Game Design Class 3: Narrative, Emotion, and Polish
Goal: Focus on player experience and presentation.
Key Topics:
- Player fantasy: defining it, designing for it, validating it
- Narrative integration (embedded vs emergent story)
- Tone, theme, and emotional arcs
- Usability, onboarding, and “juice” (moment-to-moment feedback)
Hands-On Activities:
- Empathy Mapping: Who is your player, and how should they feel at key moments?
- Narrative Design Sprint: Students must integrate a story moment into a mechanic.
- Final Presentation & Playtest: Each student/group demos their prototype, explains design choices, and receives group critique.
Wrap-Up:
- Group discussion on what makes a design “good”
- Resources for continued learning
Trainer:
The training is conducted by Brian Bartram - a game developer and non-profit educator with 20 years of experience in AAA games (BioWare, Maxis, Visceral, Massive). Co-founder of Divergent Neurons Academy to empower neurodivergent creators. With past experience building programs for at-risk youth in LA and SF, Bartram is an advocate for inclusive game development and neurodiversity in the games industry.
Practical information:
- Training language and study materials will be in English.
- PROSA will provide for a meal, soft drinks, water as well as sufficient amounts of coffee for the evening.
Member of HK, DM or FAF?
- This event is free for members of trade unions associated with the Game Workers Guild: www.gameworkers.dk
- Just write in the text field which union you are a member of.
- GDPR notice: We will share your basic data (name, mail, address) with your union for confirmation.