GDC Courses

Building a Unified Cross-Project UI Framework

Discover how Sybo Games created a unified UI framework to ensure consistency across projects, improving design efficiency and user experience in game development.

• YouTube
• 31 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Tackling Audience Experiences in Games

Explore UI and game mechanics design for live and streamed gaming experiences, focusing on spectator engagement, community building, and strategies for viewer retention.

• YouTube
• 30 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Designing Radically Non-Linear Single Player Levels

Explore non-linear design techniques for single-player sandbox levels, their unique value and challenges, and how to adapt them to linear levels. Learn from industry expert Aubrey Serr's insights.

• YouTube
• 28 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Cementing Your Duct Tape - Turning Hacks into Tools

Explore techniques for transforming temporary hacks into robust tools, with practical examples from Total War games. Learn to create scalable solutions and improve development workflows.

• YouTube
• 54 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Environmental Narrative - Telling Stories in Spaces Without Saying Anything Aloud

Explore immersive game design techniques for creating engaging environments and narratives without dialogue, focusing on physical storytelling, worldbuilding, and player experience.

• YouTube
• 34 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

The Schema is Still Mightier than the Sword - How Cognition Predicts Player Spatial Coding Systems

Explore how players navigate game environments through spatial mapping schemas, mental rotation, and feature detection, impacting game design and player experience.

• YouTube
• 35 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Critiquing Game Visuals - Common Problems and How to Solve Them

Learn to analyze and improve game visuals with tools for addressing common issues like saturation, clarity, lighting, and contrast. Gain practical skills for enhancing your game's visual appeal and effectiveness.

• YouTube
• 28 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

End-to-End Procedural Generation in Caves of Qud

Explore procedural generation techniques for creating immersive village environments with unique histories, cultures, and quests in roguelike games.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 4 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Super Humans of New York - Managing the Many Faces in Marvel's Spider-Man

Discover Insomniac Games' efficient pipeline for managing 150 facial rigs in Marvel's Spider-Man. Learn about character tiers, feedback processes, and innovative solutions for open-world head integration.

• YouTube
• 57 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Can You Make a Good Game Without Good Play Mechanics?

Explore game design beyond mechanics with Square Enix's Prasertvithyakarn, using Final Fantasy XV as a case study to illustrate the importance of a broader vision in creating engaging experiences.

• YouTube
• 30 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

PR Success - How to Get Your Game Across in 5 Seconds

Learn effective game marketing through animated GIFs. Discover tips for creating eye-catching, platform-specific content to showcase your game in just 5 seconds.

• YouTube
• 31 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Low Cost Facial Scanning Using Photogrammetry in State of Decay 2

Learn cost-effective facial scanning techniques using photogrammetry for game development, with insights from Undead Labs' implementation in State of Decay 2 over two years and 200+ scans.

• YouTube
• 31 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Taking an Axe to God of War Gameplay

Explore God of War's gameplay design evolution, from camera changes to combat mechanics. Gain insights into character development, enemy interactions, and innovative features that shaped this iconic action-adventure game.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 1 minute
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Illustrating Tamriel - Creating Key Art for The Elder Scrolls Online

Explore compositional strategies and character-centric techniques for crafting compelling narrative key art in The Elder Scrolls Online with ZeniMax Online Studios' Lucas Slominski.

• YouTube
• 59 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Ask Me Anything - Q&A with Yacht Club Games

Insights into game development from Yacht Club Games' David D'Angelo, covering design, programming, and industry experiences in Cyber Shadow and Shovel Knight.

• YouTube
• 31 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk