Storyteller
This is the third and last prototype I submitted for the experimental gameplay sessions at SOWN.
You are presented with a timeline, split into vignettes. It’s an interactive story about three characters and their choices in life in the context of a fairy tale. You can move them around in their vignettes to change their roles and what they do about it.
The interesting thing about this experiment is the immediate causality: you can see instantly how the choices you make affect the future, so the cost of experimenting with the story is almost zero. Some of the endings you can get are funny and not hardcoded into the game logic.
Hint: knights can kill wizards if they are overlapped.

Cool idea. I don’t know if, in terms of the ‘gameplay experience’ I would have preferred it to one where you’re presented with the scenes in sequence.
The overlap-to-kill feature is very cool.
I like that people’s alignments are determined solely by where they grew up.
I have one ending scene where a tomb-stone (i think the woman’s) ends up being in love with the red-haired guy.
Aaah…exploring the other outcomes is interesting…
Okay; this is deeper than I originally though
Big thumbs up
By increpare on September 15
Wow, really surprising like the other prototypes. It’s soooo funny to expriment with all the possible combinations…
It would be great, hah!?
When will you be realeasing a game like this in DS!?
By Emiliano on September 15
LOL, is very fun to experiment with endings. I have a “gay” ending.
By Cristian V. on September 15
also: it would have *maybe* been fun if you could pull somebody back through time and have them kill their younger selves, causing some odd sort of paradox…(now that I think of it, that’s one of the interesting possibilities that this style of presentation affords you)
By increpare on September 16
@increpare: I’m actually working on such idea…
By Daniel Benmergui on September 16
By increpare on September 16
(there seems to be a bug with the woman’s sword-fighting abilities that causes endless flickering in the future)
By increpare on September 17
[...] can play the experiments here: Storyteller I wish I were the Moon The [...]
By Ludomancy » Sense of Wonder Night on September 17
[...] prototype is the precursor point of the other two: Storyteller The [...]
By Ludomancy » I wish I were the Moon on September 17
Looks very interesting from the description, but it’s not working for me on either Firefox or IE. I’m only seeing the top vignette alone in the top-left with gray in all other areas, plus some unclosed tag code beneath it outside the flash movie. The movie alone doesn’t work, so I’m guessing it’s a problem when the swf isn’t displaying at the needed size. The other two work fine, and play great! Congrats on SOWN!
By Noyb on September 21
@noyb: I made an experiment on the website this morning, and it broke it… please try again
Thanks all for the support!
By Daniel Benmergui on September 21
This might be my favorite of the three. The possibilities for this kind of gameplay are deep, indeed. It has the potential to incorporate an important message of how actions in the present can affect the future.
By agj on September 22
I liked that! Heh, I managed to get the final scene to be all 3 of them in love… but one of them a gravestone lol.
By Zaniter on September 28
hey ummm i cant play nething y?
By maxbored on September 28
Your games are the best that i ever played. This one better than the rest. Thx for all !
By Fieron on September 28
Way to push the envelope. Good ideas. Keep pushing!
By hitsthings on September 30
[...] que podemos modificar a nuestro antojo. Es de especial relevancia, bajo mi punto de vista el juego StoryTeller. Son juegos en formato web y muy interesantes, espero que os [...]
By Videojuegos: El futuro está en tus manos » Blog Archive » Nuevos Conceptos en StoryTelling… on October 3
I really liked the pixel art in this, great concept too.
By Chris on November 11
Amazing concept. I’m really excited to see what you do next as there so many different directions you can go with this type of gameplay.
By Matt on November 28
[...] is a charming toy by Dan Benmergui. It gives the player three windows onto the same events, a vertical triptych. The [...]
By Top Gamer Blog » Archive » Column: ‘Homer In Silicon’: The Three-Act Play on December 9
[...] StoryTeller is a fun look a fairy tales, and the Happy Ending. It is playable here. The interesting thing about this experiment is the immediate causality: you can see instantly how the choices you make affect the future, so the cost of experimenting with the story is almost zero. Some of the endings you can get are funny and not hardcoded into the game logic. [...]
