Conference Talks

GDC

Forgiveness Mechanics - Reading Minds for Responsive Gameplay

Explores forgiveness mechanics: designing game systems that interpret imperfect player inputs while still delivering intended results.

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

GDC

Immersing a Creative World into a Usable UI

Learn how to embed a game's world into its UI while balancing player immersion with usability.

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

GDC

To Err is to Play - Human Error and Game Design

Explore how understanding human error can help game designers prevent or encourage mistakes to shape the intended player experience.

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

GDC

Board Game Design Day - Why Indirect or Zero Player Interaction Can Be Great

Learn why indirect or zero player interaction can create satisfying games and how to avoid common design pitfalls.

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

GDC

Applying Level Design to Dialogue in Subsurface Circular

Learn how conversation trees in Subsurface Circular were created by applying conventional level-design principles to dialogue flow.

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

GDC

Integrating Narrative into Game Design - A Portal Post-Mortem

A Portal post-mortem on integrating narrative into game design.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 19 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Writing and Narrative Design - A Relationship

A GDC talk on balancing writing and narrative design to create compelling storytelling in video games.

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

GDC

Assassin's Creed Origins - Monitoring and Validation of World Design Data

A game development workflow for using automated tests and reports to monitor, validate, and visually communicate world design data.

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

GDC

Random Tidbits - Use Chance to Enhance Fun

Learn how customized and deliberately skewed random-number systems can shape player psychology and produce intentional gameplay outcomes.

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

GDC

Subtitles Are Changing, Don't Be Left Behind

Explore best practices for implementing effective subtitles in game development, addressing growing demand and accessibility needs for players.

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

GDC

Art Direction for AAA UI

Learn how to create consistent, engaging user-interface art for AAA games through art-direction theory and best practices.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 1 minute
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Game Studio Leadership - You Can Do It

Learn simple principles for leading game studios and becoming a better leader, whether your team is large or small.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 2 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

GPU-Based Run-Time Procedural Placement in Horizon - Zero Dawn

A GDC session explaining how Horizon: Zero Dawn uses GPU-based procedural placement to dynamically create its world around the player.

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

GDC

Animation Bootcamp - Tricks of the Trade

Bite-sized tips from animators for immediately improving animation technique.

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

GDC

All Choice No Consequence - Efficiently Branching Narrative

Learn to create meaningful branching game narratives without making them convoluted, confusing, or shallow.

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