: Charles River Media, 2007
  
  
• Medlin, Douglas, Brian Ross, and Arthur Markman. Cognitive Psychology
  Danver, MA: John Wiley & Sons, 2005
  
  
• Plous, Scott. The Psychology of Judgment and Decision Making.
  N.p: Mcgraw Hill, 1993
  
  
• March, James. A Primer on Decision Making: How Decisions Happen.
  New York, NY: Free Press, 1994
  
  
• Bossche, Andrew V. "Gamasutra - News - Analysis: Out Of My Hands - Player Decisions In Bioshock 2." Gamasutra - The Art & Business of Making Games. 29 June 2010. Web. 07 July 2010.
  
  
• Bossche, Andrew V. "Gamasutra - News - Analysis: What We Get Out of Choice in Video Game Design." Gamasutra - The Art & Business of Making Games. 8 Apr. 2010. Web. 06 July 2010.
  
  
• Remo, Chris. "Gamasutra - Features - The Story Thing: BioWare's David Gaider Speaks." Gamasutra - The Art & Business of Making Games. 8 June 2009. Web. 06 July 2010.
  
  
• Zoss, J. M. "Gamasutra - Features - Ethics 101: Designing Morality in Games." Gamasutra - The Art & Business of Making Games. 26 May 2010. Web. 07 July 2010.
  

Ludography

• Alpha Protocol, Des. Chris Parker and Chris Avellone. Dev. Obsidian Entertainment
  Sega, 2010
  
  
• Facade, Des. Michael Mateas and Andrew Stern, Dev. Procedural Arts
  N.p, 2005
  
  
• Heavy Rain: The Origami Killer, Des. David Cage. Dev. Quantic Dream
  Sony Computer Entertainment, 2010
  
  
• inFamous, Dir. Nate Fox. Dev. Sucker Punch Productions
  Sony Computer Entertainment, 2009
  
  
• Deus Ex, Dev. Ion Storm
  Eidos Interactive, 2000
  
  
• Baldur's Gate, Dir. Ray Muzyka, Des. James Ohlen, Dev. Bioware
  Black Isle Studios, 1998
  
  
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dir. Steven Gilmour and Casey Hudson, Dev. Bioware
  LucasArts, 2003
  
  
• Mass Effect, Dir. Casey Hudson, Dev. Bioware
  Microsoft Game Studios, 2007
  
  
• Mass Effect 2, Dir. Casey Hudson, Dev. Bioware
  Electronic Arts, 2010
  
  
• Dragon Age: Origins, Dev. Bioware Edmonton
  Electronic Arts, 2009
  
  
• Fallout 3, Des. Emil Pagliarulo, Dev. Bethesda Game Studios
  Bethesda Softworks, 2008
  
  
• Black & White, Des. Peter Molyneux, Dev. Lionhead Studios
  Electronic Arts, 2001
  
  
• Black & White 2, Des. Peter Molyneux, Dev. Lionhead Studios
  Electronic Arts, 2005
  
  
• Iji, Dev. Daniel Remar
  N.p, 2008
  
  
• Shadow the Hedgehog, Dir. Takashi Iizuka, Dev. Sega Studio USA
  Sega, 2005