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.
Story and Narrative Development for Video Games
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Story and Narrative Development for Video Games
This course is part of Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization
Instructor: Dariush Derakhshani
49,388 already enrolled
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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.7
(1,263 reviews)
Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
3 hours to complete
Learn at your own pace
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Taught in English
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This course is part of the Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 4 modules in this course
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.
What's included
6 videos7 readings1 peer review1 discussion prompt
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.
What's included
4 videos12 readings1 peer review
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.
What's included
4 videos8 readings1 peer review
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.
What's included
5 videos6 readings1 peer review
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4.8 (178 ratings)1 Course49,388 learners
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4.7
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Showing 3 of 1263
VP
4
Reviewed on Jul 11, 2020
The course is really good and really educational and i would recommend people about it. Though the thing that i didn't like was that i wanted some more examples for different types of games.
SC
5
Reviewed on Nov 15, 2015
The instructor carefully illustrates all points necessary for wring a game story. The logic is extremely clear, course materials intact and homework amount is decent for students.
AT
5
Reviewed on Dec 5, 2015
This course is pretty cool. I actually learned a lot about analyzing narratives and writing that I hadn't really considered before... It's totally worth it.
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