Setting the Stage: Using Knowledge Graphs for Environmental Context for Social Characters

Abstract

In this paper, I present a preliminary approach for encoding location data for CiF-like social characters in a to alleviate some of the authorial burden associated with authoring these types of interactive characters. To ease some of the authorial burden, I discuss how decoupling character actions and storing them within the environment can lead to a lowering of authorial complexity as well as treating the environment as a first-class entity can lead to more nuanced character performances. To better understand what is being decoupled, I describe how the term environment may be too vague when regarding interactive characters and their performances, and instead extending concepts from theater and dramaturgy, such as stage and props. From there I describe their functionality and possible encoding for props and stages.