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.
This course is part of the Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization
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Game Design: Art and Concepts SpecializationCalifornia Institute of the ArtsAbout this Course
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Shareable Certificate
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Course 2 of 5 in the
Beginner Level
Approx. 12 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish
Skills you will gain
- Interactive Storytelling
- Video Game Development
- Video Game Design
- Game Design
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 2 of 5 in the
Beginner Level
Approx. 12 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, German, Russian, English, Spanish
Offered by
California Institute of the Arts
CalArts has earned an international reputation as the leading college of the visual and performing arts in the United States. Offering rigorous undergraduate and graduate degree programs through six schools—Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater—CalArts has championed creative excellence, critical reflection, and the development of new forms and expressions.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
3 hours to complete
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.
3 hours to complete
6 videos (Total 26 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz
3 hours to complete
Week 2: Game Story Structure
In this week, we will draw a parallel between last week’s discussion on rising action and how that relates to gameplay. Looking at a pair of contemporary games, we'll learn how to identify story structure and themes of rising action, just like we would with traditional stories and movies. Lastly, we’ll evaluate the role that primary and secondary characters come to play in the unveiling of a game’s story and discuss the importance of understanding how these games present their stories in the actual gameplay.
3 hours to complete
4 videos (Total 21 min), 12 readings, 1 quiz
3 hours to complete
Week 3: Story Workshop
This week, we explore ideation techniques and learn how to consolidate our ideas into more formalized stories specifically for pushing them towards a game design. We will take a look at the importance of, and ways to refine, characters and settings as we develop an initial concept in story form first, and then next week, into a game.
3 hours to complete
4 videos (Total 25 min), 8 readings, 1 quiz
3 hours to complete
Week 4: From Story to Game
For this last week of class, we will begin by seeing what a game design document is, and evaluate a few different templates you can use. Then, we will take the story we built in last week’s course, The Shooter, and define it as a playable game outlined in a game design document.
3 hours to complete
5 videos (Total 25 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz
Reviews
- 5 stars77.90%
- 4 stars17.04%
- 3 stars3.37%
- 2 stars1.21%
- 1 star0.46%
TOP REVIEWS FROM STORY AND NARRATIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR VIDEO GAMES
by RLMar 8, 2016
I learned good stuff. i gave four star because there could be more content some parts were written instead of a lecture. But i will recommend this course.
by NZJan 10, 2021
Fantastic course, really helpful. I just wished there was a summary of the course and the tips that were given throughout at the end of the course.
by SVOct 31, 2015
The basics of this course are well defined and prepare you for proper story and narrative development in video games. I like the step-by-step process this course takes.
by MVOct 24, 2020
Very well structured course with pretty straightforward homeworks that teach a lot about importance of elaborating on details that make a good story strong and entertaining.
About the Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization
Stemming from the principles of storytelling and design established in CalArts’ renowned Animation programs, this Specialization lays a primary foundation for experimentation and exploration of video game design, story, character development, and winning gameplay before programming begins. These four courses emphasize the self-reliance and personal expression of the gaming artist, and encourage you to take conceptual risks and develop new modes of expression and form through gaming. In the final Capstone Project, you’ll put your creative skills to work by generating an engaging game design document for a personal game project, outlining the conceptual, narrative and aesthetic elements of your game.
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