Personal Development
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Video Game Writing Essentials

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Course Features

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Duration

5 weeks

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Delivery Method

Online

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Available on

Limited Access

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Accessibility

Mobile, Desktop, Laptop

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Language

English

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Subtitles

English

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Level

Beginner

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Effort

6 hours per week

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Teaching Type

Self Paced

Course Description

Writing for video games is truly a new frontier, a place where writers and game designers are still learning, innovating and pioneering bold approaches to telling stories.

This course is your introduction to this frontier. We'll explore interactive storytelling as well as touch on the history of video games and the kinds of games that have been developed since the medium was born.

We'll discuss the complex, collaborative process of game development and hear from working game writers about their jobs in the game industry. Then we'll dig into the way game narratives are built, where they come from, and how they are changing.

Verified learners will access additional game industry interviews, assignments and discussion topics, connecting with a community of other writers and game enthusiasts.

Course Overview

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International Faculty

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Post Course Interactions

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Instructor-Moderated Discussions

Skills You Will Gain

What You Will Learn

Understand how interactivity makes games distinct from other art forms.

Explore the history of story in video games

Identify the essential parts of a video game and how these are used to deliver narrative

Consider story-driven gameplay from the writer’s point of view

Course Instructors

Peter Boychuk

Adjunct Professor

Peter Boychuk is an Adjunct Professor at UBC's School of Creative Writing where he currently teaches Writing for Video Games. He is also the Narrative Designer at Archiact Interactive, and was the le...

Andrew Gray

Program Coordinator

Andrew Gray helped develop the courses in the Video Game Writing Certificate and also provides learner course support. He founded UBC Creative Writing's online MFA Program and currently works to coor...
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