The Prom: Demonstration Script

Installing The Prom Demo

1. Install the Adobe Air Platorm.
2. Download The Prom Air Installer.
3. Install The Prom by executing the The Prom Air installer.

Scenario Synopsis

The Prom consists of several scenarios consisting of a subset of the story world's cast and a social goal involving those characters. In this case, the goal is to have the characters Edward and Karen begin dating. In the game, dating is a type of long-lasting relationship between two characters that is known to everyone in the fictional world. However, Karen and Edward have to overcome an obstacle before their relationship can blossom: Robert. Robert and Edward are friends as evidenced by the smiley face icon on the relationship graph edge between the two seen in the following image:

Because Robert is his friend, Edward takes Roberts feelings into account when he makes decisions. In this case, Robert does not think very highly of Karen:

As seen in following script's first game action, Karen's flirtatious advances on Edward are thwarted by Robert's low esteem of Karen. The following script is a path to allow Edward and Karen to date through the use of social games that make Robert more affine to Karen.

Script 1

Start the game.
Click on Karen (the girl)
Click on Edward (boy with hat)
Click on "Conversational Flirt" button.
Click on dialogue boxes to progress the story until it is over.

Click on Karen
Click on Robert (the boy with glasses)
Click on "Share Mutual Interest Button"
Click on Dialogue boxes to progress the story..

Click on Karen
Click on Edward
Click on "Conversational Flirt"
Click on Dialogue Boxes.

Click on Karen
Click on Edward
Click on "Ask Out"
Click on Dialogue Boxes.

Quit Application.

Script 2

Now that we've seen that we can postively construct relationships through social game play with Karen, let's explore other ways of achieveing the goal of the scenario.

Restart Application.

Click on Karen
Click on Edward
Click on "Conversational Flirt"
Click on Dialogue Boxes.

Click on Robert
Click on Edward
Click on "Joke At Expense Of"
Click on Dialogue Boxes

Click on Edward
Click on Robert
Click on "Cancel Plans to Hang Out"
Click on Dialogue Boxes

Click on Karen
Click on Edward
Click on "Physical Flirt"
Click on Dialogue Boxes

Click on Edward
Click on Karen
Click on "Pick up Line"
Click on Dialogue Boxes

The second script shows two important aspects of The Prom. The first is that any character be manipulated to achieve the scenario's goals. It should be noted that the characters are not manipulated by the player in a god-like way; only the most desirable social actions to the character are given as options to the player. This allows for player choice without the player breaking the rules of the social world which retains the flavor of the characters and the world. Secondly, just as relationships can be built up and nourished, relationships can be manipulated, sabotaged and destroyed by the player selectively invoking the characters' wills. Through the careful manipulation of social interactions between the characters, the player can experience an interactive, reactive narrative that leads to a dramatic and exciting conclusion: The Prom!