By neonascent » Blog Archive » Ludomacy games on December 12
[...] alegorię lub fabularny odpowiednik migawek. Bogost przywołuje przykład gry Daniela Benmerguia, The Storyteller. Jest to historia utrzymana w konwencji baśni, w której sami ustalamy relacje między trójką [...]
By Styl proceduralny « Altergranie on February 20
[...] Storyteller, Fate and Today I Die: All three games are from developer Daniel Benmergui. “Storyteller” is a three-panel digital comic, in which each panel represents a moment in time of a story of wizards and princesses. (You can play this game here). [...]
By Experimental Gameplay Ideas Revealed, Head Currently Hurting [GDC 2009- UPDATED] | Game-Aware.com on March 27
hacemos un juego juntos?
tomi@punga.tv
By tomi on April 16
[...] — I can’t pronounce his last name, but his name is Daniel — and he made the Storyteller and Fate [...]
By Exclusive Pixeljam: Porn, Fetuses, and Rich’s Super Developer Origin Story | Ripten Video Game Blog on April 17
[...] — I can’t pronounce his last name, but his name is Daniel — and he made the Storyteller and Fate [...]
By Exclusive Pixeljam Interview: Porn, Fetuses, and Rich’s Super Developer Origin Story | Gaming Enigma on April 17
OMG! i love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i like to make happy endings
By pucca on April 25
[...] Daniel Benmergui’s I Wish I Were the Moon and The Storyteller [...]
By More ‘Readings’ « VA 306 - Intro to Game Design (Spring 2009) on May 2
[...] Daniel Benmergui’s I Wish I Were the Moon and The Storyteller [...]
By More ‘Readings’ « Critical Game Studies on May 3
More love!!!
By Shahrukh Malik on May 7
[...] Today I Die is a beautifully emotive game by Daniel Benmergui, creator of the cute but heartfelt I Wish I Were the Moon and the excellent Storyteller. [...]
By TODAY I DIE | if90 on May 7
I love this!
I got three hearts in the end, but one died.
By AndyVan on May 7
it’s sad though that the only way to get ‘love’ ending is to make one character die…
By Adam on May 7
your game was fun u can make a gay happy ending, a boy and girl with 1 dead or make em all dead, but i made da happy endings!
By rena on May 7
how do you get three hearts? i think the proper ending is when the brown haired boy and girl are together
By lulu on May 8
I think the red head and the girl go together. Problem is, there’s not enough options. You kill people, save people, move them far away, and make them evil. I don’tget the endings…
By Airtamis on May 8
Wow its kinda sad because in order to have a good ending someone must die
By Fellessa on May 10
I can’t play some of these games. Are they no longer up? Do I need a certain version of flash, java, or shockwave to play them?
Or is it because I use Vista?
By Thor on May 11
Wonderful game!i actually had to change my way of thinking for a bit to come up with some of the odder endings, but I don’t know if that say more about the game or my way of thinking
I love that you can see the results of your actions immediately.Thanks for giving us a chance to play these games!
By Fandored on May 12
I saw this game presented at the GDC and loved it! Though “game” doesn’t feel like the right word, because it’s a different kind of experience. What’s great is that, unlike some of the experimental story games I’ve played, it doesn’t feel like a choose-your-own adventure book. I really love the multiple window presentation that immediately shows the causality of your actions.
I thought it was really interesting that it seems the only way to have two characters expressing love in the final panel is if one of the three is a defeated wizard in the second panel, and if another character is imprisoned. In this context, it’s an efficient to show that one character cares for another.
There is a minor bug that seems to crop up with one of the characters (it’s always been a male, though I don’t know if that matters) having the “love heart” get stuck on the third panel even when it doesn’t make sense. For example, after trying several variations, I had a defeated wizard whose tombstone had a heart next to it.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t detract from the game at all, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Kudos!
By Jason on May 12
[...] ma sono ancora indeciso. Ci sarebbe un wargame, una space opera o una più interessante versione di Storyteller… vedremo. Interviste, Speciali, [...]
