Transmedia Pathos and Plot in The Walking Dead - Game Play: Paratextuality in Contemporary Board Games - page 64

story—it has already played on television, and we are playing it on the tabletop.
he WDTV functions as adaptation, not transmediation, through its particular
game mechanics.
Character
All of the paratextual games I describe in this topic generate emotional connection
to their text through the application of pathos in character development. In most
games, speciic attributes of the characters, as I described in the last chapter in
relation to he Lord of the Rings , help to make the characters unique and, thus,
stand out more. his pathos is obvious in the two Hunger Games games that I
describe in Chapter 6. In District 12 , all players play as Katniss and because there
is no diferentiation between them, less pathos for the character is generated.
In Training Days , each player plays as a diferent Tribute with wildly diferent
characteristics. Despite having no name, the player's character seems more
“real.” In terms of WDGN, this pathos connection helps to engender a sense
of transmediation within the franchise. In contrast, the WDTV subordinates
character development in favor of narrative progression. his subordination
helps to develop a sense of adaptation within he Walking Dead television
franchise.
In an online interview, Keith Tralins, creator of the WDGN, reveals how he
designed the graphic novel game to focus less on narrative and more on character
interaction and empathy:
Our approach to the game was really focused on creating an experience based
on “he Walking Dead.” It is Robert Kirkman's world, and this is a chance to
play in his world, with his rules. It is actually about inding a safe haven from the
zombies.… Just like in the topic … [characters are] usually only ighting zombies
to defend themselves, get to where they have to go, or secure a location.
As Matt Morgan elaborates:
the game's mechanics encourage player actions that are in line with the subject
matter and theme. his is what separates rich gaming experiences from abstract
strategy, and where the label “pasted on theme” is applied to games which fail
in the endeavor. 52
he idea of a “pasted on theme” relects a pejorative reading of games that are
created simply for synergistic reasons. In contrast, the creator of the WDTV,