GDC Courses

Cult of the Lamb - Twitch Integration for Massive Audience Reach

Explore how 'Cult of the Lamb' leveraged Twitch integration for massive audience reach. Developers discuss design, development, challenges, and performance metrics of this innovative gaming strategy.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 1 minute
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Step Into Your Player's Shoes - Making the Most of Team Playtests on 'Skate'

Discover a framework for empowering game development teams to enhance internal playtesting, increase player empathy, and gather more relevant feedback for improved game design.

• YouTube
• 41 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Classic Game Postmortem - Karateka

Jordan Mechner explores the creation of his groundbreaking 1984 game Karateka, discussing innovative techniques in storytelling, animation, and music that pushed Apple II technology limits and launched his career.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Age-Friendly Design for the 50-Plus Gamer

Explore age-friendly game design for 50+ players, discussing research findings, market opportunities, and specific needs of this growing demographic in the gaming industry.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 6 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Making Fallout for Tabletop - Adapting Video Games to Board Games

Explore the 4-year journey of adapting Bethesda's Fallout series into the tabletop game Fallout: Wasteland Warfare, examining design challenges and solutions in converting a beloved video game franchise to a new medium.

• YouTube
• 1 hour
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

We Need to Talk About Games Leadership

Explore trends and challenges in games industry leadership, focusing on preparing teams for leadership roles and retaining current leaders. Gain insights from 80+ leaders across 50+ studios worldwide.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Larian Cinematics - A Top-Down Look at Bottom-Up Approach in Baldur's Gate 3

Explore Larian Studios' evolving cinematic approach for Baldur's Gate 3, from initial vision to final challenges, adapting tools and strategies to meet the game's scale and reactivity demands.

• YouTube
• 54 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

All Game Trailers Are Not Created Equal - Insights on Structure, Format, and Goals

Explore game trailer production, structure, and presentation with insights from Dotemu's Brand Manager. Learn to craft effective trailers tailored to your game's unique needs and goals.

• YouTube
• 29 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Developing Terra Nil - A Strategy Game About Nature, Not Expansion

Explore the innovative design of Terra Nil, a strategy game focused on environmental balance rather than resource exploitation, challenging genre conventions and drawing inspiration from nature.

• YouTube
• 52 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Dark Place of Alan Wake 2 - Crafting an Evolving Nightmare Dimension

Explore the world-building techniques behind Alan Wake II's Dark Place, including tools and approaches for creating an evolving nightmare dimension with shifting realities and dream-like interconnected layers.

• YouTube
• 57 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Valheim Development Journey: Vikings, Roadmaps, and Early Access Challenges

Explore Valheim's development journey, challenges, and lessons learned during early access. Gain insights into managing player expectations and navigating internal and external obstacles in game development.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Music of Tchia - Channeling the Soul of New Caledonia

Explore the creation of a culturally-sensitive score for "Tchia," featuring New Caledonian voices, rhythms, and timbres. Learn about the collaborative process behind this unique musical celebration of the island nation.

• YouTube
• 1 hour
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

You Have No Idea How Hard It Is To Run a Sweatshop

Explore game design's impact on society, intentionality in creation, and the power of games to convey messages. Delve into diverse topics while examining how to craft meaningful, purposeful gaming experiences.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 3 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

Script Murders - The Form and Design of the Most Popular Tabletop Genre in China

Explore the evolution and design of script murder games in China, from their Western origins to diverse genres like joy, emotion, and horror, offering insights for game developers.

• YouTube
• 31 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

Gorillaz, Monkees, K/DA, and OFK - Creating Virtual Identity

Explore the evolution of virtual identity in media, from 1960s TV to modern VTubers. Learn design techniques and social priorities behind creating virtual bands and characters.

• YouTube
• 54 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk