Developing Video Game Narratives

SCRIPT X 442.1

Learn to write interactive stories and branching narratives that bring our favorite video games to life.

What you can learn.

Learn to plot and executive branching narratives
Experiment by writing in different interactive genres and formats
Master the fundamental concepts of writing for video games where players have choices that affect outcomes
Embrace the vocabulary of interactive fiction and begin building a portfolio of work

About this course:

Writing for games requires an understanding of structure that goes beyond linear storytelling. From the early days of tabletop gaming to more recent hits like Mass Effect and Fallout, writers are expected to hold many possible worlds--with multiple branching story points--in their heads. And to ultimately translate those concepts into actionable materials. In this course, you explore the nature of interactive story by working in multiple different formats (choose your own adventure, virtual novels, the Telltale style, etc.) and writing games that exemplify the fundamental concepts of branching narrative. The course goal is to develop a vocabulary for interactive fiction and to write a game in the format of your choosing that can be used as a calling card for future work.