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Story and Narrative Development for Video Games

In this course, you will examine how storytelling acts as a vital mechanism for driving video gameplay forward. Looking at several historical and contemporary games, you will be asked to evaluate and interpret different story styles with the goal of identifying themes and procedures for your own game ideas. We'll examine traditional narrative story processes, such as three-act structure, and how they fit into game story flows and the strategic elements of gameplay. Ultimately, you will learn how to define character, setting, and structure to create a compelling game concept.

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Syllabus

Week 1: An Introduction to Story

For the first week of the class, we will be analyzing the components of three-act structure using a classic fairytale as an example. We'll examine the characters in the story by figuring out their goals and the main conflict that creates a rising arc of action to keep the audience interested.

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what should give you pause

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Explores methods that are commonly used in video game storytelling

Examines multiple recent and historical games to illustrate story concepts

Develops three-act structure, character development, and narrative storytelling in game design

Taught by Dariush Derakhshani, a professional in the field of video game design

Can be used either to build a foundation in video game storytelling or enhance an existing one

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Reviews summary

Game narrative from story to design document

According to learners, this course offers a solid foundation in narrative development specifically for video games. Students particularly praise how the course effectively connects traditional story structures, like the three-act model, to interactive gameplay loops and design. The analysis of existing games is highlighted as a valuable component, providing practical examples. While many found the section on creating a game design document (GDD) helpful, a few noted it might be more suitable for beginners and could benefit from greater depth for those with some prior experience. Overall, the course is seen as providing useful tools and a clear process for developing compelling game concepts.

Introduces GDD creation, useful for beginners.

"The GDD template provided was a useful starting point for outlining my own project idea."

"Wish the section on GDDs was more in-depth, felt a bit rushed for such an important topic."

"The GDD explanation is fine for beginners but might be too basic for those with some experience."

"Learned the fundamentals of structuring a game concept into a design document."

Practical techniques for character and story.

"The workshops helped refine my character and setting ideas significantly for my final project."

"Learned practical ways to develop compelling characters specifically for interactive media."

"Good techniques for brainstorming and solidifying story elements into a cohesive concept."

"Provides a clear process for taking a story idea and evolving it into a game premise."

Uses strong examples from existing games.

"Analyzing specific games was very helpful in seeing how the concepts are applied in real-world examples."

"The examples used from contemporary games were relevant and well-explained throughout the lectures."

"I liked seeing how different games handle narrative challenges and integrate story effectively."

"Examining diverse games helped solidify my understanding of applied narrative techniques."

Successfully links classic story structure to games.

"I really appreciated how the course tied classic story structure to modern game design. It made the connection clear."

"Understanding the three-act structure helped me map out my game's progression in a logical way."

"It was interesting seeing how story elements function within gameplay loops and player actions."

"This course masterfully bridges the gap between screenwriting theory and game writing practice."

Clear and engaging teaching style.

"The instructor is knowledgeable, passionate, and very engaging in their delivery."

"Lectures were clear, well-structured, and easy to follow along with."

"Found the teaching style inspiring and motivating to work on my own game narrative."

"The way the material is presented makes complex ideas understandable and accessible."

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 Story and Narrative Development for Video Games with these activities:

Read Aristotle's Poetics

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Aristotle's Poetics is a foundational work on literary theory and storytelling. This course is all about how to write game stories, so getting familiar with the classics will give you a deep understanding of good storytelling techniques.

View Melania on Amazon

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Read the book
Take notes
Write a summary
Draw a diagram
Write an essay

Review Three-Act Structure

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Three-act structure is a fundamental storytelling technique that you'll be using for this course. Reviewing this before the course starts will help you with the coursework.

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Read an overview online
Read a book about it
Take notes
Draw a diagram of the structure
Write a summary

Watch Video Tutorials on Storytelling

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Watching video tutorials will provide you with additional instruction and examples.

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Find video tutorials
Watch the tutorials
Take notes
Practice

Ten other activities

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Do Practice Problems

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Practicing story structure and character development will help you apply the techniques you learn in class.

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Find practice problems
Solve the problems
Check your answers
Repeat

Story Development Primer

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Read this book to lay a strong foundation in the fundamentals of story development, which are essential for crafting compelling narratives in video games.

View The Writer's Journey - 25th Anniversary Edition... on Amazon

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Read the introduction and first three chapters to familiarize yourself with the basics of story structure.
Identify the archetypal characters and plot points that are common in storytelling.
Analyze a variety of stories to see how they apply these principles.

Create a One-Page Summary of the Course

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Creating a one-page summary of this course will reinforce your understanding of the main concepts and help you remember the material better.

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Read through the course syllabus
Identify the main concepts
Summarize each concept
Organize your summary
Write your summary

Discuss Course Topics with Peers

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Discussing course topics with peers will help you understand the material better and different perspectives.

