GDC Courses

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

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

Open Salaries - Ensuring Equitable Pay Through Pay Transparency

Explore the benefits and challenges of open salary practices in companies, with insights from Lightforge Games' three-year experience implementing pay transparency.

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

The Design of HoloVista - Crafting Mechanics for Immersive Storytelling

Explore the collaborative design process behind HoloVista, from initial concept to final production pivots, revealing insights into crafting mechanics for immersive storytelling in award-winning games.

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

Finding Inspiration and Planning Luck - A Story of a Solo Dev-Dad of Color

Adam Kareem shares his journey from solo game dev hobbyist to landing a publishing deal, offering insights on inspiration, perseverance, and balancing family life while creating a Mega Man X-inspired platformer.

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

Occupational Burnout in Games - Causes, Impact, and Solutions

Explore occupational burnout in the gaming industry, its causes, long-term effects, and strategies for resilience. Gain insights from personal experiences and learn implementable steps to combat this pervasive issue.

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

Climate Games - The Developer's Field Guide

Proven step-by-step method for game developers to create impactful climate-focused games, based on Ubisoft Positive Play's experience supporting 20+ dev teams across 15 brands.

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

The Golden Rule of Game Promotion - No One Cares About Your Game

Discover how the "no one cares about your game" mindset can sharpen your marketing strategy, improve social media presence, and create impactful PR campaigns for game promotion.

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

Designing Marvel Snap

Dive into 15 years of collectible card game design wisdom as Ben Brode shares insights from Hearthstone and MARVEL SNAP, offering valuable knowledge for game developers and enthusiasts.

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

Finding Your Voice on TikTok

Discover how to effectively use TikTok for game promotion, from technical aspects to building a unique presence. Learn strategies to capture attention, build trust, and drive sales using your smartphone.

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

Sparking Curiosity-Driven Exploration Through Narrative in Outer Wilds

Explore narrative design techniques in 'Outer Wilds' that spark player curiosity and drive exploration. Learn how storytelling elements can enhance gameplay and create a compelling, discovery-driven experience.

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

Research on Visual Fatigue When Playing Games

Explore NetEase Games' research on measuring and mitigating visual fatigue in gaming, including effective indicators and design suggestions for improved player experience.

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

Approaching a Pedagogy of Game Writing

Explore a framework for designing game writing and narrative design courses, focusing on functional competencies and essential roles in the field.

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