By Indie Vault » Intervista a Daniel Benmergui on May 15
WHY CAN THE CLOUDS MOVE?! WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!?!
By Anonymous on May 15
I really enjoyed it. I find it most satisfying to have 2 living people in love and one dead person in love.
By Gregory bogosian on May 16
[...] can play the game for free here. To be honest, I’m a little fonder of Storyteller – it’s just too slick to deny. But both are worth your time. And by the way, anyone catch the [...]
By Suicide Girls Column: Today I Die » PixelVixen707 on May 20
Is there any happy ending to Storyteller? this is sad!
By petrepan on May 23
대단하ì‹ë‹ˆë‹¤! ì´ëŸ° 플래시 ê²Œìž„ì€ ì§€ê¸ˆê¹Œì§€ 본ì ì´ ì—†ì—ˆì–´ìš”. ì •ë§ ê¸°ë°œí•˜ì‹œë„¤ìš”~ 게임 ì¦ê²ê²Œ í•˜ê³ ê°‘ë‹ˆë‹¤~!
By ìµëª… on June 13
mhm
By XLyx on June 18
Hey, dropping by to tell you that you are one the greatest gameplay designers I’ve ever seen. I love all your games, especially Storyteller and Today I Die. Speaking of which, I really love the soundtrack to Today I Die. Does Hernan Rozenwasser have a CD or somewhere I can download it?
By Pon-chan on June 25
Pon-Chan:
http://www.ludomancy.com/blog/downloads/
By Daniel Benmergui on June 25
you are the BEST online gaming designers!
By kendall on June 30
Nice game but what are the clouds for? I don’t think they do a thing
By The Gamer on July 2
That was an awesome game–simple but so intriguing. I particularly loved how the gal could be a knight, and that the two guys could fall in love.
By vara on July 8
Excellent way of making games Daniel!
Love the fact how you can change the future! Do you have a hidden message between “Today I Die”, “Storyteller” and “I Wish I Were the Moon”? If yes, please explain them to me!
By Littlesniff on July 21
give meeee a walkthroughhhhhhhhhhhhh
By Anonymous on July 23
XD that was fun! I had the two boys be sad, then the girl kill them both and at the end the two boys tombstones where in love over the happy backround with the girl sad off to one side.
Best of your games that i have played!
By bones the heretic on August 2
I love this game! Am I right that the princess won’t love a boy until he has played the role of a knight and killed a wizard? This game is quite addictive
I wish there was an extended version, but I love the iconic figures and storyline! Brilliant!
By Oswalt on August 3
SHINE IN THE LIGHT meh love AHHHHHHHHHHHH IM ON EH CLOUD!
By duh on November 8
[...] in exploring the root language and storytelling ability interactivity with his early experiments Storyteller and I Wish I Were The Moon, so its probably little surprise that his followup Today I Die would be [...]
By The Boing Boing Guide to the 2010 Indie Games Festival | dv8-designs on January 6
[...] in exploring the root language and storytelling ability interactivity with his early experiments Storyteller and I Wish I Were The Moon, so its probably little surprise that his followup Today I Die would be [...]
By The Boing Boing Guide to the 2010 Indie Games Festival | Newsblog on January 6
[...] out what it’s about by playing it and its two predecessors, I Wish I Were The Moon and Storyteller. var fbShare = {url: [...]
By A smattering of the IGF: 2010 - NAG Online on January 15
If like me you love this game and other benmergui’s ones, and if you understand french, you can play the “Storyteller” little game on my blog, i’ll give Benmergui a buck for each participation during the week.
http://oujevipo.over-blog.fr/article-storyteller-43302697.html
By Pierrec on January 20
I love it! What a clever idea!
By Rob Cozzens on March 11
ì´ì œë³´ë‹ˆ 한êµì¸ ë¶„ë“¤ë„ ê³„ì‹ ê²ƒê°™ì€ë°
ê³µëžµì¢€ì•Œë ¤ì£¼ì‹¤ìˆ˜ì—†ìœ¼ì‹¤ê¹Œìš”?ì •ë§ê¸°ë°œí•œì•„ì´ë””어네요.
