Worldbuilding for Video Games from edX

A game’s setting is second in importance only to the game’s player character - and some say it’s more important. Game designers must create a compelling new world that players will want to explore and inhabit for many, many hours.

Game writing is a collaborative process, and worlds are designed with input from art directors, level designers, and even marketing teams. But writers have an integral role in making these worlds feel rich, deep and believable.

In this course you’ll learn to use the tools of environmental storytelling, lore, readables and audio/video logs to help create a memorable game setting.

Verified learners will access additional game industry interviews, assignments and discussion topics, connecting with a community of other writers and game enthusiasts.

What you'll learn

How level designers and the art team approach the game world, and how the narrative designer works with them
Environmental storytelling: how the setting creates mystery, reveals history and furthers the game’s story
Learn how to create compelling found narrative
How writers of lore and backstory can learn from real-world research and history
Tools and techniques for creating compelling audio and video logs

What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1: Creating a Compelling Game World

The imagination space - from the game map to player POV to game economies

Getting started: what's the hook, and how do you find inspiration?

Module 2: Creating Fictional Worlds

Defining scope and producing the illusion of a larger world

Collaborative worldbuilding

How to create mystery and shape player decisions

Working with established worlds

Module 3: Populating Your World

Fictional races, cultures and languages

Fictional places and historical research

Fictional beasts

Weapons, equipment, technology and vehicles

Module 4: Animating Your World

Depicting day-to-day life

Using environment to motivate exploration

Soundscapes and audio/video logs

Found narrative

Module 5: Finessing Your World

Genre considerations - how the genre (SF, Horror, etc) influences setting

Common challenges

Getting players invested in your world

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Students who want to become professional game writers will greatly benefit from taking this course

Students interested in environmental storytelling will find this course beneficial

Experienced game writers may also want to take this course as a refresher

Those interested in creating believable and immersive game worlds will find this course extremely helpful

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Worldbuilding for Video Games with these activities:

Brush up on storytelling techniques

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Ensure a solid foundation for crafting compelling game narratives by reviewing storytelling techniques and principles.

Browse courses on Narrative

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Review books or articles on storytelling techniques
Analyze the structure, pacing, and character development of effective stories

Review design vocabulary and concepts

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Reviewing fundamental design concepts and jargon will help you understand the course materials more thoroughly.

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Create a glossary of common game design terms and definitions.
Research different types of game genres and their unique characteristics.

Strengthen writing skills through daily creative writing exercises

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Sharpen your writing skills, which are crucial for crafting engaging game narratives and immersive worlds, through regular writing practice.

Browse courses on Writing

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Set aside a specific time each day for writing
Use writing prompts or generate your own ideas to spark creativity
Experiment with different writing styles and techniques

Nine other activities

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Delve into the rich world of Middle-earth

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Expand your grasp of worldbuilding by studying the masterful work of J.R.R. Tolkien and the meticulous world of Middle-earth.

View The Lord of the Rings Collector’s Edition Box... on Amazon

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Read or re-read The Lord of the Rings to experience its intricate and immersive setting
Analyze the techniques Tolkien employs to create a believable and engaging world

Attend game industry events and meetups

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Attending game industry events will help you connect with other professionals in the field, learn about the latest trends, and get feedback on your work.

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Research upcoming game industry events in your area.
Attend events that are relevant to your interests and career goals.
Network with other attendees and exchange ideas.

Refine lore-building skills with a detailed study of Star Wars lore

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Enhance your worldbuilding abilities by深入 examining the extensive and well-crafted lore of the Star Wars universe.

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Gather a comprehensive understanding of the Star Wars lore by watching movies, reading books, and exploring additional content
Analyze the narrative structure, themes, and character development within the Star Wars universe
Identify techniques for crafting captivating and immersive lore that resonates with audiences

Practice writing in-game dialogue and narratives

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Writing exercises will help you develop your writing skills and improve the quality of your in-game writing.

Browse courses on Game Writing

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Write a short dialogue between two characters in a game setting.
Create a brief narrative that describes a key event in a game's storyline.
Write a short story that explores the motivations and backstory of a game character.

Attend industry events to connect with game designers and writers

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Expand your professional network and gain valuable insights by engaging with industry professionals at game-related events.

