NARRATIVE & WORLDSession 5

David Mullich

Game PreProduction

The Los Angeles Film School

The Player’s Journey

“Great games are compelling because the player’s experience and expertise changes over time in meaningful ways.” – Amy Jo Kim

Standard Story Structure

Pacing in Star Wars

The Hero’s Journey

Extra Credits: The Hero's Journey (part 1)

Extra Credits: The Hero's Journey (part 2)

Caveat

If your game idea starts with the story, it’s not a game idea. Stories in games are optional.

Character Creation

Extra Credits: Myers Briggs and Character Creation

Create pages in your Concept PowerPoint that lists the following: Premise

Introduction Complication

Setting Descriptions (with sample image) Location Time Period Look & Feel

Main Character Descriptions (with sample portrait) Goal Personality or Appearance Abilities

PowerPoint

Create a Narrative and World page in your GDD Wiki that lists the following: Game Story

Backstory (What happened before the game begins) Introduction and Complication (The hero and his/her problem) Body (Rising Action: enemies and other obstacles) Climax and Denoument (victory/defeat, revelations)

Setting Describe the game world

Descriptions of All Characters Goal Personality or Appearance Abilities

Wiki