FABULA

The sequence and pacing of events in a game’s story as set out by the creator. Can be viewed as the story as it exists before the player is allowed to interact with it. Some critics argue that the fabula is inherently unfinished, as a story cannot be considered to have been told–particularly in video games–until it has been experienced.

“Elite Dangerous gives very little to the player in terms of plot. Its fabula is mainly composed of backstory and inferred relationships meant to spur the imagination.”