Character Design Courses

GDC

The Design of Subnautica

Explore the design principles behind Subnautica's immersive underwater world, focusing on how it evokes feelings of exploration, discovery, and the unknown.

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

GDC

Open-Ended Puzzle Design at Zachtronics

Zachtronics founder Zach Barth discusses the studio's puzzle design process, from initial concepts to mechanics and story integration, offering insights into creating engaging open-ended puzzles.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 5 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Game Design Tools - For When Spreadsheets and Flowcharts Aren't Enough

Explore advanced game design tools beyond spreadsheets and flowcharts to enhance your creative process and improve game development efficiency.

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

GDC

Slay the Spire - Metrics Driven Design and Balance

Explore metrics-driven design and balancing techniques used in Slay the Spire's development, enhancing game design skills and understanding of data-driven decision making.

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

GDC

RimWorld - Contrarian, Ridiculous, and Impossible Game Design Methods

Explore unconventional game design approaches used in RimWorld, focusing on story generation and innovative mechanisms for creating compelling gameplay experiences.

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

GDC

Classic Game Design Postmortem - Swinging with Spider-Man

Dive into the mechanics behind Spider-Man 2's iconic web-swinging, as the technical director compares it to other games and explores its lasting impact on game design.

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

GDC

Tree's Company - Systemic AI Design in Just Cause 3

Explore Avalanche Studios' systemic AI design for Just Cause 3, focusing on technical designs, interfaces, and methods that balance robustness with flexibility for content creators.

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

GDC

The Freedom Fallacy - Understanding Player Autonomy in Game Design

Explore the nuances of player autonomy in game design, learning to satisfy players while avoiding common pitfalls that can lead to poor design choices.

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

GDC

Snap to Character - Building Strong Player Attachment Through Narrative

Explore techniques for creating compelling game characters and fostering player attachment through narrative design, drawing insights from popular titles like The Walking Dead and Mafia III.

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

GDC

West of Loathing Design Postmortem

Zack Johnson breaks down tools and technology used in West of Loathing, showcasing how Asymmetric Publications enabled quick and flexible creative work in game development.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 5 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Conference Talk

GDC

Board Game Design Day - Balancing Mechanics for Your Card Game's Unique Power Curve

Explore power curves in popular CCGs like Magic: The Gathering and Hearthstone. Learn to balance mechanics and create unique gameplay experiences for your own card game designs.

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

GDC

Design Tests and What to Expect from Them

Discover best practices for design tests in game development, helping aspiring designers navigate career opportunities and showcase their skills effectively.

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

GDC

Game Design Case Studies - One Designer - One Game - One System

Game designers dissect one system from their games, offering insights into their design processes and highlighting unique approaches to game development.

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

GDC

Repopulating the Earth - Character Production on Horizon Zero Dawn

Explore Guerrilla Games' approach to character creation for Horizon Zero Dawn, including successes and challenges faced during development.

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

GDC

Teaching AI-Based Game Design

Explore AI-based game design as an educational approach, with best practices and student examples showcasing innovative design and technical skills in this insightful talk.

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