GDC AI Summit, San Francisco

XEODesign
Red Pill Blue Pill: Narrative AI for Deep Emotions
March 18, 2019 v1
 Red Pill Blue Pill
Narrative AI for
Deeper Emotion

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign

 The 4 Keys to Fun

Inspired Millions of Developers

Thought Leader on Emotion Technology
“Every designer should learn
How Emotion Drives Play
to read this language.”
Advanced the art of game design
Will Wright, Designer of The Sims
@NicoleLazzaro

Globally Recognized Expert on Emotion and Play 25 Years

 Add Life to The Sims
Emotion framework for NPC AI Sims 2 on
Sold 13M+ units 2007
Second best selling PC game
of all time (the original Sims #1)
Wonder to Myst
Riven, Myst Online, Myst V
Player experience design Feedback and
localization. Riven 4.5M units 4 years.

4 Keys to Fun
Hands Free AR/VR UI to Eyefluence Feel The Force Unleashed
Eyetracking UI Player experience design (+12 other titles)
AR/VR UI design for a productivity 1.5M first week 7M copies fastest selling
operating system purchased
by Google 2016

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign

 Samantha Bee Gamify Midterms The Future of Work Singapore TV

4 Keys Changing the Face of Technology, Enterprise, Games, and Politics

Engagement and Emotion for XR Games
Aladdin Cave of Wonders Gesture AI and Item Interaction (on Magic Leap)
 4 Keys to Fun

Emotion Engine

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign

 Social
Re-Engagement Loop

Meta Loop
Core Loop

Micro Loop

Nested Loops Drive Engagement

 Both play a role in
sense-making,
decisions, and
thinking.

Emotion and Cognition are Intertwined

Act Feel

Interaction Creates Emotion

 Interaction Designs Emotion
XEODesign
© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign
 Many Ways to Fly

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Detroit
 Detroit

3,000 page
shooting script

2.5 years to film

Detroit: Interactive Emotion with Labor Intensive Branching
 Narrative AI

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign

 Mario Kart
Rubber Banding
Increases
Excitement

Make sure no one player gets

too far ahead of NPCs and
other players

Consistent level of challenge

Also social emotions

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign

 Style Layers
Fake Faces
Coarse styles > pose, hair,
face shape

Middle styles > facial features,

eyes

Fine Styles > color scheme

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign

 Believable
Styles

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign

 Traditional Game
Design Surrounded
by Narrative AI

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 Cognition &
Emotion
Threat of life just one emotion

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Neo Cortex and “Lizard Brain”
 Key to Emotion
is Choice

Narrative AI
Around Choice
Inspired by Films

Before During After

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 People Fun Hard Fun Layered AI
Amusement Frustration
Naches Fiero Players experience
Schadenfreude Relief emotions from multiple
layers of game.

Coordinating these
emotions intensifies
Serious Fun Easy Fun player response
Curiosity
Desire
Wonder
Acquire
Surprise
Zen

DM NPC Choices Items Players

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign
 4 Patterns for
Layered AI
Narrative Emotion Design
Choice Patterns Inspired by Films

Emotion Deepening
Techniques
Frame

Items
Onion & Arc

DM NPC Choices Items Players

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign
DM NPC Choices Items Players

Frame
 • Resources and constraints
of environment create
emotion
• Dynamic changes increase
tension
• Player dynamics and
interaction

The Arena AI: Hunger Games

 • Resources and constraints
of environment create
emotion
• Dynamic changes increase
tension
• Player dynamics and
interaction

The Arena AI
Clash of Clans Revenge Mechanic
 Beat
Saber

Beat Saber Frame Immediately know what to do and cues how to feel
DM NPC Choices Items Players

Choice
Matrix Choice of Values (Red Pill Harsh Truth Blue Pill Comfortable Fantasy)
How You See the World & Your Capabilities
 Sophie’
s
Choice

Sophie’s Choice
 How players feels about a choice
present/past/future drives emotion
• Character choices past,
present, and future create
tension between themselves
• Mystery about these
connections creates emotions
and drives the narrative feel
forward
• Implied emotions around events
Sophie’s Choice
 Assasin
’s
Creed

Assassin's Creed Odyssey

DM NPC Choices Items Players

Onion & Arc

Myst Characters Revealed
 er’s
List
Object
AI

Schindler’s List Character Arc

 Character revelation creates
character arcs
• Character details revealed
gradually over time
• Characters arc in different
directions (spiritual / physical)
• Motivations change /
questioned
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
 Character Arcs
Crouching Tiger
Hidden Dragon

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign

Action & Environment Reflects and Develops Character Arcs
 Killmonger and
Nakia Shared Goals
Different Methods
Emotionally compelling
opposition

“I think the best villains are

ones that have a point of
view that’s relatable and
that you can empathize
with. Sometimes it’s how
far you take things that
makes you a villain, and
not necessarily the
perspective.”
- Joe Robert Cole

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign

Black Panther
 Relationships
Affect Outcome

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign

DM NPC Choices Items Players

Items
Black Panther
 • Character details revealed gradually over time
• Characters arc in different directions (spiritual
/ physical)
• Motivations change / questioned
Character Onion AI: Lone Echo
The Shape of Water: Each Prop Tells Part of the Story
 The emotional resonance of props
create different emotion profiles in
players

• Props create story beats

• Props change emotional tone
(and role) over time
• Props express what words and
character actions cannot
Items: Shape of Water
Portal ❤
AR Semantic Item Recognition and Use
Aladdin Cave of Wonders Gesture AI and Understand Items in World (on Magic Leap)
Imagine
Frames
 Puzzles
and
RPG
Elemen
ts

Frames Explore Relationships and Items as Well as Places

Choices Things to Protect & Complicate Relationships
Onions & Character Arcs
 God of
War

God of War Items

 Narrative AI
Frame: Does a lot of the work for you emotion
and excitement come from association

Choice: Engage belief system philosophy

world view
Layered

Onion / Arcs: Characters, relationships and

emotions change over time

Sentiment &
Items: Add layers of emotion and meaning Semantic of Player
as well as bonuses and stats and World

© 2019 XEODesign, Inc. XEODesign

 Are You Game?

Nicole@xeodesign.com
@NicoleLazzaro
XEODesign.com
Follow the Free Download
White Rabbit 4K2F.com
510-658-8077

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