COURSES

Content

During the course, students get to know the roles and primary responsibilities of video game narrative designers and writers. We learn how to narratively analyze and design video game stories, characters, choices, and environments. We will practice theoretical knowledge through the creation of interactive stories in the Arcweave environment.

The homework task solutions that are made with Arcweave will be in the Arcweave environment and publicly available to be played. Contact the course educator for removal requests.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, the student...

• Is aware of the video game narrative designer's and writer's goals, tasks, peculiarities, and connections to other roles in video game development.
• Knows the fundamental methods of video game narrative design, is capable of analyzing their use in video games, and, in some cases, apply them themselves.
• Knows the structures of stories and is capable of analyzing video game stories through them.
• Is proficient in fundamental character design principles in both regular stories and video games.
• Is proficient in narrative principles behind video game environment design.
• Is proficient in creating meaningful narrative choices and in respective techniques in video games.
• Is aware of the influence narrative design has on the player's experience.
• Is aware of the potential use of generative AI tools during narrative design workflows.
• Is experienced with skilful creation of stories and narrative design via the Arcweave tool.

Programme

Topics to be covered:

1. What is Video Game Narrative Design and Writing?
2. The Narrative Designer and the Video Game Industry
3. Generative AI
4. Narrative Delivery Elements
5. Structure of a Story
6. Introduction to Arcweave
7. Characters
8. Images in Arcweave
9. Choices in Video Games
10. Scripting in Arcweave
11. Video Game Characters
12. Video Game Environment Design
13. Symbols in Video Games
14. The Play Contract

Teaching method(s)

The course is 100% web-based and can be completed asynchronously. Every topic in the course has a learning video and reading material for independent study.  

Assessment method(s)

Grade system: non-differentiated (pass, fail, not present)

The course has continuous assessment. To pass the course, the student must earn over 70 points of the 100 total points. Five homework tasks include analyzing an existing object (video game intro, scene, character, impact of choices, and city). These will be assessed by lectures and the analysis (but not the grades) will be available for other students. Four of the homework tasks include the creation of an interactive story within the Arcweave environment and these will be peer-reviewed. The course also has four multiple-choice tests that are assessed automatically. For more info see HERE.

Lecturers

Raimond-Hendrik Tunnel

Course dates

This course takes place in the first semester of the academic year 2026-2027. It starts in the week of September 14 and runs until mid-December. Info on course schedule is available HERE.

Entry requirements: no specific requirements.

Students from all ENLIGHT partner universities and from all disciplines are eligible to participate. For application, please use this form. Apply by August 17, 2026. The University of Tartu will select the permitted number of students and inform the admitted students as soon as possible. 

Before applying, students should check with their home faculty or programme whether the course can be included in their curriculum and whether the credits will be recognised. Students from Ghent University must obtain faculty approval by completing this form and having it signed by the Faculty Student Administration.

Contact your ENLIGHT coordinator for further information on the application process or consult the linked information:

• University of the Basque Country: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• University of Bern: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., see application instructions for students at the University of Bern
• University of Bordeaux: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
• Comenius University Bratislava: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• University of Galway: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Ghent University: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., see information about BIP's and virtual courses
• University of Groningen: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• University of Göttingen: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (for BIP’s) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (other courses)
• Uppsala University: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., see application instructions for students at Uppsala University

Raimond-Hendrik Tunnel: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.