GDC Courses

Play With Your Audience - Enhancing Your Social Strategy Through Theater

Discover how theatrical techniques can elevate your social media strategy, fostering playful connections with gaming communities and boosting brand awareness organically.

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

The Future of Game Communities, and How We Avoid It

Explore the evolution of game communities, from AAA to NFTs, and learn about potential pitfalls and concerns for the future through the lens of community management theory.

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

Narrative Moments on a Budget - Stretching Storytelling Dollars Across the Moments That Matter

Discover strategies for efficient storytelling in game development, focusing on prioritizing narrative elements and maximizing impact with limited resources and time constraints.

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

What the F-UX is UX

Demystifying UX job hunting in the game industry: creative strategies for landing your next gig, understanding job requirements, and tailoring your resume to stand out in a competitive field.

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

The Secret Lives of NPCs - Wayward Strand

Explore the innovative approach to NPC design in 'Wayward Strand', where characters lead independent lives. Learn how to create a dynamic, real-time narrative world that feels authentic and engaging for players.

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

Breathing Life Into The Last of Us - Part I and II

Explore Naughty Dog's innovative Breathing System for 'The Last of Us', from concept to finalization. Learn how this audio technique creates a harrowing, immersive experience in narrative-driven games.

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

Respecting Player Fantasies in Dating Sims

Explore player types, romance styles, and character design in dating sims. Learn to match player expectations and create engaging experiences in this genre-specific game design talk.

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

Modernizing Rendering at Supercell

Explore Supercell's journey in implementing a new core rendering framework and adapting billion-dollar games like Clash of Clans to utilize the innovative system.

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

Lost XP - Why Junior Game Developers Quit and How to Help

Explore empirical data and solutions to retain talented junior game developers in the industry, addressing challenges and interventions for a more diverse and sustainable workforce.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Surviving 'Vampire Survivors' - Agile Community Management

Discover how a solo Community Manager navigated the challenges of managing millions of players for the indie hit Vampire Survivors, sharing insights on agile community management strategies.

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

Being a Unicorn - Multiclassing in an Industry That Wants Specialization

Veteran game developers share strategies for building successful careers with diverse skill sets in an industry that often favors specialization, offering insights for multitalented professionals.

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

Emergency Meeting! It's the Among Us VR Postmortem

Developers share insights on porting 'Among Us' to VR, discussing playtesting, scheduling, and overcoming challenges during pandemic development to deliver a successful game on time.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 3 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Acquiring Game Design Skills Beyond Entertainment

Explore game design beyond entertainment, focusing on applications in medicine, education, and training. Learn key strategies for adapting skills to new challenges and evolving fields.

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

Flopping Successfully - Running a Studio Without a Huge Hit

Discover strategies for sustaining an indie game studio long-term without relying on blockbuster hits. Learn from Henchman & Goon's 10-year journey in the competitive gaming industry.

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

Moving Mountains - Speedy Level Creation as a Desperate Indie Dev

Discover efficient level design techniques for indie game development, focusing on maximizing gameplay variety and building levels quickly using clever tools and a single core mechanic.

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