Framing Activity-Based Narrative in Serious Games Play-Grounds Through Objective and Motive

Abstract

Building on previous work, we extend Leontiev’s (1959/1981) original activity theory to bridge conceptual gaps and lay the foundations towards operationalizing a framework for activity-based narrative in serious games. In particular, in this paper we propose that the relationship between the concepts objective and motive and the degree to which they coincide or merge provides an approach: (i) to frame activity (ii) for design and crafting of narrative, scenarios, interaction and gameplay in serious games (iii) for the assessment of task-based as well as experience-based purposes in serious games and (iv) framework and tool to support iterative serious games development cycle from conveying an idea through narrative, implementation, playtesting and assessment. In addition, we propose a link and connection for activity to the environment through “play-grounds”.