Ed mcrae

A rollicking conversation with Ed McRae, kiwi LitRPG author, narrative designer and narrative paramedic for the video games industry. Ed's been a screenwriter and story designer for over 13 years, and was lead writer on the hit online RPG Path of Exile.

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Outline

Here are the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.

(01:23) - Introduction 
(02:37) - Recent narrative experiences: The Haunting of Hill House, Spiritfarer by Thunder Lotus Games, Kingdom Two Crowns, Oxenfree, Grim Dawn
(20:42) - Narrative structure evolution: gameplay and story. Dungeon Keeper, Grand Theft Auto, A Dark Room, Dead Space, Resident Evil
(29:55) - Formative narrative experiences: Needful Things by Stephen King, The Invisibles by Grant Morrison, The Sandman by Neil Gaiman
(45:17) - What’s next? Self-publishing, and new audiences. Alan Moore, Warlock: Reign of Blood, LitRPG, Tempest Bay, Skulls of Atlantis
(69:02) - New Zealand/Aotearoa creatives, Horror: schlock horror/dark comedy, Black Sheep, The Locals, Bad Taste. Swedish horror and Scandi noir. 

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Mentioned

Spiritfarer, a cozy management game about dying.
The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix, a ghost story.
The Invisibles by Grant Morrison, a 90s comic about a secret organisation battling against physical and psychic oppression using time travel, magic, meditation, and physical violence.
Needful Things by Stephen King, about a monster that brings out what’s monstrous in everyday people.