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First

Person

Talkers

Simulating

Conversation

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Geoffrey Golden

Hey, I'm Geoffrey!

  • Narrative designer based in Los Angeles
  • Over 15 years experience as a game developer
  • Past clients include Ubisoft, Disney, Gearbox, and indie studios from around the world
  • Owns a small, but well-curated collection of VHS board games

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I Promise This is Relevant!

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Fix Your Mother's Printer

Developers: Geoffrey Golden and Josh Grams�Released: 2023

  • Web-Based Visual Novel
  • Length: 30 minutes
  • Inspired by calls with my mom and technical support experience

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Fix Your Mother's Printer

UI / Aesthetic:

  • Takes place entirely in a video conference interface
  • "Unbroken" first person perspective
  • No omniscient narrator or time jumps
  • Simple and expressive art assets

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Fix Your Mother's Printer

Original Design:

  • Solve tech support inspired puzzles
  • Coax out information from her
  • Unlock family secrets from mom
  • Wacky comedic tone

Early playtesting and self-reflection told me the puzzles and tone weren't working.

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???

Are there other games like this?

  • Central mechanic is chatting with NPCs
  • First person perspective
  • No platforming, puzzles, shooting, etc

Looked to other games for inspiration...

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First Person Talkers

A narrative game centered around having conversations, in which the player engages NPCs from the main character's perspective.

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First Person Talkers

FPS (First Person Shooters)

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  • Similarity: Player is the main character and we see the game world through their POV
  • Difference: FPS games are action-oriented

​

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First Person Talkers

Visual Novels and Dating Sims

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  • Similarity: Narrative based games centering conversation
  • Differences:
    • Not always from a first person perspective
    • Not always using the mechanics of VNs (ex. Sprites, dialogue option lists, romance variables)

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First Person Talkers

Mystery�

  • Similarity: Narrative based games often centering conversation
  • Differences:
    • Not always from a first person perspective
    • Sometimes the focus is on solving non-narrative puzzles

​

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First Person Talkers

Emphasized Elements of FPTs

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  • Roleplaying - The player takes on a role in the game's narrative
  • Characters - Forge an emotional connection to NPCs through conversation
  • Interactive Fiction - Players make choices to move and branch the narrative
  • Dialogue Mechanics - The primary way player agency is expressed�

Player conversation is the primary driver of gameplay.

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First Person Talkers

Less Emphasized Elements of FPTs

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  • Action - In FPTs, dialogue mechanics are core, not jumping or shooting
  • Puzzles - In FPTs, the emphasis is on conversation, as opposed to completing non-narrative puzzles to progress
  • Multiplayer - In FPTs, the players speak with NPCs in a pre-established narrative, as opposed to other players

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Speed Dating for Ghosts

Developer: Copychaser Games

Release Year: 2018

�Synopsis: The player gets to know, then date, a series of undead suitors.

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Speed Dating for Ghosts

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Speed Dating for Ghosts

In many FPTs:

  • Player speaks to a single NPC
  • NPC stares directly at player (engagement)
  • Player chooses between 2-4 dialogue options
  • Roleplaying is almost entirely verbal and conversational
  • Story branches from dialogue options
  • Static camera angle (mid-shot)

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Slay the Princess

Developer: Black Tabby Games�Release Year: 2023

�Synopsis: The player is tasked, by an unseen narrator, to kill a princess trapped in a cabin in the woods. All is not what it seems.

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Slay the Princess

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Slay the Princess

Unique Features:

  • Long list of dialogue options, anticipating player attitudes
  • Speaking to a group of characters, many off-screen
  • Choices spark conversation among many NPCs

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Emily is Away

Developer: Kyle Seely

Release Year: 2015�

Synopsis: The player has a series of conversations over instant messenger with Emily, a high school friend, as they enter college in the early to mid 2000s.

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Emily is Away

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Emily is Away

Unique Features:

  • AIM interface
  • Timed dialogue
  • Relatable syntax
  • Series of conversations over a span of four years
  • After choosing a dialogue option, player must type on keyboard, which creates an immersive effect

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Facade

Developer: Procedural Arts

Release Year: 2006�

Synopsis: The player is invited to the home of Grace and Trip for a revealing conversation in their New York City apartment.

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Facade

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Facade

Unique Features:

  • 3D environment
  • System utilizes AI language processing
  • Parser with robust vocabulary
  • No preset dialogue options
  • Freedom to say anything

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Before Your Eyes

Developer: GoodbyeWorld Games

Release Year: 2021�

Synopsis: The player is Benjamin Brynn, a recently deceased person who's re-experiencing memories from their life as their soul's fate is being determined.

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Before Your Eyes

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Before Your Eyes

Unique Features:

  • Eye-tracking
  • Engage by closing eyes, rather than making eye contact
  • Non-verbal communication
  • One long conversation with flashbacks to other conversations

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The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker

Developer: D'avekki Studios

Release Year: 2017�

Synopsis: The player is a psychiatrist who is treating the patients of Doctor Dekker and trying to solve the mysteries around his death.

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The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker

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The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker

Unique Features:

  • Full motion video
  • Parser system for asking patients questions (guides player on how to use it)
  • Video clips switch angles in mid-conversation

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Worth Noting:

Unknown Number: A First Person Talker

Developer: Godolphin Games

Release Year: 2022�

Synopsis: The player gets a phone call that puts them into the middle of a high-stakes heist.

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Fix Your Mother's Printer

Principles I took away from studying FPTs:

  • Relatable conversation can feel immersive
  • Offer a variety of dialogue options
  • NPC eye contact
  • Punctuate with non-verbal elements
  • Carefully consider UI / art style (verisimilitude)

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Fix Your Mother's Printer

Final Design:

  • Eliminated tech support puzzles
  • Remain patient and empathetic with mom
  • Roleplay 16 different relationship types (golden child, rebel)
  • Learn more about your shared past and receive her life advice
  • Heartwarming slice-of-life humor
  • Focused on relatability

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Fix Your Mother's Printer

Player feedback:

  • "true to life."
  • "Loved how accurately it encapsulates the feelings you get talking to your mother"
  • "the dialogue feels very realistic (I could've had some parts of the conversation with my own mother)"

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My Mom!

"It was a really great game, honey. I loved it!"

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Thanks for first person listening!