Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
pressing status quo. It's only much later when Villain Syndrome
reveals his true identity—the grown man that Incredi-Boy be-
came—that the audience realizes that the opening sequence
contained important foreshadowing.
Planting and foreshadowing are similar enough that they can sometimes
be confused with each other. The hallmark of foreshadowing is that it ini-
tially presents information that is cloudy, vague, and less-than-helpful at
the time, but becomes clear later on and thus enhances the storytelling.
Final Thoughts on Exposition
Exposition in stories is often considered a necessary evil, mainly because
it's so easy to mishandle. But exposition, while necessary, need not be
evil—or boring, or confusing, or annoying. As a video game storyteller, you
can play an important role in helping convey exposition in ways that not
only inform but also entertain.