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Research upcoming game conferences and events
Prepare an introduction and elevator pitch
Set goals for each event, such as meeting specific individuals or learning about new trends

Design a compelling game setting for your own original game

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Solidify your understanding of game setting design by creating a fully-fledged setting for your own imaginative game.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Brainstorm ideas and concepts for your game setting, drawing inspiration from various sources
Establish the core themes, tone, and aesthetic of your game world
Create a detailed map and backstory for your game setting

Create a blog or website about game writing

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Creating a blog or website will allow you to share your knowledge and insights about game writing with others, and it will also help you build a portfolio of your work.

Browse courses on Game Writing

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Choose a niche for your blog or website.
Create high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience.
Promote your blog or website through social media and other online channels.

Design a prototype for a game level that showcases your setting

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Translate your understanding of game setting design into a tangible deliverable by creating a prototype that brings your world to life.

Browse courses on Level Design

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Choose a specific area or aspect of your game setting to focus on
Design the level layout, including obstacles, challenges, and narrative elements
Create visual assets or mockups to represent your level design

Design a game setting and write a pitch document

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Creating a game setting and writing a pitch document will help you apply the concepts you learn in the course and demonstrate your understanding of game design.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Brainstorm and develop a unique and compelling game setting.
Create concept art and write detailed descriptions of the game world.
Write a pitch document that outlines the game's concept, gameplay, and target audience.

Career center

Learners who complete Worldbuilding for Video Games will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Writer

Game Writers write storylines, dialogue, and scripts for video games. Course participants who hope to succeed in Game Writing might benefit from taking Worldbuilding for Video Games to strengthen their skills. This course can provide building blocks for foundational writing skills that are used in this career.

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Narrative Designer

Narrative Designers may find that Worldbuilding for Video Games could be helpful as they create the storylines, characters and worlds for video games. By understanding the principles of how to create compelling game worlds, video game enthusiasts can build a strong foundation for entering the career field.

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Game Artist

Game Artists create the visual assets for video games, from characters and objects to environments and textures. Worldbuilding for Video Games may be useful for building foundational knowledge that is applied directly to their work.

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Video Game Designer

Video Game Designers create and implement game worlds and story. Worldbuilding for Video Games may be useful for learning the core concepts of worldbuilding for games. This course can help build a foundation for the specific worldbuilding skills that Video Game Designers need.

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Level Designer

Level Designers create the layouts, environments, and obstacles within video games. This course can help Level Designers build a foundation for creating the immersive and interactive worlds that they need for their work.

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Concept Artist

Concept Artists bring the worlds of video games to life. Worldbuilding for Video Games may be useful for building foundational knowledge that is applied directly to their work.

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Environmental Artist

Environmental Artists create the environments, landscapes, and backgrounds for video games. Worldbuilding for Video Games may be useful for building foundational knowledge that is applied directly to their work.

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Creative Director

Creative Directors are responsible for the overall creative vision and direction of a video game. Worldbuilding for Video Games may be useful to help build a foundation for understanding the processes of creating the worlds these video games will inhabit.

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Technical Director

Technical Directors oversee the technical development of video games. Worldbuilding for Video Games may be useful for helping to understand the relationship between the worlds of the games and the technical development of those games.

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Game Director

Game Directors oversee the development and production of video games. Worldbuilding for Video Games may be useful in helping to build a foundation for understanding the processes of creating the games they will direct.

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Art Director

Art Directors oversee the visual development and art team for a video game. Worldbuilding for Video Games may be useful to help build a foundation for understanding the creative and development processes of building the game worlds.

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Game Programmer

Game Programmers code the logic and functionality of video games. Worldbuilding for Video Games may help build a foundation for understanding how the worlds they are working on operate.

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Writer

Writers create original content, such as novels, short stories, poems, articles, or screenplays. Those specializing in screenwriting or content writing may find that Worldbuilding for Video Games could be helpful. Screenwriters work to create and build fictional worlds or write about worlds that already exist. Content writers may benefit from building storytelling skills and learning to create compelling environments.

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Animator

Animators bring video game characters and environments to life. Worldbuilding for Video Games may be useful for helping to understand the creation of the spaces their animations will inhabit.

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Game Producer

Game Producers manage the development and production of video games. Worldbuilding for Video Games may be useful in helping to understand the processes of creating the games they will manage.

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