Back to Story and Narrative Development for Video Games
California Institute of the Arts

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.

Status: Game Design
Status: Creativity
BeginnerCourse12 hours

Featured reviews

VP

4.0Reviewed 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

5.0Reviewed 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.

RB

5.0Reviewed Feb 23, 2016

I am glad that I have chosen to sign up to this course. It has open up my vision to a whole new world. Thanks so very much. The professor is engaging and the course content is fascinating.

DA

5.0Reviewed Nov 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.

SV

5.0Reviewed Oct 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.

RL

4.0Reviewed Mar 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.

CS

5.0Reviewed Dec 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.

MV

5.0Reviewed Oct 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.

AT

5.0Reviewed 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.

YY

5.0Reviewed Feb 3, 2024

I got the most out of this course since it really helped me develop my ideas using very simple and approachable methods. There was plenty of information for this one.

AS

5.0Reviewed Jan 8, 2019

The course is delivered very nicely with well-thought reading materials and lots of practicing. Like they always say, practice makes perfect. Thank you for sharing the knowledge!

GT

5.0Reviewed Sep 3, 2017

Love how you dedicate yourself in the course making, great interpretation over the making of a story, and how they can developed into a game. Most grateful!

All reviews

Showing: 20 of 304

Breanne Carlson
2.0
Reviewed Sep 7, 2018
Vincent del Prado
2.0
Reviewed Mar 7, 2016
Dolapo Atobiloye
5.0
Reviewed Nov 7, 2017
Francisco Nicolet
2.0
Reviewed Dec 3, 2015
Davide
2.0
Reviewed Feb 9, 2016
Viola Behringer
2.0
Reviewed Sep 27, 2016
Megan Rose Chapple O'Sullivan
3.0
Reviewed Jun 25, 2023
adrian stanica
2.0
Reviewed Aug 16, 2021
Sarah Hecke
5.0
Reviewed Oct 23, 2021
Diego Tobarra
5.0
Reviewed Nov 22, 2016
Negar Jahanshahi
5.0
Reviewed Jun 24, 2023
Cathe Boudreau
5.0
Reviewed Oct 20, 2016
Rosana Brasil
5.0
Reviewed Feb 24, 2016
Tsur Drori
4.0
Reviewed Oct 3, 2020
Oleksandra Klid
4.0
Reviewed Jan 7, 2023
Jorge Tomasis
4.0
Reviewed May 16, 2016
Shanna Sportelli
3.0
Reviewed Mar 19, 2019
Brit Toth
3.0
Reviewed Nov 17, 2016
Laura Ribeiro
3.0
Reviewed Aug 24, 2020
M Williams
3.0
Reviewed Oct 16, 2016