By Nate on March 20
Well, that was awesome. I expected that if all of them were evil they’d conquer the world and have a party afterwards, not an empty scene, but otherwise very nice game.
By DAud on March 22
[...] Enlace recomendado [...]
By La Comunidad Inconfesable » Cuentos Emergentes on April 1
Very clever, although I briefly managed an ending where two rescuees were in love with their sad rescuer … Stockholm Syndrome indeed.
By Lara on April 22
[...] Storyteller (2008), your manipulation of the characters in each the three segments of the story results in [...]
By Daniel Benmergui and the Gulf of Execution « Line Hollis on April 29
Hi I am new to the board I hope this is the correct place to say hello.
Anyway I am just saying hi http://www.homeinternetjobs.com.au/laptops.gif
By erik49b on May 16
[...] que ha estado haciendo juegos que exploran los sentimientos. Dos de sus trabajos anteriores son Storyteller, un experimento en la manipulación de la estructura narrativa de una historia, y I Wish I Were the [...]
By Videojuego gratiñán de la semana: Today I Die « BlogZup 2.0 on June 4
i think that there should be an ending were one of the boys marries the girl
By ... on June 7
[...] Daniel Benmergui: I wish I were the Moon, Storyteller ,Today I [...]
By Just sharing some arthouse games | Elonian Nomad on June 13
I have to say how much I appreciate that you have a gay ending to the story. If this were a mainstream, big-budget production, that would either be “controversial”, or treated so sarcastically as to be insulting. Here it’s very sweet. Thanks.
By Lucas on June 26
놀ëžìŠµë‹ˆë‹¤It’s Amazing. 간단한 ë°œìƒì¸ë°ë„ ì •ë§ ìž¬ë¯¸ìžˆì–´ìš”This simple idea is very funny.
By 칼킨Kalkin on July 14
[...] de Buenos Aires, famoso por seus jogos experimentais e conhecido no mundo indie por seus jogos: Storyteller, Today I Die, I Wish I Were The Moon e Night Raveler And The Heartbroken [...]
By Desenvolvedor independente da semana: Daniel Benmergui « 8-Bit Box on November 9
Finally, an issue that I am passionate about. I have looked for information of this caliber for the last several hours. Your site is greatly appreciated.
By registered nurse on November 11
Salon is a unique place in the house. It is initially a representational element of room in the house. This couch is where guests are invited, where every time he spends a apportionment of while watching tv, etc. Body should possess a at home nature, should not impede anyone, accordingly prefers bright colors, or rather, it is exceptionally tastefully designed. In imprecise, guided beside the creed that unimaginative office a lottery advance adjacent themselves in shining colors, because they are then optically enlarged. Portly rooms perfectly alter in every color. You sine qua non ever after about the decorative elements, they also are important. Throughout some of the issues, decorative, can be inimitably highlight the domestic, but also create a individual high style that may feign the overall duplicate of such a home. Since the salon is emblematic, it should hand-out itself as the best. Here, it should not be spared on belongings or carpet, but you can umiarkować in proves quantities. Today there are a discriminating politeness and splendor do not like it used to.
Uniq place
By Vulleyduermem on November 11
I was told how to do this once but I forgot some of the steps for editing a video. After I import my AVI and it goes through the bitream thing, do I set Video to MPEG-4 ASp (Xvid4), then do my editing and then save as usual?
