GDC Courses

Storytelling with Verbs - Integrating Gameplay and Narrative

Explore how common gameplay verbs shape narrative and player experience. Learn to integrate storytelling with mechanics for coherent, engaging game design across various genres and platforms.

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

Empires to Ages - Storytelling Lessons Learned in 14 Years at BioWare

Former BioWare creative director shares insights on integrating narrative in games, fostering cohesive storytelling, and collaborating effectively within development teams.

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

Plot and Parcel - Procedural Level Design in XCOM 2

Explore procedural level design in XCOM 2 with Firaxis Games' Brian Hess. Learn about the transition from handcrafted to procedural levels, challenges faced, and solutions implemented in this tactical strategy game.

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

Eos is Alive - The AI Systems of Final Fantasy XV

Explore Final Fantasy XV's innovative AI systems: AI Director, Meta AI, and Animation System. Learn how Square Enix optimized reusability and efficiency in game development.

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

Indexing and Iterating Design Space Permutations

Explore mathematical techniques for indexing and iterating design space permutations, focusing on perfect hash functions for efficient game state conversion and representation.

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

Performance and Memory Postmortem for Middle-earth - Shadow of War

Explore engineering strategies for achieving 30fps and optimizing memory in Middle-earth: Shadow of War, covering threading, rendering, and memory management techniques.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 9 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Brain-Computer Interfaces - One Possible Future for How We Play

Explore the potential of Brain-Computer Interfaces in gaming, from physiological signal acquisition to adaptive gameplay and interface replacements, with insights on future applications and challenges.

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

Exploring the Tech and Design of Noita

Dive into Noita's innovative physics engine, exploring falling sand simulations, destructible rigid bodies, and emergent gameplay in large continuous worlds.

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

Water Rendering in Far Cry 5

Explore AMD and Ubisoft's innovative water rendering system for Far Cry 5, featuring realistic waterfalls and lakes through advanced materials and techniques.

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

What Cats Can Teach You About Empathic Game Design

Explore how designing games for cats can enhance empathic game design for humans, offering unique insights into user engagement and interaction principles.

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

The Sound of Horror - Resident Evil 7 - Biohazard

Capcom's audio team reveals innovative techniques for creating immersive, realistic sound in Resident Evil 7, covering music, foley, character textures, and automated triggers.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 6 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

Age of Empires II - Definitive Edition - How Forgotten Empire Revived a Classic

Explore the revival of a classic RTS with lead developer Bert Beeckman, discussing updates, new content, and the challenges of modernizing a beloved game while preserving its essence.

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

The Gamer's Brain - UX of Onboarding and Player Engagement

Explore UX strategies for effective game onboarding and player engagement, focusing on discovery, active learning, and immersion to enhance the gaming experience.

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

Paid Acquisition for Smartphone Games - A Scrappy, Practical Guide

Practical strategies for marketing and growing smartphone games on app stores, covering paid acquisition, keyword optimization, and leveraging platforms like Google Play and Unity.

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

Environment Design as Spatial Cinematography - Theory and Practice

Explore spatial cinematography in game design through GTA V Online examples, covering composition, depth, shapes, leading lines, and more for effective environment creation.

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