Story and Narrative Development for Video Games
- 4.7
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Course Summary
This course is designed to teach students the art of video game storytelling. Students will learn about the important elements of storytelling, how to create compelling characters, and how to structure a story for a video game.Key Learning Points
- Learn about the key elements of storytelling in video games
- Discover how to create compelling characters
- Understand how to structure a story for a video game
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the key elements of storytelling in video games
- Create compelling characters for video games
- Structure a story for a video game
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- No prior experience required
- Basic knowledge of video games is helpful
Course Difficulty Level
BeginnerCourse Format
- Online self-paced course
- Video lectures
- Quizzes and assignments
Similar Courses
- Game Design: Art and Concepts
- Introduction to Game Development
Related Education Paths
Notable People in This Field
- Rhianna Pratchett
- Chris Avellone
Related Books
Description
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.
Outline
- Week 1: An Introduction to Story
- Welcome
- What makes a story compelling?
- How games benefit from stories
- How to see a game as a story first
- Defining the Spine
- Three-Act Structure and Rising Action
- About this Course
- Instructor Presence and Staff Support
- Academic Integrity
- Getting Started
- Story Synopsis: Sleeping Beauty
- Week 2: Game Story Structure
- Writing Your Own Story Synopsis
- Defining Characters and Character Goals
- Using Secondary Characters
- Writing a Character Brief
- Story Synopsis: StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
- Story Synopsis Points
- Story Synopsis: Angry Birds
- About Character Briefs
- Character Brief: Jim Raynor
- Character Brief: Emperor Mengsk
- Character Brief: Tychus Findlay
- About Setting Descriptions
- Setting Description: Angry Birds
- Setting Description: Mar Sara
- Setting Description: The Hyperion
- Setting Description: Char
- Week 3: Story Workshop
- Story Ideation Techniques
- Personal Writing Advice
- Refining the Spine
- Connecting Ideas and Characters
- About Idea Sheets
- Idea Sheet: Dead-Eye Jane
- Idea Sheet: Settings for The Shooter
- Review: Story Synopses
- Story Synopsis: The Shooter
- Review: Character Briefs
- Character Brief: Jake
- Character Brief: Dead-Eye Jane
- Week 4: From Story to Game
- Introduction to a Game Design Document
- Diving Deeper into the Design Document
- Turning The Shooter's Story into a Game
- The Shooter's Rising Gameplay
- Course Wrap Up
- About Story Presentation Schemes
- Presentation Scheme: Part One - StarCraft II Gameplay Overview
- Presentation Scheme: Part Two - StarCraft II Missions
- What is a Gameplay Flowchart?
- Gameplay Flowchart: StarCraft II
- Course Credits
Summary of User Reviews
Learn about the art of storytelling in video games with this comprehensive course from Coursera. Students have praised the engaging and informative lectures, as well as the opportunity to learn from industry professionals. One key aspect that many users found beneficial was the emphasis on narrative design and character development.Pros from User Reviews
- Engaging and informative lectures
- Opportunity to learn from industry professionals
- Emphasis on narrative design and character development
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users found the course to be too basic
- Limited practical exercises
- Not suitable for those with advanced knowledge of video game storytelling
Dariush Derakhshani
4.7 Raiting
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