Curricula

Objectives

The object of the course
Are you interested to write a good catchy story with a great plot and interesting characters? This course is about a write a storyboard for a game but we also make a glance to write to other media and platforms. Storytelling has been started a long time ago in the dawn of homo sapiens. First storytellers where probably telling to the audience about great hunting places or possible dangerous hazards for the tribe in the campfire. And to catch the audience they need to engage the audience with catchy narrative. Narrative is about how you tell the story and engage your audience and game scriptwriters across the world do exactly the same as their forefathers/mothers did in those campfires in early days of human beings.

After completing this course, you have understanding about the framework of narrative and workflow and you are able to implement your storytelling skills in various forms in different kind of game genres as well as in other media.

Course competences
Game Production Competence

The learning objectives of the course
The student who completes the course understands aspects and terms of narrative and are able to produce storyline material in different forms for a game. You will deepen your competence as a writer by making a comprehensive concept for a storyboard with credible characters and their motives. You will also learn how to make action (conflicts) and how to lure audience to continue follow the story. Engaging is heavily related to the audience and therefore you also learn how different segments can be manipulated to follow your story/narrative

Content

During this course you will learn creative process, work approach and structure of game storytelling process. You will also go deeper with character design and conflict and motivation factors. Other elements are writing a dialogue and logic of the storyline in different game genres. Writing interactive narrative is one of the key factors in this course but during the course will also become acquainted with more traditional forms of scriptwriting. You will also learn how to work in co-creative project.

Teaching methods

For those who have not executed Narrative Design course (e.g.other degree students than BIT and open studies students): Please be in touch with lecturer responsible concerning the course ( Ilari.miikkulainen@jamk.fi ). There will be some pre-materials and assignment before the actual course execution.

The course will be executed as a two-week intensive hybrid period, which is succeeded by individual project work over the summer.

The course consists of a case study and project-based learning. The course will be implemented by general lectures, learning assignments and practical project work. During the course the student will learn the basic terminology and the general mindset of narrative. The student will also become acquainted with the tools and conventions to make appropriate manuscript for the game concept

Practical training and working life connections

Special lectures from the experts concerning the topic. Observation task concerning the real game narrative concepts with analysis.

Exam dates and retake possibilities

There will be no exam during this course. A project summary and learning diary as well as the final assignment are in the main role concerning the assessment. Individual smaller assignments will be assessed during the course, which influence the final grade based on student activity.

In the case the student is unable to return the assignments, project report and summary in time, please be in contact with the lecturer responsible of 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

Course workload is 5 ECTS = approx. 135 hours.

Practical assignments: 33%
Final assignment: 33%
Project summary and learning diary: 34%

Content scheduling

You can check the progress and schedule of the implementation if different kinds of phasing is involved (lab exercises, introductions to working life, etc.); indicate when they are scheduled to take place during the course implementation.

Example: Mark here if you have 2 hours per week for the whole group and another two for the splitted group.

Further information for students

Avoin amk 3
EduFutura 2

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. Your final product is superficial and no logical storyline

Satisfactory (2): You understand the concepts of narrative design and how they are related to game development process. Your storyboard is basic but there are challenges in logic, dialogue, motives and/or characters. Your final presentation is average.

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. Your concept is good but there are some problems with narrative elements and/or minor challenges with the logic of the storyline. Your final presentation is average but you can show some critical thinking towards your work.

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 artistic and/or commercial narrative material by yourself. Your final assignment is logical and the characters and their action are comprehensible. You are able to produce wide wholeness with different interesting viewpoints which make your work evocative to audience. Your analysis concerning your work is honest and you see some ways to improve it.

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. Your final production for the course is somehow unique and you are able to bring it to audience in really illustrative manner which inspires peers. Plan is detailed well from various aspects and it would be possible to implement in real life. Your analysis concerning your work is critical and you are also able to see the weak points of your plan.

Prerequisites

Narrative design course or analogous knowledge. Previous game production courses from degree program or similar knowledge. (BIT/JAMK)