Korean dramas have achieved worldwide success and have transformed entertainment well beyond the realm of television. The unique formula of slow-burn romances, shocking betrayals, and cliffhangers clearly timed for maximum effect is also coming to mobile screens. Mobile game designers draw on the K-drama and J-drama model of storytelling, creating an interactive experience that evolves beyond the casual puzzle or the combat-focused mechanics happening on the mobile screen. Rather, these games encourage the player to live a digital drama, making choices that can change the story in remarkable ways.
The enjoyment of a mobile game also stems from the interaction of mobile gaming itself. For example, a viewer may binge-watch a television drama over the course of a few weeks; however, a mobile game allows a player to not simply view a story unfold over time, but more importantly, allows a player to delve into the story, playing the protagonist and deciding whom to romance or what mystery to solve etc. Therefore, players not only view the drama unfold in the video game or interactive narrative, but also participate in how that drama unfolds. Mystic Messenger is a prime example as it uses drama-inspired tropes characteristic of traditional television dramas (e.g. love triangles, intellectually gifted strangers, suspense arcs) and arranges it in a mobile game format that ensures player engagement through constant interaction with the game.
It is interesting to note that the monetization strategies often resemble drama-type pacing. In the same way that a drama delays its best reveals until later in the season, many games will delay the most emotional or high-stakes storylines until after a timed unlock or a purchase. This is a parallel to the excitement that fans have when they are waiting for the next cliffhanger to be aired or resolved, but players have at least some agency and independence in deciding when or how they will engage with the material.
Romance, Cliffhangers, and Player Choice
Korean and Japanese dramas are known for their ability to build emotional tension. The way these productions are made leaves viewers yearning to see the next episode by either revealing a romantic twist or an incredible revelation for escalation to an even bigger conflict. Mobile developers followed this narrative rhythm by creating branching dialogue systems, as well as episodic releases.
These mechanics reflect how online platforms have changed audience viewing behaviors. For example, Viki affords audiences the option of binging the entire series at once, while mobile games similarly give players the option to binge on narrative content, if players are willing to pay to unlock additional chapters of the game narrative. Some people prefer to wait for free daily story tickets, a practice similar to what audiences did in anticipation of weekly broadcasts of the drama show. The ability to consume content in this way allows audiences to engage with narrative content on their time, and supports the binge-culture while maintaining the episodic suspense.
There are even similar audience psychological functions to online casinos. In comparison to a casino bonus keeping the player engaged in games like poker or slots, and wanting to play again soon, the anticipation and reward of many mobile narrative games are similar in structure. The main difference is contextual. Online casinos are using bonuses to lengthen play time or create value, whereas drama-based mobile games are trying to keep fans emotionally engaged and lured in with timing rewards and narrative unlocks. Both processes rely on a concept of expectation and payoff, which ultimately becomes an effective user retention value.
What This Means for the Future of Interactive Entertainment
The expanding overlap of dramas with mobile games, shows a change in how entertainment industries in Asia and other locales conceive engagement.
This will enable creators to pursue additional non-industry collaboration. We are already seeing popular dramas get adapted into official games for fans to play out alternative storylines or interact with familiar characters in various ways. Successful games are now being considered for adaptations back into live-action dramas. This cross-pollination fuels stability in both industries, while fans can sit back and enjoy content across different platforms.
In the near future, the overlap of streaming technology, mobile interactivity and dramatized storytelling may take entertainment into an immersive environment in their own right. Just consider the future of a drama airing alongside a game. Viewers watching a pivotal episode of the show might unlock exclusive game content. Viewers playing the game may provide alternate endings in the television version.
This is an exciting development for the drama watchers. They no longer have to wait for the next episode to drop; instead, they can explore a parallel universe that allows them to build their own narrative. For developers, it is easy to see that the audience loves deep narrative structure and emotion, and the formula adopted by Korean and Japanese dramas already lays out the framework for them to use.