Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Scenes
A scene element is a named location, a construction of place. Scenes are de-
fined by the collection of props that they archetypically contain. Here are some
sample scene elements, the classes they belong to, and the props they contain:
office: [
∼
∼
business,
scene ] { desk, wall, coat rack, machine }
bedroom: [
∼
house,
∼
scene ] { bed, pillow, wardrobe }
street: [
∼
scene,
∼
outdoor ] { pile of dirt, *smell, litter }
Some scene classes and their elements:
∼
scene: { *scene, office, bedroom, street, tavern, cemetery }
∼
business: { *business, office, tavern }
∼
house: { *house, bedroom, kitchen, entry hall }
Scenes are never the direct focus of the user. Scenes tend to become more
specific, and do not generally return to the archetypical state.
Scenes are a byproduct of user interaction. As the user explores the envi-
ronment, a collection of props is established. Some of these props may belong
to one or more defined scenes. Upon reaching a certain threshold (a number
of props suggest a number of possible scenes) the scene transforms to a more
focused state.
Actors
Actorsaremuchlikeprops,buttheycanbemobileorautonomous.Some
sample actor elements:
scoundrel: [
∼
criminal,
∼
character ]
male character: [
∼
adult,
∼
male,
∼
character ]
mob: [
∼
mob,
∼
character ]
Some actor classes:
∼
character: { *character, scoundrel, male character, mob }
∼
criminal: { *criminal, scoundrel, assassin }
∼
adult: { *adult, male character, female character }
Actors are subject to transformations similar to props. They change to a more
specific state when they are the object of attention, and they revert to a more
archetypical state when ignored.
