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The Number One Educational Resource for the Game Industry

Session Name: Level Design Workshop: A Narrative Approach to Level Design
Speaker(s): Jolie Menzel
Company Name(s): Ubisoft
Track / Format: Design

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Overview:

Levels are the spaces in which the player experiences the events of a game's narrative. In games where narrative is a primary focus, it becomes necessary to shape these spaces in such a way that the story's setting and pace are taken into account. Story creates the backbone of a level, and often the entire game. As levels are developed and tuned, storytelling is prioritized alongside gameplay "feel" to create a cohesive narrative experience. An understanding of narrative gives a level designer a guide for everything from the pace of their level to an understanding for which assets should be placed where. Familiarizing oneself with storytelling techniques and how they can be utilized to evoke a desired feeling from the player is an indispensable aspect of level design. As in other media such as movies, evoking feeling from a player successfully is what makes a game a memorable experience.

GDC 2017

Jolie Menzel

Ubisoft

free content

Design

Design