GCAP 2019

It is widely believed that games should first and foremost be driven by their mechanics and only after this (if at all) focus on narrative design.
This talk offers a different approach and is about designing a solid and engaging story first and then designing the mechanics around it.
Designing the narrative of a game is a bit like planning a prank: You are not going to know how your “victim” will react, but you should plan for the most likely outcomes. Lighting the way through the story and guiding the player is essential for them to get the most coherent and engaging experience out of it.
This talk will give attendees tools for this design approach as well as an understanding of how to “grow” mechanics from theme, how to pace your level design to fit storytelling and using symbolism in mechanics and environmental design in order to support the game’s themes.