World Design for Video Games

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/video-game-world

Introduction

### Course Review: World Design for Video Games on Coursera #### Overview In the realm of video game development, creating a world that feels alive and immersive is one of the most crucial tasks for designers. The course **"World Design for Video Games"** offered on Coursera embraces this challenge, guiding aspiring game designers through the intricate process of crafting unique game environments. This course is tailored not just for those interested in game design but also for creatives who appreciate the art of storytelling through interactive spaces. #### Course Highlights The course is structured into four engaging weeks, each building upon the previous one to ensure a comprehensive understanding of world design principles: 1. **Introduction to World Design**: The journey begins with a foundational overview of game worlds. Here, students are introduced to the macro-level concepts that underpin game progression. This week emphasizes the importance of environmental analysis, encouraging learners to reflect on games that have influenced their perception of world design. The assignment encourages personal engagement, prompting students to critically evaluate environments that resonate with them. 2. **Do Your Research**: With a clearer understanding of foundational elements, learners are encouraged to ignite their creative impulses. This week focuses on gathering inspiration from diverse sources—art, other video games, and the world at large. The challenge of presenting a world concept through visual artwork invites collaboration and peer feedback, fostering a sense of community among participants. 3. **The Way You Move**: An integral part of world design is understanding player movement within the space. This week dives into the nuances of gameplay and environmental interaction. Learners expand upon their visual research, creating a more structured representation of their game world, incorporating movement dynamics. This segment is particularly beneficial, as it reflects real-world design thinking, a vital skill in game development. 4. **A Whole World**: In the final week, students learn to breathe life into their creations by establishing mood and atmosphere. Through refining their models and selecting appropriate color palettes and lighting, they develop a distinct visual identity for their game world. This capstone project synthesizes all the learned skills, culminating in a presentation that embodies their individual style and concept. #### Recommendation "World Design for Video Games" is highly recommended for anyone passionate about game design or visual storytelling. Whether you're a beginner eager to delve into the fundamentals or a more experienced designer seeking to polish your world-building skills, this course offers an enriching experience. The structured approach ensures that you not only learn theoretical concepts but also engage in practical exercises. The community-driven assignments foster collaboration and peer support, allowing for valuable feedback and alternate perspectives. Additionally, the well thought out syllabus guides participants through a logical progression of learning that is both compelling and creative. #### Conclusion In summary, **"World Design for Video Games"** on Coursera is a robust course that successfully merges theory with practice, equipping students with the necessary skills to create captivating game worlds. For those ready to embark on a journey to shape immersive environments that players will love to explore, this course is a perfect fit. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your design skills and bring your gaming worlds to life!

Syllabus

Introduction to World Design

During this first week, we'll start with a brief overview of game worlds and game design. We’ll also examine environments and larger world-based concepts to see how games incorporate a macro-level view of how they progress. At the end of the week, a short assignment prompts you to examine, analyze and comment on games that marked or interested you in terms of their environment design.

Where do you start when designing a world? Where should you begin to look for sparking that creative impulse? This week we will be exploring ideas and presentation techniques for a game’s environment and world design. I encourage you to draw inspiration from other art practices, artists, video games or even your everyday surroundings. The assignment at the end of the week challenges you to present a proposal for a possible world through concept artwork for peer evaluation.

How do you move in a video game world? This week we’ll discuss fundamental components and concepts in world and level design. Naturally, these evolve as the gameplay progresses but there are specific strategies you can use to create the finer details in a game environment. At the end of the week, you are challenged to take the previous week’s visual research exercise and expand upon it, giving it shape and volume.

Bring your game world to life. In this final week, we’ll be putting down what will eventually define the look, ambience and atmosphere of your world, learning specifically how to convey a mood for a unique and engaging game environment. Go back to your assignment from Week 2 to pull from your inspirations and models. Build on your volumetric model from Week 3 and add details. Define the light, the color palette and the overall visual context of your game space.