Ethics of Interactive Storytelling

Abstract

When used in its best way, interactive storytelling has the power to create unique, adaptive and unforgettable stories for an interactor. However, the same mechanisms that are able to create elements of surprise and joy can be used to construct ethically questionable and even malevolent experiences. As the creators are often held responsible for their work and their consequences, whether these are intentionally done or not, ethical consideration should be taken into account as early as possible. This chapter seeks to line out possible threats and their ethical consequences in the design and implementation of interactive stories. To approach the ethical issues at hand, we divide interactive storytelling into four key elements—designer, platform, storyworld and interactor—and review separately the ethical considerations related to them.