GDC Courses

Beyond NPCs - AI for Game Operations

Explore Zynga's innovative use of AI in mobile game operations, from user acquisition to personalized experiences, enhancing gameplay and strategic decision-making.

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

The Defining Themes of the Modern Console Market

Explore key themes shaping modern console gaming, from hardware generations to evolving business models and ecosystem strategies. Gain insights into market trends and manufacturer approaches.

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

Root - A Usability Postmortem

Joshua Yearsley shares insights on Root's development, discussing usability challenges, design decisions, and lessons learned in game creation, with a focus on improving player experience and rule clarity.

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

2D Animation for Games - A Primer

Explore essential 2D character animation skills for game development, covering principles, techniques, and industry insights to enhance your animation prowess and create engaging game visuals.

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

Reinforcement Learning in Action - Creating Arena Battle AI for Blade & Soul

Discover how NCSOFT created pro-level AI agents for arena battles in Blade & Soul using reinforcement learning, addressing complexity and real-time response challenges.

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

How to Represent Mental Illness in Games

Explore realistic portrayals of mental illness in gaming with Dr. Jennifer Hazel. Learn about stigma, statistics, and specific disorders to create more authentic and respectful representations in game design.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 7 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Interactive Wind and Vegetation in 'God of War'

Explore the development of interactive wind and vegetation systems in 'God of War', enhancing player immersion through dynamic environmental elements and character interaction.

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

One More Run - The Making of 'Spelunky 2'

Derek Yu shares insights on creating Spelunky 2, exploring game design challenges, development processes, and the evolution of roguelike games while reflecting on sequel-making in the indie game industry.

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

Growing Your Code Library with Each New Project

Learn to build and maintain a reusable code library across game projects, enabling more ambitious development without a large team. Techniques for organizing, generalizing, and implementing shared scripts efficiently.

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

Creating Feudal Japan from Across the Pacific

Explore the cultural journey and creative process behind 'Ghost of Tsushima', including expert input, direction techniques, and visual inspirations that shaped this immersive feudal Japan experience.

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

Take Control of Animation

Remedy Entertainment's journey in building custom animation technology for 'Control' after losing their middleware, showcasing innovative solutions and overcoming challenges in game development.

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

Lessons from Duolingo - How to Make Learning Hard Things Easy

Discover strategies for making complex learning engaging and accessible, drawing insights from Duolingo's approach to balancing educational challenges with user retention.

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

Design by the Numbers - Using Data for Good

Explore data-driven mobile game design using Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem as a case study. Learn key metrics, behavior tracking, and dashboard creation for effective game development.

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

A Historian's Guide to Researching Your Historical Game

Discover techniques for researching and designing historically-themed games, exploring cultural perspectives and uncovering unique facts to enrich storytelling and character development.

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

Honoring the Blade - Lethality and Combat Balance in Ghost of Tsushima

Explore the design challenges of balancing lethality and combat in 'Ghost of Tsushima'. Learn how Sucker Punch Productions crafted an engaging samurai fantasy while maintaining gameplay integrity.

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