The Art and Craft of Video Game Storytelling

Most narrative designers are, by necessity, self-educated, doing their job based on intuition, knowledge adapted from other media, and hard-earned experience. We tend to know what works and what doesn’t, but we don’t always know why. Without established ways to share know-how and good practices, we’re doomed to rediscover the wheel over and over again.

Great stories make great games. Let’s workshop how it happens.

Narrative Masterclass & Workshop

I share with you the essence of two decades of experience in narrative design and systemic storytelling in AAA, mobile, artistic and indie games.

Focused Online Workshop

We work on why stories work and how to design them, combining lectures, discussions and excersises.

Work, Reflect, Ask Questions

We meet over two weekends: four days, 4.5 h per day, so we had time to think it over, integrate and discuss.

Active Participation

We work in groups of 6 to 10, so everyone had time to ask questions, and share their perspective.

Everyone Is Welcome

For beginners: strong foundations for further development. For veterans: flexible framework for more effective work.

Tools of the Craft

We build a theoretical base for practical tools, going from general storytelling tools to tested pipelines for narrative design.

Practicalities

Price: 690 USD / 600 EUR / 2500 PLN, depending where you’re from. We work in English (Polish available on demand).

Workshop Plan

Two weekends, four days, four-and-a-half hours a day, small group, full focus on the art and craft of video game storytelling.

One: Telling Stories

  • The Basic Story.
  • Types of Protagonists.
  • Story Structures Overview.
  • Stories and Learning.

Two: Experiencing Stories

  • Games as Aesthetic Experiences.
  • Playfulness and Cognitive Processes.
  • Decision Spaces and Anticipatory Play.
  • Player Motivations.

Three: Shaping Stories

  • Interactivity in Various Media.
  • Scripted and Systematic Storytelling.
  • Non-linear Story Structures.
  • System Rhetorics and Co-authorship.

Four: Designing Stories

  • Narrative Language of a Game.
  • Vision, Design, Mapping for Production.
  • Designing Choices: Options and Context.
  • Experiences: from choice to satisfaction.

I was a time well spent!

The workshop helped me understand better the methods I use instinctively, structure my knowledge, and look at meny aspects of game design from a new perspective. The group was small and we all had a chance to test the tools on our own ideas. I wholeheartedly reckoned Artur as an experienced professional, well-organised lecturer and attentive listener.

Kate

Experienced Writer for Games and TV

Great atmosphere!

I highly recommend Arthur’s workshop. Those two days of  intensive learning and work completely reformed my workflow for designing  stories for games. Great atmosphere and useful content!

Julia

Video Game Enthusiast

100% recommend!

It was an outstanding experience for me. The workshops were well-prepared, offering a perfect blend of industry insights, case studies, theory, and practical. Artur’s approach was both engaging and expressive, creating an atmosphere that fostered both learning and passion for the subject. The depth of knowledge he shared was truly valuable, making these two days not only educational but also inspiring. Artur is not only a professional with deep expertise but also a kind person who knows how to create an interactive and dynamic learning environment. I 100% recommend the workshop!

Luke

Developer

Narrative Design Demystified

When it comes to narrative design, Artur has terrific experience and knowledge of the industry that he can draw from to help mentor other people, and I found this aspect incredibly valuable. We had many discussions where the process of narrative design in games was demystified, and I am excited to constantly learn more.

Udit

System Designer

I recommend it to everybody in the industry

I took Artur’s classes on narrative design and I highly recommend it to everybody who works in game industry, not only as a narrative designer. Artur’s knowledge in both narrative and game designs field is immense. I admire his proficiency and how much he read about those topics. Taking his course in narrative design is a great start point for doing your own study.

Danka

Level Designer / Published Author

Vast experience shared effectively

It was a great opportunity to widen my perspective as a game developer – Artur was able to share his vast experience effectively and engagingly. His clear communication style and straightforward approach made the Workshop not only educational, but also strictly pleasant to be part of.

Piotr

Unity Developer

A skilled educator

Artur is a skilled educator capable of imparting his vast knowledge in an accessible way. His patience and openness make it easy to actively participate in the workshops – even if you’re an introvert. The material is well-organised and easy to revise in your own time and the thought-provoking discussions he facilitates can inspire you to explore new directions in your craft.

Olga

Narrative Designer

New knowledge and perspective

I have participated in Artur’s narrative design workshops and would recommend them to anyone interested in storytelling in video games. From storytelling structures to narrative design toolsets, the topics discussed were varied and accessible no matter your experience level. Whether you’re an experienced narrative designer who wants to organise your knowledge, a storyteller with no gamedev background or a game developer who never dabbled in the narrative side of your craft, you’ll come out of the workshops with new knowledge and perspectives.

Olga

Narrative Designer

I already used the knowledge

I had the pleasure of participating in the Narrative Design workshop and I highly recommend it!

As an indie dev I wear a lot of hats at once so the workshops prepared by Artur were very helpful in organizing and expanding my knowledge. I already used the knowledge from the course in our new upcoming game.

Magdalena

Indie Game Developer

Ready When You Are!

The registration for October-December workshops is open. Join the waitlist and we will contact you to answer your questions and discuss options.