Exploring Depth of Field as a Narrative Tool in Visual Novels

<p><strong>Visual Novel games (VN games) aim to immerse players in stories. While the photographic technique of Depth of Field (DoF) is currently underused in VN storytelling, I believe it offers a valuable opportunity to increase player engagement. This thesis explores how changing DoF in game illustrations can enhance both immersion and storytelling effectiveness. To demonstrate this, I developed a VN game that uses the changing of DoF in its illustrations, employing a "research through design" methodology alongside traditional design research. The thesis includes a literature review of Visual Novel games, Depth of Field, illustration, and also game's plot. I also considered Design Precedents from both Visual Novels and Films, and the thesis documents the game development process. The application of DoF can enhance visual impact, guide the audience's gaze for increased engagement, improve interactivity, and enrich narrative expression. This research suggests that DoF has broader potential beyond visual novels, offering new avenues for enriching visualization and interactive storytelling.</strong></p>