This course is part of the Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization

4.7
stars
1,135 ratings

Dariush Derakhshani

39,552 already enrolled

Offered By

Game Design: Art and Concepts SpecializationCalifornia Institute of the Arts

About this Course

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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.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Includes hands on learning projects.

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Course 2 of 5 in the

Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 11 hours to complete

English

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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.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 2 of 5 in the

Game Design: Art and Concepts Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 11 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.88/5 (130 Ratings)

Dariush Derakhshani

Faculty, Character Animation

School of Film/Video

40,153 Learners

2 Courses

Offered by

California Institute of the Arts

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(6,927 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Week 1: An Introduction to Story

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 26 min), 7 readings, 1 quiz

Week2

Week 2

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

4 videos

Writing Your Own Story Synopsis4mDefining Characters and Character Goals7mUsing Secondary Characters3mWriting a Character Brief4m

12 readings

Story Synopsis: StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty8mStory Synopsis Points8mStory Synopsis: Angry Birds8mAbout Character Briefs8mCharacter Brief: Jim Raynor8mCharacter Brief: Emperor Mengsk5mCharacter Brief: Tychus Findlay5mAbout Setting Descriptions8mSetting Description: Angry Birds8mSetting Description: Mar Sara8mSetting Description: The Hyperion8mSetting Description: Char5m

Week3

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Week 3: Story Workshop

3 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 25 min), 8 readings, 1 quiz

Week4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Week 4: From Story to Game

3 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 25 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz

5 videos

Introduction to a Game Design Document5mDiving Deeper into the Design Document4mTurning The Shooter's Story into a Game5mThe Shooter's Rising Gameplay8mCourse Wrap Up1m

6 readings

About Story Presentation Schemes8mPresentation Scheme: Part One - StarCraft II Gameplay Overview8mPresentation Scheme: Part Two - StarCraft II Missions10mWhat is a Gameplay Flowchart?8mGameplay Flowchart: StarCraft II5mCourse Credits5m

Reviews

4.7

285 reviews

5 stars
78.14%
4 stars
16.91%
3 stars
3.34%
2 stars
1.14%
1 star
0.44%

TOP REVIEWS FROM STORY AND NARRATIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR VIDEO GAMES

by PDSep 6, 2020

Helped me a lot in building story for my game. A great short course for understanding narrative development in video games. Highly recommended for game designers.

by JCAug 11, 2021

it was good but i think more visual elements would have been pretty cool. Also more examples of official documents that they use in big studios, those are pretty cool but i would like some more.

by CSDec 30, 2015

This is my favorite course ever. Dariush teaches in such an engaging way and it shows you how to have a creative yet objective and analyzed mindset for creating a story and narrative for a Video Game.

by DANov 6, 2017

This is so helpful. It covers all the essentials of developing a good story, applicable in any form of media, then it focuses on converting the story to a game by adding interactive gameplay elements.

View all reviews

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Story and Narrative Development for Video Games

About this Course

Skills you will gain