Adapting games from literature : Game verbs for player behavior

This case study outlines a methodology for adapting digital games from literature. The process maps key narrative events to human computer interactions via game verbs. Game verbs are distinct player actions that help the player accomplish their in-game goal. Through the use of tightly coupled narrative events and game verbs, the game engenders the spirit of Edgar Allen Poe’s short story The Tell Tale Heart. Like the story’s protagonist, players move from controlled actions to erratic behavior as they manipulate their device. Players are required to propel the narrative through accelerometer and touch-based actions. The resulting game’s physicality is designed to match the narrative’s drive toward madness.