One more thing, I’ve only joined two videos together once before and I don’t remember this happening…Right after I appended the two files, I saved it with the AVI extension, then I got a little window that said “You may need Smart Copy. Enable it?” Then it asks me about the Q factor and there’s a value to choose. What’s this all about? I did not get this the first time I appended two files.
avchd converter
By ipod rip on November 11
we are a long way from kansas
By robthechob on November 11
Realize seu sonho, replicas de relogios famosos breitling
Relogios famosos, replicas de relogios de marcas famosas como
rolex, breitling, tag heuer, ferrari e muito mais em nosso site, replica
de relogio com a melhor qualidade, garantia e parceladas em até 15x nos
cartões. aproveite compre as melhores so na Relogios
Estado- SP
msn – relogiosfamosos]hotmail.com
telefone 11-3711-2574
Visite nossa pagina web: http://www.replicasdegrife.com.br
By NeakyBicBak on November 11
How are You have a look at that blog regarding oil crisis See You
By oil crisis on November 12
thanks good post
By sanatçili yilbasi otelleri on November 12
very good \o/
By sohbet on November 12
There is evidently a lot to fully understand about this. I think that you have made some very nice points. Also can you please let me know where do i acquire a few neat wp themes?
By genital warts removal on November 12
Great! Thanks for post
By zayiflama lida fx15 ve biber hapi zlfvbh on November 12
Hello there. I am very satisfied I found this webpage, I genuinely discovered you by mistake, whilst I’d been searching Bing for another thing, Anyway I am here now and would just like to with thanks for the wonderful blog site posting as well as a all round fascinating web website (I additionally like the theme/design). I have saved as a favorite it and also subscribed to the RSS feeds.
By how to lose cellulite on November 12
very good \o/
By film izle on November 12
Most of the medicines are tested on the animals and because of this many of the animals have diet.
By allergy symptoms on November 12
Which is the best magazine that gives clear instruction on the fitness and our mind control?
By LG 32LE5400 HDTV on November 12
good quality post thanks
By adana oto kiralama on November 12
filmy onlinefilmy online.
By chorcykhugma fñ on November 12
After a divorce, people physical mainly alone. If the marriage did not matrix too crave and did not produce it to the unborn descendant, then there is a problem, because everyone lives singular, not needing any contacts. After a divorce, person is tough. This is not an mild role of human autobiography, certainly is difficult when you blast in such a marriage and issues blame succumb to to intellect around the divorce. If children are in such a coupling, then you be in want of to safeguard an competent normal of children, in the action, if they dynamic with the origin or father in a separate apartment. Through the studio as piece of the replacement dwelling is fatiguing to put up three people. Unfortunately, this again happens that you must bear tolerable casing, so that the power to attend to arrange for their children the worst credible conditions to the other levee does not request any rights to converge the children. People suffer with a tons of ancestry problems. Not entire lot revolves approximately rolling in it, but it certainly has something to do with that. Without moolah, you can not stock up appropriate equal the most modest housing.
Thank you in the interest your notice
Henry
Situation in home
By rermageBruche on November 13
Hello! I just love eating vegetables especially patatos , Thanks!
By Patato on November 13
How are You, You have to check this blog regarding online pvp – turk ko, Bye
By knight pvp on November 13
very good \o/
By cilek kiz oyunlari on November 16
how do i play this game?
By aaaaa on December 8
How do you play this game?
By Meh on December 19
[...] Storyteller is a medieval romance told across three storyboard panels. Each panel influences the next, so – depending on a few simple choices – the cast can be born as peasants or princes, then become knights or sorcerers who either kidnap, murder, or rescue one another, and eventually fall in love with each other, or die alone. [...]
By FingerGaming » Review: Today I Die Again - Gaming on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad on December 28
[...] work. Make sure to play some of his other titles, too. I especially like I Wish I Were the Moon and Storyteller, but they’re all good. Benmergui was doing his work even before Apple’s platform was [...]
By TUAW’s Daily App: Today I Die Again | Design City on January 19
[...] like I Wish I Were the Moon and Storyteller, but they’re all [...]
By About Programming - TUAW’s Daily App: Today I Die Again on January 19
Very funny, game out? maybe Wii game will be more fun with the “happy ending”! LOL
By video converter review on June 16
wo!! estos juegos son increibles deberian de crear mas juegos de estos
By Clarisa on July 6
Awww…
By Phoenix on July 31
[...] interact with, in a simple but effective way to change the story the artwork is telling. Examples: Storyteller, Today I Die, I Wish I Were the [...]
By Focus « Otter Space on October 19