Course Overview

Course Details

Course Delivery: Online Course

Course Availability: On Demand

Instructor: Don Hileman – Unreal Authorized Trainer

Course Description

GD 204: Narrative & Player Experience examines the intersection of storytelling and interactive design, equipping students with the tools to craft meaningful, emotionally resonant player journeys. Using Unreal Engine as the primary development environment, students explore how narrative structure, dialogue systems, cinematic presentation, and player agency combine to create experiences that go beyond mechanics — connecting players to characters, worlds, and stories in lasting ways.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Apply core narrative design principles including story structure, character development, and theme to game contexts
2. Design branching dialogue and choice-driven narrative systems that reflect player agency
3. Implement cutscenes, camera sequences, and cinematic storytelling using Unreal Engine’s Sequencer tool
4. Integrate narrative elements seamlessly into gameplay systems built in Blueprints
5. Design and balance player experience curves including tension, pacing, emotional beats, and resolution
6. Evaluate and critique narrative design decisions in commercially released games
7. Produce a narrative design document outlining story, characters, dialogue trees, and experience goals

Topics Covered

Narrative design theory · Story structure & pacing · Character & worldbuilding · Branching dialogue & choice systems · Player agency & consequence · Unreal Engine Sequencer & cinematics · Emotional experience design · UI/UX for narrative games · Playtesting for story & tone · Narrative documentation

Course Format

This course combines lecture-based instruction with weekly hands-on labs in Unreal Engine. Students will complete milestone-based projects developing narrative-driven game experiences, culminating in a playable story prototype complete with dialogue systems, cinematic sequences, and a cohesive player experience arc presented during a final showcase.

Who This Course Is For

GD 204 is designed for students who have completed GD 203 or have equivalent experience with Unreal Engine gameplay systems. It is ideal for aspiring narrative designers, game writers, and experience designers who want to develop the skills to tell compelling interactive stories and shape meaningful player journeys within an industry-standard engine.