Exploring Narrative Depth and Ethical Decision Making Through Divinity: Original Sin 2

Core Skills Analysis

English and Literacy

• Developed advanced reading comprehension skills by understanding complex game narratives and character dialogues.
• Enhanced vocabulary acquisition through exposure to diverse in-game terminology and story-specific language.
• Practiced critical thinking by analyzing choices and consequences within the game's branching storylines.
• Improved narrative construction awareness by observing storytelling techniques such as plot development and character arcs.

Critical Thinking and Decision Making

• Engaged in strategic reasoning when planning character moves and resource management.
• Explored ethical decision making by evaluating moral dilemmas presented in diverse scenarios.
• Learned cause and effect by witnessing impact of player choices on game outcomes and character relationships.
• Practiced long-term planning and adaptability by responding to evolving challenges within the game.

Social and Emotional Development

• Developed empathy by understanding characters’ motivations and emotional responses.
• Improved conflict resolution skills through navigating in-game alliances and disputes.
• Experienced teamwork and collaboration in multiplayer modes, fostering interpersonal communication.
• Built patience and resilience by encountering challenges that require perseverance to progress.

Tips

To deepen understanding from this activity, encourage the student to map out story decision trees to visualize the branching outcomes and understand narrative complexity better. Prompt reflective journaling about the ethical choices faced during gameplay to connect game scenarios with real-world values. Organize discussions or debates around moral quandaries encountered, stimulating perspective-taking and critical dialogue. Introduce creative writing exercises where the student crafts alternate story endings, reinforcing narrative structure and imaginative thinking.

Book Recommendations

• The Art of Narrative Video Games by Ian Bogost: Explores storytelling techniques in video games, helping readers understand how narratives are constructed interactively.
• Ethics and Game Design: Teaching Values through Play by Karen Schrier: Examines how games present ethical dilemmas and how players engage with moral decision making.
• Ready Player One by Ernest Cline: A novel steeped in video game culture, exploring adventure, strategy, and personal growth within a virtual world.

Learning Standards

• English - Reading: Understand and analyse fiction and non-fiction, including character development and narrative structure. (National Curriculum KS3 - English)
• PSHE - Recognise and manage different emotions and ethical understanding through scenarios encountered. (PSHE Association Programme of Study)
• Computing - Develop problem-solving and strategic planning skills through interactive digital environments. (National Curriculum KS3 - Computing)

Try This Next

• Create a decision-consequence flowchart for key in-game choices to visualize impact on plot and characters.
• Write a journal entry from the perspective of a character facing a difficult moral decision, exploring emotions and reasoning.