The purpose of the study was to get a better understanding of how players’ engagement is affected by the narrative techniques which are used in the game Dark Souls II. The four most prominent narrative techniques that were analyzed in Dark souls II were cutscenes, item descriptions, NPC’s and environmental storytelling. Qualitative and Quantitative data was collected in a questionnaire that was posted on the forum/ “subreddit” Dark souls II. The answers from 100 questionnaires were analyzed using content analysis methodology. It could be concluded in this thesis that narrative techniques that interfere with the players sense of freedom will reduce their engagement within the game. An example in Dark souls II is when the player is forced to summon NPC’s to boss fights in order to progress in the NPC’s storyline. This also works the other way around: i.e. the player experiences increased engagement if the narrative techniques allow the player to decide over their own actions. An example in Dark Souls II is when the player is given the opportunity to kill friendly NPC’s. / Syftet med denna studie var att få en bättre förståelse för hur spelarens engagemang påverkas av de narrativa tekniker som används i spelet Dark Souls II. De fyra mest framstående narrativa tekniker som identifierades i Dark Souls II var Cutscenes, föremålsbeskrivningar, NPC’s och miljöberättande. Kvalitativ och kvantitativa data samlades genom en enkät som lades upp på Dark Souls II forum/ ”subreddit”. Svaren från 100 deltagare tolkades med koder samt kategorier genom metodologin innehållsanalys. I denna studie kunde det konstateras att narrativa tekniker som negativt påverkar spelarens frihet, kommer reducera deras engagemang i spelet. Detta noterades bland annat när spelare var tvungna att kalla på NPC’s till bossfighter för att kunna fortsätta denna NPC’s uppdrag. Det angavs även att detta fungerade åt andra hållet, när spelarens förmåga att kunna ta egna beslut tilläts så ökade även spelarens engagemang i spelet. Detta noterades i spelmekaniken att spelaren bland annat tilläts döda fredliga NPC’s.

This thesis examines the growing trend of cinematisation in computer and console games, where both visual styles and industrial practices are concerned. The ever-increasing runtime of cinematic cutscenes in games, and the stylization of game graphics in accordance with established film genres are of primary focus regarding the gaming industry's absorption and interpretation of cinematic visuals. Comparisons of film-game convergence are based on the proliferation of non-gameplay promotional trailers and their role in hype-generation; as well as game producer strategies of franchising, cross-promotion, and initial-sales business model. Comparison is thus accomplished with regards to a number of fundamental similarities in both industries' business and commercial tactics, as stemming from the risk and reward-based investment financing system prevalent in both industries. Finally, a selection of user and industry professional video responses to the aforementioned trends are examined, both for their value in counter-balancing the assumptions of success which often follow staggeringly high initial sales figures; and for their value in layering the depth of film-game convergence even further, as they respond to the recent, filmic trends in games using the very language of film.