Hamlet on the Holodeck: The Future of Narrative in Cyberspace

What stories does your site create? We know it can relay packaged tales of personal growth and team accomplishment. But the very act of using your website creates a story in the mind of the visitor. Two books explain this clearly: Hamlet on the Holodeck: The Future of Narrative in Cyberspace by Janet H. Murray and Computers as Theater by Brenda Laurel. Using software, online or off, has the emotional, dramatic, and narrative structure of a stage play or movie. The user has a goal, this creates tension as they overcome obstacles enroute to the goal. Each step of progress creates little moments of satisfaction and release. As they get closer to the finish, suspense rises and, upon completion, a cathartic whoosh and the endorphins kick in. Some stories don't work. No sense of plot, direction, engagement, context. No intermediate accomplishment. No enjoyment of the climax. Too long a denoument. Company career sites frequently suffer from the same agoniing problems. They ignore the many goals job seekers bring. They don't provide context. They don't status and acknowledge progress toward goals. They don't reward meeting milestones or small successes. Conversely, great video games engage. They manage to design in hooks that get people to invest dozens of hours in play. To get their friends to join. Enough that it's worth giving up meals and television. Career sites can be in that league, but usually aren't. I wonder why?