Curricula

Objectives

The object of the course
What is narrative? You have a great story but how to tell it? What elements are included to narrative? In this course you will learn the basics of narrative and story design. You will learn which elements and conventions are important when making a good narrative. This course makes a tour to the narrative approach in different media fields but the main focus is in games. What kind of narrative design is used e.g. in open world or in Metroidvania games? Are there any key factors which separates good and bad narrative from each other’s? What kind of stories engage people to play games?

After completing this course, you have basic understanding about the general framework of narrative terms and guidelines and you are able to implement your knowledge in your game development process.

Course competences
Game Production Competence

The learning objectives of the course
The student who completes the course understands the basic aspects and terms of narrative and are able to produce storyline material in different forms for a game. You are able to define different ways to engage people in different platforms and understand that such elements as audio or visuals are also part of narrative approach. Narrative is also used in game industry in non-game parts such as marketing and during this course you will find out how to use narrative elements in game business in general

Content

In the course you will be focused on the basic concepts and conventions related to narrative design in games: How to influence to player experience through aesthetic elements and how to implement game aesthetics and story elements to your game and what different kind of ways of storyboard can be used in different game genres and platforms. You will also learn the work process of the narrative field as well as how to work with other artistic/production members.

Learning materials and recommended literature

Aristotle. Aristotle's Poetics. New York :Hill and Wang, 1961
Bell.M.S. Narrative Design: Working with Imagination, Craft, and Form, 2000
Skolnik E. Video Game Storytelling: What Every Developer Needs to Know about Narrative Techniques, 2014

Teaching methods

The course will be executed as blended model so there will be both online and face-to-face parts.
Course contains flipped learning elements, individual tasks as well general lectures (online and/or face-to-face). During the course there will be role play game sessions in groups, individual writing tasks and re-writing assignment where a student develops his/her/they story by writing it from a new perspective.
Feedback from the lecturer as well as from the peers will be given during the sessions concerning for minor tasks.
Implementation.
- Lectures/online lectures, webinars, exercises/learning assignments, seminars/workshops, RPG-session
- Individual Blog/Summary and Final short story at the end of the course which will be evaluated and feedback will be given for each student individually.

Practical training and working life connections

Special lectures from the experts concerning the topic.

Exam dates and retake possibilities

There will be no exam during this course. Learning diary and summary/blog is in main role concerning the assessment. Some individual mini mini boss tasks can be assessed during the course which influence to final grade as + or -

If there is challenges to return learning diary+ summary&blog in time, please be in contact with the lecturer responsible the course.

Alternative completion methods

You have the right to apply for recognition of your studies if you have prior learning (e.g. university studies completed elsewhere) that can be accredited towards the degree you are currently completing.

The recognition of prior learning is possible in three primary ways: accreditation (replacement or inclusion), recognition of informal learning and studification. More precise info: JAMK Degree Regulations, section 17.

Student workload

This course workload is 3ects points=81h
Lectures, task feedback and self-reflection=20-30%
Individual tasks, writing and research=40-60%
Role Play Game sessions= 0-30%
Learning diary and summary/blog= 10%

Further information for students

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Evaluation scale

0-5

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Sufficient (1): You have knowledge in the area of narrative design. You know the concepts of narrative and storyboard and you know what they mean.

Satisfactory (2): You understand the concepts of narrative design and how they are related to game development process. You have a comprehension of the different elements of a design process. You understand the role of a script-/storywriter.

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

Good (3): You understand the concepts of game design and can apply the gained knowledge in a real-life development project. You are able to apply your skills as narrative designer also in other platforms and media. Your synopsis and storyboard plan is is good and consistent with minor errors

Very good (4): You understand the narrative process and framework thoroughly and you will be able to analyze given narrative material in detail. You are able to produce game dev and/or commercial narrative material by yourself. You can analytically develop narrative material in the production.

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5): You understand the narrative process and framework thoroughly and you will be able to analyze given narrative material in detail. You are able to produce valid artistic and/or commercial narrative material by yourself. The material you provide gives extra value to productions and your synopsis/storyboard gives something extra to your co-workers. You can analytically develop narrative material in game production demo.

Prerequisites

This part of the mandatory module of game production and all other course must be done from the module.