Mona writes some notes of this week reading, she mainly talk about one idea of Douglas. She also give her own opinion about interactive narrative. She admit the convenience of interactive narratives, but she believe that the novel reading will never dead.

Seonaid drummond interduces a talented Melbourne artist and her EP in her blog. The name of this artist is Banoffee, real name Martha Brown. Through the introducing by Seonaid, i can have a basic knowledge of this artist. Such as her music style is a haunting mix of R&B and electronica. And i already listen the song she shared, i feel the unique thing of this song is the layered vocals. That is so special!

Jane shares her last semester self portrait video. Form her video i can clearly know the theme she want to show. This special video presents her growing process, it is like a warm memory of her life. In my perspective, i think this is a good project!

The reading “What Interactive Narratives Do That Print Narratives Cannot” Douglas sates some interesting ideas. For example, the author asserts  that the interactive narrative do not have regular definite beginning or ending. However, the readers of book often start viewing from the first page. This idea potentially show the limitation about print narratives as well as the flexibility of interactive narratives. When we read one book we just can get specific information from this book. On the other hand,  we also can use online database to search what we want, in few seconds, we can get thousands of different informations to choose. However, compare those two narratives, some people think that the general print narratives physically end, and both have literary conversation . As a result, they will rely on the print narratives. For myself,  i will efficiently use new media to search  ranges of information.  But i will buy and collect the print book which i really like. I guess this is charm of print book which can let people relax and enjoy the life.

Douglas Y 2000. “The End of Books — Or Books Without End: Reading Interactive Narratives”. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press

This article comprehensively illustrate the different aspects of interactive narrative, and the author discuss the merits, weakness of it. In this article, we may know  the most compelling thing of interactive narrative it the prospect of itself.

“interactive narrative is a form of digital interactive experience in which users create or influence a dramatic storyline through actions, either by assuming the role of a character in a fictional virtual world, issuing commands to computer-controlled characters.”-Vadim Bulitko

From this sentence we can know the form of interactive narrative. The users can be an observer, their action may have impact of interactive narrative. The author give some examples, such as the computer games and the fictional television to explain it.  Except the root of interactive narrative-entertainment, the education, training and advertising also gradually implicate in interactive system. Then the author provide three approaches to interactive narrative.1Authorial Intent. 2 Virtual character autonomy. 3 Players modeling.

I just mention a part content of this article, because it is serious difficult to understand for me. So if anyone interest it, can read the original article !

To be honestly,  i always dream for the steam train. Because it show an old fashion feeling and historic charm. Finally, i got a chance to take the steam train in our mid-break.  In my own country, it is seldom to find a steam train which still operating. However, i am fortunately get this experience in AU.

This special train called PUFFING BILLY RAILWAY which opened in 1900 in Dandenong ranges near Melbourne. This train originally runs through the southern foothills to transport wood. Then it closed in 1958. Now days, this train kept in operation through the efforts of volunteers of the Puffing Billy Preservation Society,and this line becomes one of the most popular steam railways in the world,and attracts tourists from all over Australia and overseas.

I took this train with my friends, we viewed various of splendid landscapes of Australia. We also met lots of staffs, they are hospital and responsible. The train which we took do not have window, so we can sit at the train, completely experience this unique beauty of this trip! However, seriously, it is a little cold !><

Via: Lisha Pu