There's a really interesting discussion on interactive storytelling going on at Grand Text Auto, triggered by Robin's reports on the Game Tech Summit.

I've been interested in interactive storytelling since, well, 1989 - before I had even entered the games industry. In the last year (except when I was too busy being a producer) I've been thinking a lot about how we can get closer to this, in the broader context of innovation in interactive entertainment. Not so much what to do (not that that's an easy question), but how to create the opportunity.

Trying to break new ground while developing a commercial project just isn't going to cut it, even if you set your goals lower than Andrew's. And to the best of my knowledge, there still isn't enough serious R&D going on in the industry, and academia is still too far removed from the reality of making better interactive entertainment.

I cannot help thinking of Chris Crawford, who has been here and thought about this so many years ago already.

I wish I hadn't discovered this post mere minutes before I have to get ready for work. Once more I have to post and run, and push this onto my stack of subjects to think Deep Thoughts on, thoughts that will be Well Expressed and published Sometime In The Future... meanwhile, enjoy reading the discussion over at GTxA.