Design Rationale for Natural Language Game Conversations

In-game conversations with non-playing characters have not changed much in the past 30 years, sticking to menu driven models and dialogue trees. This short paper presents the game design rationale behind LabLabLab’s research project to reexplore the potential of natural language interaction in the context of goal-driven conversations with NPCs. With the support of early evidence from the project’s first two prototypes: A Tough Sell and SimProphet, some unique affordances of natural language interaction in game conversations are highlighted in contrast to traditional approaches. Allowing players to formulate their own utterances affords them creative conversational play, role-playing at the discourse level, contributing original narrative content, and dialoguing non-linearly.