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A cut-scene is a non-interactive storytelling interlude, typically involving full-motion video of actors or high-resolution computer graphics. In a cut-scene, the IF author briefly takes control of the narrative in order to relay important developments in the plot. For instance, an IF version of Little Red Riding Hood would probably begin with a cut scene in which the little girl leaves her house and gets lost in the wood (since there wouldn't be much of a story if the interactor decides Little Red should stay home instead).
In a multimedia game, cut-scenes may involve video footage of live actors. Even cartoon or computer-generated cut-scenes require the time and talents of animators, storyboard artists, voice actors, visual editors, and so forth. Multimedia is expensive to produce; for this reason, multimedia tends to be more linear than classic text-based IF.
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