A Framework for Choice Hermeneutics

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Links also connect their departure and arrival nodes semantically.

“But links also connect their departure and arrival nodes semantically, and literary research in hypertext theory has explored the meaning links create in addition to the way they move a reader through the text.”

• cites Tosca 2000 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Mason 2019 sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

Other forms of choice are ontologically distinct from those described in the paper and require a distinct hermeneutic framework to achieve the same depth of analysis.

“There are other forms of choice which follow a different structure, making them ontologically distinct from those described in this paper, and thus require a distinct hermeneutic framework to achieve the same depth of analysis (Aarseth and Möring 2020).”

• cites Aarseth and Möring 2020 sourcePartly supported

  The Conclusion (page unavailable) argues that game interpretation depends on an underlying ontology and that hermeneutic methods are game- or genre-specific. It does not establish that the particular forms of choice in the citing paper are ontologically distinct, or that a distinct framework would achieve the same depth of analysis. (LLM, conf=0.82)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In Sonder, Chris's choice whether to sit with Cornell has two explicitly included options: sit with Cornell or continue walking, ignoring Cornell.

“The two explicitly included options are to sit with Cornell or continue walking, ignoring Cornell.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In some branches of Chris's conversation with Dave, Chris expresses his history of being hurt by the church, with more depth in one branch.

“In some branches Chris expresses his history with how he has been hurt by the church, and he discusses this in one branch with more depth than the others.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Sonder's choices are written to emphasize their semantic function and deemphasize their causal effects on events in the story.

“As a case study, we use this framework to inform a reading of Sonder, a text-based storygame whose choices are written to emphasize their semantic function and deemphasize their causal effects on events in the story.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Sonder shows through choices what choices a character considers and occasionally calls attention to things they won't do.

“Sonder shows this to the reader through choices by looking at what choices that character considers and occasionally calling attention to things they won't do.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Dialogue options in Sonder are vague, showing the words that prompt response and the character's thoughts about their responses, leaving the player guessing at possible character actions.

“Dialogue options in Sonder are vague, showing the words that prompt response and the character's thoughts about their responses.By writing these choices with such a degree of ambiguity, the player is left guessing at what possible character actions will result from a selection.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In Sonder, the option to sit with Cornell is listed first because it reflects Chris's first instinct, and the moment would read differently if the ordering were reversed.

“In this example, the option to sit with Cornell is listed first because it reflects Chris's first instinct, and the moment would read differently if the ordering of the options were reversed.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In Chris's conversation with his friends, the information given about choices aligns closely with his responding character action; the only information Chris doesn't share is his reasoning for not going out drinking.

“In Chris's conversation with his friends, the information given about choices align closely with his responding character action, the only information Chris doesn't share, that the player knows, is his reasoning for not going out drinking with them the previous weekend.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Sonder uses choice as a means of characterizing the protagonists.

“Sonder uses choice as a means of characterizing the protagonists.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In one branch of Chris's conversation with Dave, Chris expresses concern about the group avoiding weighty topics and uncritically performing religious rituals.

“As a minor motivation, in one branch he expresses his concern about the group avoiding weighty topics, and instead uncritically performing religious rituals.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

During Chris's conversation with Dave, the conversation has more significant branching than Chris's other conversations.

“During his conversation with Dave, the conversation has more significant branching than Chris's other conversations.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

The way links add semantic meaning to the text they connect is similar to the way choices add semantic meaning to the events they connect.

“The structure of hypertext is similar to choice structures, and the way links add semantic meaning to the text they connect is similar to the way choices add semantic meaning to the events they connect.”

May combine two claims.

Choices in storygames do more than create narrative branches and mean more than cause and effect.

“Choices in storygames do more than create narrative branches, and mean more than cause and effect.”

• Also stated in: § INTRODUCTION · plain

  “Choices in storygames¹ do more than create narrative branches, and mean more than cause and effect.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

The structure of hypertext is similar to choice structures.

“The structure of hypertext is similar to choice structures, and the way links add semantic meaning to the text they connect is similar to the way choices add semantic meaning to the events they connect.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The meaning of a link is suspended until after it has been traversed, in what Tosca calls a double implicature.

“Because a reader has to interpret the text to select a link before continuing, the meaning of a link is suspended until after it has been traversed in what Tosca (2000) refers to as a double implicature.”

• cites Tosca 2000Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

The first implicature occurs when evaluating a link; the second occurs after traversal when imagined possibilities collapse into one specific outcome.

“The first implicature occurs when evaluating a link, where the reader must consider the space of possible outcomes from selecting that link based on what outcomes might be relevant to the link.The second implicature occurs after the link has been traversed, when the imagined possibilities collapse into one specific outcome and the reader sees the relevance between the two nodes and the way they're”

• cites Tosca 2000Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Telltale games use implicit inclusion by allowing the option to respond with silence by waiting for a timer to run out.

“This includes things like the option in Telltale games, such as The Walking Dead (Telltale 2012), to respond with silence by waiting for a timer to run out.”

• cites Telltale 2012Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In Chris's conversation with his mother, most choices are followed by world action, character action, and more world action, showing that his mother dominates the conversation.

