This course explores how narrative design in 'Outer Wilds' contributes to achieving the game's primary objective of curiosity-driven exploration. Students will learn about specific narrative design choices and their impact on player experience. The course covers topics such as defining curiosity-driven exploration, making players curious, using story to reward exploration, and tracking progression. The teaching method involves analyzing gameplay loops and discussing ways to engage and retain player interest. This course is intended for game developers, narrative designers, and anyone interested in the intersection of storytelling and gameplay in video games.
Sparking Curiosity-Driven Exploration Through Narrative in Outer Wilds
Overview
Syllabus
Intro
Sparking Curiosity-Driven Exploration Through Narrative in Outer Wilds
What is Outer Wilds?
Defining curiosity-driven exploration
Curiosity as Outer Wilds driving force
Gameplay loop
How does this affect narrative?
How do we make the player curious?
Initial major questions
Pushing vs. pulling information
Getting the player invested
Tracking progression
Three levels of content
Surface-level text
Couldn't a first-time player technically beat the game in a single time loop?
Using story to reward exploration
Takeaways
Taught by
GDC
