Computatrum Personae: Toward a Role-Based Taxonomy of (Computationally Assisted) Performance

Abstract

Computationally assisted performance is a burgeoning area for AI applications, and an important stepping stone toward the dream of generative and personalized narrative experiences. As more pieces of computationally assisted performance are developed, it will become ever more important to develop a vocabulary with which to describe them. Inspired by previous work in creating taxonomies for other related domains, this paper outlines a taxonomy for performance-based experiences, drawn from digital games, traditional theatre, and the hybrid of the two. Having such a taxonomy not only creates a common language with which to discuss such experiences, but reveals unexplored design space in the field, and the particular applications of artificial intelligence necessary to realize them.

Towards General RPG Playing

“…We imagine that such player-as-coach games would be evocative of helping a schoolyard friend or sibling get past a difficult battle or tricky puzzle in a game. By leveraging game and cultural literacy that the system lacks, the player's effort is rewarded not only by witnessing the AI overcoming its hardship, but in the unique pleasure that comes from sharing understanding, and from crafting an experience for another (Samuel et al 2016). Both as a central component and as a peripheral side-game, player-as-coach has shown itself to be an engaging area for AI-based game design, and we hope this work enables it to be explored more fully.…”