## 3 Research Questions and Structural Framework Implementation  
Developing the integration of persistence and evolution and adopting a macro-level portfolio perspective, this study extends [PERSON] and [PERSON]'s exploration of narrative growth and adaptation within franchise games [20]. By systematically analyzing the strategic interweaving of persistent themes and adaptive narrative techniques, we seek to reveal the nuanced interplay that allows enduring narratives to retain coherence while evolving to satisfy the expectations of players. In accordance with our objectives, the following questions are embedded: how franchises balance continuity with adaptation; how dynamic narratives sustain player immersion across generational shifts in gaming technology; and by what means audience engagement is developed.  
In this regard, the above theoretical frameworks offer a structured lens through which to examine the internal mechanisms that simultaneously uphold and transform the narrative structure. We specifically scrutinize the strategies by which designers ensure both coherence and innovation, coordinating established narrative elements with novel storytelling dynamics to sustain the appeal of emergent narratives across multiple game iterations. The persistence within these narratives fosters an immersive continuity, creating a cohesive experience that bridges each installment. Simultaneously, the evolving narrative architecture, which is propelled by technological advances, exposes new layers of interactivity and expression, reinforcing the adaptive capacity of franchise narratives.  
In alignment with these considerations, we formulate the following research questions with reference to the structure and constructive techniques of a successive storyline, specifically focusing on the persistent yet evolving representations of characters, plotlines, and narrative techniques. This focus enables us to systematically examine how continuity is maintained amid change, revealing the delicate balance between stable narrative elements and innovative adaptation within franchise development.  
* Does the simulation of real-world dynamics within a franchise remain consistent or evolve across different versions?
* How do the orientations of the story in the franchise (introducing the setting, characters, and context) retain their foundational elements or adapt across successive versions?
* How do crucial story events retain their processes or adapt across successive versions?
* How do the evaluations (character or narrator's comments on events) retain their forms or adapt across successive versions?
* How do the resolutions (outcomes) of the story retain their appearances or adapt across successive versions?
* How do non-player characters (NPCs) in the franchise retain or adapt their individual characteristics across successive versions?
* How do player-controlled characters (PCs) in the franchise retain or adapt their autonomy across successive versions?
* By what means do non-player characters (NPCs) maintain or develop their relationships with player-controlled characters (PCs) in the franchise?
* Does the narrative structure beyond the game franchise, expressed by official campaign videos and reports that align with the developers' authorial intents, persist or evolve over time?  
Figure 1 depicts the interrelations among the essential components of emergent narrative structure. Solid lines denote direct relationships, while dashed lines are meant to depict indirect or feedback relationships. The layering displays the flow from simulation (RQ1), orientations (RQ2), story events (RQ3), and evaluations (RQ4) to resolution (RQ5). The dashed circle indicates the relationships among settings, characters, context, NPCs (RQ6), and PCs (RQ7, RQ8), which collectively create the environment for the evaluations.  
We also examine the subtleties that are expressed through the linguistic features of the official materials (RQ9).