> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.killscreen.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Where does a game’s story end and its narrative begin?
- URL: https://www.killscreen.com/where-does-a-games-story-end-and-its-narrative-begin/
- Published: 2011-12-14T16:20:00.000Z
- Updated: 2015-11-17T15:28:40.000Z
- Description: A post by Brainy Gamer Michael Abbott recently pointed out a key difference between a videogames’ story and its narrative. Abbott recalled a keynote given by Rich Lemarchand of Naughty Dog at IndieCade. “I play Minecraft narratively,” [Lemarchand] said, seeing the game as a kind of “Lego I Am Legend
- Author: Kill Screen Staff
- Tags: News, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-26 09:39

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/25/84/2584b75d-4bd6-4cce-8259-f1d1c65abbb5/content/images/pou0f.jpg)

[A post by Brainy Gamer Michael Abbott](http://www.brainygamer.com/the%5Fbrainy%5Fgamer/2011/12/who-needs-winners.html?utm%5Fsource=feedburner&utm%5Fmedium=feed&utm%5Fcampaign=Feed%3A+brainygamer+%28Brainy+Gamer%29) recently pointed out a key difference between a videogames’ story and its narrative. Abbott recalled a keynote given by Rich Lemarchand of Naughty Dog at IndieCade.

> *“I play Minecraft narratively,” \[Lemarchand\] said, seeing the game as a kind of “Lego I Am Legend.”*  
>  
> *He also referenced Kent Hudson’s recent talk at GDC 2011 on player-driven stories, noting that agency within a game world can occur from top to bottom, throughout every element of design. “Minecraft expresses this perfectly,” and it does so entirely through its systems. A major part of Minecraft’s pleasure, for Lemarchand, is the player creating beauty and wonder through his own efforts. “It’s systemic Theater,” he observed. “Minecraft isn’t a story, but I made it one.”*

Lemarchand’s view encourages a holistic approach, in which the gameplay and the story and the art combine to create an experience that resonates with us, rather than the customary disjointed approach where, as in *Deus Ex: Human Revolution*, the story and play are soldered together like a cyborg on the operation table.

\[[Brainy Gamer](http://www.brainygamer.com/the%5Fbrainy%5Fgamer/2011/12/who-needs-winners.html?utm%5Fsource=feedburner&utm%5Fmedium=feed&utm%5Fcampaign=Feed%3A+brainygamer+%28Brainy+Gamer%29), [img](http://www.giantbomb.com/limbo/61-30380/reviews/?ref=killscreen.com)\]

*\-Jason Johnson*