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Find a peer group
Meet regularly
Discuss the material
Share ideas

Character Dialogue Writing Practice

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Regularly practice writing dialogue for different characters to improve your ability to create realistic and engaging conversations in your game.

Browse courses on Dialogue Writing

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Choose two characters from your game and write a conversation between them based on a specific situation.
Focus on making the dialogue natural, believable, and revealing of the characters' personalities.
Repeat this exercise with different characters and situations.

Character and Setting Design Document

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Develop a clear understanding of your game's characters and setting by creating a design document that outlines their motivations, backstories, and the environment in which they exist.

Browse courses on Character Development

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Brainstorm and generate ideas for your game's characters and setting.
Write a detailed description of each character, including their appearance, personality, and background.
Create a map or diagram of the game's setting, and describe its key features and locations.

Game Story Design Project

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Apply your knowledge of storytelling and game design to create a detailed outline for a video game story, including the plot, characters, setting, and gameplay elements.

Browse courses on Game Design

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Choose a genre and setting for your game.
Develop a central theme or conflict that will drive the story.
Create character profiles and backstories.
Map out the major events and plot points of the story.
Consider how the gameplay mechanics will support and enhance the story.

Create a Game Concept Pitch

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This course will teach you how to design a game story. This activity will give you a chance to practice and polish your skills.

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Brainstorm game ideas
Choose an idea
Develop your concept
Create a pitch document
Rehearse your pitch

Story Pitch

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Condense your game's story into a concise and compelling pitch that highlights its unique selling points and appeals to potential players.

Browse courses on Storytelling

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Write a one-page summary of your game's story.
Identify the key elements of your story that make it stand out.
Practice pitching your story to others.

Enter a Game Design Competition

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Participating in a game design competition will give you a chance to showcase your skills and get feedback.

Show steps

Find a competition
Submit your game
Get feedback
Revise and resubmit

Career center

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

Writer

A Writer can use the knowledge gained from this course to great effect. The course teaches the writer how to build a story from scratch, and also how to think about a story in terms of gameplay. This is important as video games are a unique medium that require telling stories in a non-linear way, and the storyteller needs to understand how to do this in a way that does not detract from the player’s experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Game Designer

A Game Designer's job is to design the overall gameplay experience for a video game, which includes creating the story, characters, and levels. This course would be very helpful for someone in this role because it teaches the fundamentals of storytelling and how to apply them to video games. The course also covers how to create compelling characters and settings, which are essential for creating a memorable and engaging game.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Narrative Designer

A Narrative Designer is responsible for writing the story and dialogue for a video game. This course would be very helpful for someone in this role because it teaches the fundamentals of storytelling and how to apply them to video games in addition to going over the basics of game story structure. The instruction on narrative story processes like three-act structure would also be of great use to them as a reference point.

See salaries and explore the career path for Narrative Designer

Creative Director

A Creative Director oversees the creative vision of a video game, which includes the story, characters, and setting. This course would be very helpful for someone in this role because it teaches the fundamentals of storytelling and how to apply them to video games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Director

Producer

A Producer is responsible for the overall production of a video game, which includes managing the budget, timeline, and team. This course would be helpful for someone in this role, as it provides a general overview of the game development process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Producer

Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing a video game project. This course would be helpful for someone in this role, as it provides a general overview of the game development process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Technical Artist

A Technical Artist is responsible for creating the 3D models, textures, and animations for a video game. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it provides a general overview of the game development process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Artist

Animator

An Animator is responsible for creating the animations for a video game. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it provides a general overview of the game development process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Environmental Artist

An Environmental Artist is responsible for creating the environments for a video game. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it provides a general overview of the game development process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Artist

Level Designer

A Level Designer is responsible for creating the levels for a video game. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it provides a general overview of the game development process including the discussion on game story structure and the role of the primary and secondary characters in the story.

See salaries and explore the career path for Level Designer

Game Tester

A Game Tester is responsible for testing a video game to find bugs and other errors. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it provides a general overview of the game development process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Tester

Community Manager

A Community Manager is responsible for managing the online community for a video game. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it provides a general overview of the game development process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Manager

Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager is responsible for marketing a video game to the public. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it provides a general overview of the game development process.

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Sales Manager

A Sales Manager is responsible for selling a video game to retailers and other businesses. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it provides a general overview of the game development process.

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Customer Service Representative

A Customer Service Representative is responsible for providing customer support for a video game. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it provides a general overview of the game development process.

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Featured in The Course Notes

This course is mentioned in our blog, The Course Notes. Read one article that features Story and Narrative Development for Video Games:

Game Development: The Complete Learning Roadmap

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Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Story and Narrative Development for Video Games.

The Art of Game Design

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the game design process, from ideation to implementation. It would be a valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the fundamentals of game design.

Story and Narrative Development for Video Games

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Save this course

Reviews summary

Game narrative from story to design document

Activities

Career center

Featured in The Course Notes

Reading list

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