GDC Courses

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

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

Getting Hired with a Personal Touch - Empathy as a Tool for Professional Success

Discover strategies for impressing hiring managers, avoiding common pitfalls, and using empathy to form deeper professional connections in the competitive job market.

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

Lore, Don't Tell - A Guide for Telling Culturally Rooted Stories Like Venba

Explore techniques for storytelling rooted in unfamiliar cultures, focusing on the "Lore, don't tell" approach used in Venba to highlight cultural details while maintaining narrative focus.

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

Empowerment Playbook - Making and Measuring Change in the Games Industry

Explore strategies for fostering inclusion in the games industry, including concrete benefits and effective ways to measure and communicate impact while prioritizing consent, safety, and privacy.

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

The Narrative Multiverse - Branching Structure in 'As Dusk Falls'

Explore the creation of a deeply branching narrative in 'As Dusk Falls', learning how to craft emotionally authentic stories that resonate across multiple paths in interactive drama.

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

Acoustics in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - Environmental Sound Design and Implementation

Delve into advanced environmental acoustic technologies powering Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, exploring physically accurate sound reflections and direct field estimation at planetary and city scales.

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

The Best and Most 'Stealable' Mechanics from Tabletop RPGs

Explore innovative tabletop RPG mechanics and their potential adaptation to digital game design, focusing on unique features and the influence of Game Masters on computer RPGs.

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

Indie Starter Kit: The Basics of Founding a Successful Games Company

Comprehensive guide to founding a successful indie game company, covering crucial steps from initial idea to game release, including priorities, deal structures, and emotional challenges.

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

Creating Narrative VFX in Temtem - Visual Effects Summit 2023

Discover how Crema's VFX team brought Temtem to life by giving each effect a special narrative. Learn animation techniques, timing, staging, and tools used to create a coherent final look with creative freedom.

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

Identifying Indie: A Study of Who Plays What and Why

Explore the modern indie gamer: their values, interests, and motivations. Discover key findings from a Humble Games study on indie gaming demographics and preferences.

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

Art of Thirsty Suitors - Creating a Compelling Illustrative Look

Discover how Outerloop Games blended 2D and 3D techniques to create a visually striking narrative RPG with a small, remote indie art team, showcasing innovative approaches to game art design.

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

Artist vs. Manager - Leadership in Game Development

Explore the transition from artist to leader in game development, examining the challenges and rewards of leading creative teams on major AAA projects like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077.

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

How Interactive Should My Game Story Be?

Explore the balance between interactivity and storytelling in game writing, examining when player agency enhances or hinders narrative impact in different types of game projects.

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

Rules of the Game 2025 - Uncommon Techniques from Insightful Designers

Discover uncommon game design techniques from experienced designers who share their personal methods for creating engaging gameplay in 10-minute focused presentations.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 5 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video