Only 20% of players complete games–that’s very low, but the completion rate of narrative games is 60-70%–three times higher. Story–above anything else, the need to know what happens next–is a great incentive to keep playing – Caroline Marchal (Lead Game Designer, Heavy Rain, and Beyond: Two Souls)
Caroline Marchal and John Yorke have teamed up to form a seven-week online course discussing the ins and outs of interactive storytelling. Yorke is a prolific UK television storyteller whose authorship includes Into the Woods: How Stories Work and Why We Tell Them. In addition to her work with Quantic Dream, Marchal founded Interior Night, an independent studio prioritizing characters, narrative, and player choice.
In a span of four to five hours per week, students will attend a 24-hour online course headed by the aforementioned duo. Taught in small groups of fifteen or under, it balances practice and theory with peer evaluation at several stages as students work through exercises inspired by acclaimed video games. According to Marchal: “the vast majority of games, regardless of their genre, are based on some kind of story. They all need meaning and context. As a writer, you need to not only master the fundamental principles of great narrative, but also the specific techniques that adapt that knowledge to games”.
The coursework consists of six major sections:
- The protagonist and the player
- Key elements of story
- Understanding story structure
- Merging story and gameplay
- 12 storytelling tips for games
- Writing in a development team
While most of the material is relayed through indirect means such as podcasts, written notes, and short videos from John and Caroline, students will also have the opportunity to ask them questions. The website notes that while the course is technically accessible from smartphones and tablets, they strongly advise computers or laptops. “Story for Video Games” costs £1,250.00($1,749.50) and begins April 18th.