“In his conversation with his mother most choices are followed by world action-his mother continuing to speak-character action, and more world action.This adds another layer to show how his mother dominates the conversation, Chris is not able to respond as he would in other conversations.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

If a choice reflects what a character will do, the results of choices also reflect that character.

“If a choice reflects what a character will do, the results of choices also reflect that character.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Following Chris's conversation with Cornell, the only option to select the nearest seat suggests a hurried response to his tardiness.

“The only option on the list of choices when he arrives is to select the nearest seat, which suggests that there might also be options for him to sit in another seat, but the exclusion of those options speaks to a hurried response to his tardiness.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Depression Quest uses explicit exclusion with strikethrough to indicate options the protagonist would like to choose but is unable or finds too burdensome due to depression.

“Depression Quest (Quinn et al. 2013) notably uses explicit exclusion of choices by showing the text with a strikethrough format to indicate options that the protagonist would like to choose, but is unable or finds too burdensome due to the condition of their depression.”

• cites Quinn et al. 2013Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Mawhorter et al.'s modes of engagement and dimensions of player experience are necessary for a broader theory of hermeneutics but are outside the scope of this framework.

“Modes of engagement and dimensions of experience on the player's part are necessary for a broader theory of hermeneutics, as the player's relationship to the text necessarily affects their interpretation of the text (Arjoranta 2011).However, these aspects are outside the scope of this framework as a tool for hermeneutic analysis, since we are not constructing a broader theory of choice hermeneut”

• cites Arjoranta 2011Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Aspects of this framework are applicable to other forms of choices, but a separate framework is necessary to account for their aspects which this framework does not account for.

“Aspects of this framework are applicable to other forms of choices, but a separate framework would be necessary to account for their aspects which this framework does not account for.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

The framing of a choice predominantly occurs in the immediate context, but overall context can significantly affect how the immediate context frames a choice.

“The framing of a choice predominantly occurs in the immediate context, but there can be significant amounts of framing done in the overall context which affect the way the immediate context frames a choice.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Links are typically used to orient the reader toward the arrival node, but they are often used to disorient the reader or undermine their expectations.

“In their causal and semantic connections, links are typically used to orient the reader toward the arrival node, but they are often used to disorient the reader or undermine their expectations as well.”

• cites Morgan 2002 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Among explicit options, whether included or excluded, the ordering of options can have significance.

“Among explicit options, whether included or excluded, the ordering of options can have significance.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Arrival contexts following a choice represent a possibility space, so every event within that space represents some aspect of a character.

“Arrival contexts following from a choice represent a possibility space, so every event within that space represents some aspect of a character.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Links communicate relevance between the text they connect.

“Links communicate relevance between the text they connect.”

• cites Tosca 2000Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Unchoices are characterized by their choice list; their significance lies in the lack of explicitly included options, which calls attention to the implicit exclusion of other possible options.

“Unchoices are choices that have only one option.In terms of this expanded framework, these choices are characterized by their choice list.Their significance lies in the lack of explicitly included options-which calls attention to the implicit exclusion of other possible options-so the reading of these choices is grounded in the negative space of what the character can't or won't do.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Links are directional; the text of a link indicates the direction of its destination and creates a causal connection between its departure node and arrival node.

“Because the links of hypertext literature are directional, the text of a link indicates the direction of its destination and creates a causal connection between its departure node and arrival node (Landow 1987).”

• cites Landow 1987 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The gestalt structure of conversational directions in Chris's conversation with Dave reveals differing aspects of Chris's motivation.

“The gestalt structure of conversational directions all reveal differing aspects of Chris's motivation.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The convergence on a single world action in Chris's late arrival indicates a predisposition on Chris's part to arriving late to class.

“This convergence on a single world action indicates a predisposition on Chris's part to arriving late to class, maybe that it's a recurring problem for him.”

May combine two claims.

The framework is targeted specifically to discrete, explicit choices and does not account for implicit choices.

“This framework is targeted specifically to discrete, explicit choices.It doesn't account for implicit choices, for example, where it isn't signposted that narrative branching occurs or what the available options are.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In Chris's phone call from his mother, the explicitly excluded option to decline indicates a desire not to speak with her, while the only included option to answer shows his ultimate unwillingness to not answer.

“Like before, during his interaction with Cornell, the ordering of this option indicates that he has a desire not to speak with his mother.However the only included option is to answer the phone, which shows his ultimate unwillingness to not answer.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In every version of Chris's conversation with Dave, Chris expresses reservations about joining the church because of his sexuality, indicating it might be his prime motivation.

“In every version of this conversation, Chris in some way arrives at expressing his reservations about joining the church because of his sexuality.This indicates that it might be his prime motivation during this conversation.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Conjunctive function creates meaningful relationships between two nodes; disjunctive function describes ways hyperlinks are used for dissonant effects.

“Conjunctive functionality is the way in which a hyperlink creates meaningful relationships between two nodes, and disjunctive functionality describes ways in which hyperlinks are used for various dissonant effects.”

• cites Morgan 2002 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The phone call choice foreshadows Chris's strained relationship with his mother.

“This choice foreshadows their strained relationship that we see play out through the conversation and points us to see that, as strained as it is, they still have active contact in their relationship.”