How to Create a Legend: Secrets of Successful Narrative Design

Contents

• What is narrative design?
• How the profession emerged
• What does a narrative designer do?
• Soft and hard skills
• How to become a narrative designer
• How a strong plot helps create cool media products. We provide examples
• Useful resources from the Skillbox.by editorial team

What is narrative design

Narrative design is the art that underlies all compelling stories in video games or animation. In today's media world, where stories are becoming increasingly important for attracting and retaining audience attention, narrative designers are becoming key players. Today, we'll dive into the world of narratives to understand their essence and importance in the modern media industry. Let's look at how a narrative designer helps create top-grossing games and media products, and what skills are needed to become a professional in this field.

How the profession emerged

The history of narrative design is closely intertwined with the evolution of media, the development of cinema and video games. This profession began to take shape and structure along with the popularization of cinema and literature in the early 20th century. And it looked like this:

• The birth of screenwriting.With the advent of cinema in the early 20th century, screenwriters began to play a key role in film creation. They determined plots, characters and dialogue, forming the foundation of future cinematic masterpieces.
• With the development of video games, narrative design entered a new dimension.In 1972, the first video game, Pong, was released, and although the games of that time were simple, they still had elements of plot and dialogue. This period became the golden age for classic arcade games, which also needed narrative design to some extent.
• Today, the narrative designer is a central figure in the media industry. They shape narratives, come up with plots and characters that leave unforgettable impressions on viewers and players. The work of narrative designers like Neil Druckmann and Ken Levine has become benchmarks in the field and continues to inspire a new generation of creative professionals.

These key milestones and influential figures shaped the profession as we know it today. Narrative has become an integral part of the creation of animations, video games, and other forms of media projects, and its importance continues to grow.

What does a narrative designer do?

A narrative designer is a key member of the development team whose role is very important in the creation of media projects. They:

• Creates the script and plot. The Narrator is the architect of the project's plot; they develop the main story, create characters, and determine the key events that will occur within it. Their job is to make the plot engaging and memorable for the audience.
• Creates dialogues and dialogue systems. One of the most important tasks is developing character dialogue and the interaction system in the game world as a whole. The designer creates unique voices and personalities of the characters. Ensures that the dialogues correspond to the plot and atmosphere of the project.
• Creates the atmosphere of the game world.A narrative designer creates a game world that must be consistent with the plot and atmosphere of the project. They determine locations, important objects, historical context, and even cultural nuances. After all, the world, even fictional, must be convincing and attractive to the audience.
• Conducts testing and adaptation.An important part of the job is testing storylines and adapting them based on feedback from players or viewers. The narrator must ensure that the plot elements are structured correctly and provide users with an engaging experience, and make adjustments if necessary.
• Collaborates with other specialists. A narrative designer interacts with other team members: artists, programmers, game designers, sound engineers, etc. Ensures that the plot and gameplay are tightly integrated and support the goal of the project.

Soft and hard skills of a narrative designer

The work of a narrative designer requires versatile skills and Competencies that combine technical aspects with creative intuition and communication skills. Let's consider the main soft (personal qualities) and hard (professional skills) skills.

Soft skills:

• Creativity.To come up with original storylines, characters, and game scenes.
• Imaginative thinking.It is important to have a visual representation of how the plot and characters will interact.
• Communication skills.The specialist works in a team, so it is important to be able to communicate effectively and coordinate ideas with other project participants. It is also important to be able to accept and give feedback to improve the quality of the plot and dialogue.
• Analytical skills.To research themes, periods, and cultures that are important to the plot; conduct analysis to create believable stories and worlds.
• Time Management.Effectively manage time and priorities to complete projects on time and within budget.

Hard skills:

• Understanding story structure.A narrative designer must be able to structure a story, creating storylines that will captivate the audience.
• Character Art.Ability to create unique and vibrant characters with personalities, motivations, and development that evoke emotional attachment.
• Dialogue Art.Ability to write engaging dialogue for characters that reflects their relationships.
• Understanding Game Mechanics.Understanding the technical side of games and knowledge of the game engines used in development (e.g. Unity, Unreal Engine). Understanding the interaction between story and game mechanics to make story part of gameplay.
• Skills in working with relevant programs and tools. Knowledge of tools for developing a plot: scripting languages, text editors and development environments.

How to become a narrative designer

In Belarus, as in other countries, this profession does not have a standard educational program, but there are several paths to obtaining appropriate training.

For example, the Belarusian State Academy of Arts and Culture and the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts offer programs in cinematography, theater arts, and literature that provide basic knowledge for narrative design. Distance learning courses can be used as an alternative or additional option. They allow you to study the profession of narrative designer in practice, but when choosing, it is important to pay attention to the relevance of the curricula.

Over time, you can achieve a narrow specialization. Narrative design is a broad field and can encompass scriptwriting, dialogue creation, or game world design. Working on real-world projects, including small indie games, allows you to gain experience and build a portfolio. Narrative designers can start as intern or junior specialists and gradually advance to lead writers or team leaders. Participating in workshops, seminars, and conferences helps you stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the field and expand your knowledge and skills.

A narrative designer's salary depends on their experience, qualifications, and the project they're working on. Horizontal perspectives include working on various genres and platforms, including mobile games, online projects, and VR applications. Vertical growth prospects include moving up from a narrative designer position to a lead writer, project manager, or even founding their own studio.

How a strong story helps create great media products. We provide examples

These narrative designers and their projects have become examples of how a strong story and skillful work on it help create great media products. Their contribution to the narrative design industry has left an indelible mark and continues to inspire new generations of creative professionals. Let's take a closer look.

• Neil Druckmann. Author of stories for the Uncharted series and The Last of Us. In the Uncharted series, he created the gripping adventures of archaeologist and explorer Nathan Drake, enriching the game world with sharp plot twists and characters with deep psychology. In The Last of Us, Druckmann imagined a post-apocalyptic world in which survivors face moral dilemmas and complex emotions, delivering a unique experience for players.
• Ken Levine.Designer, creator of BioShock and founder of Irrational Games. Under his leadership, BioShock became a cult game, recognized for its deep storytelling and unique atmosphere. In his project, Levine created a complex world of the underwater city of Rapture, exploring themes of freedom, morality, and human nature. For example, whether to kill or save the characters of Little Sisters. Levine worked to integrate narrative elements into gameplay, making storytelling and morality integral to the experience. This allowed players to personally explore and experience the themes explored in the game.
• Drew Karpyshyn.The writer and designer shaped epic stories in Mass Effect and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, integrating complex moral dilemmas and rich worldviews into the narrative. In Mass Effect, he created a unique world where players face difficult decisions that impact the entire galaxy. He developed characters with multifaceted personalities and stories that players truly empathize with. And in Knights of the Old Republic, Drew Karpyshyn captivatingly wove elements of moral choice into the narrative of light and dark in the Star Wars universe, where every decision has consequences and determines the fate of the characters and the world as a whole. His creativity and unique style made these games truly epic and memorable.
• Dan and Sam Houser. They are the founders of Rockstar Games and the creators of the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series. Their games are distinguished by their deep stories and picturesque open worlds. They stand out from other games with their cinematic quality, freedom of choice, and ability to immerse the player in authentic virtual worlds. Sharp twists and turns in the multi-layered plot fully reveal the characters to players, helping them to become deeply immersed in the story and make important decisions. Open worlds offer players vast areas to explore, full of life and detail, giving the games a real sense of reality. Perfectly selected voice actors, realistic animation, and intimate work give the gaming experience cinematic depth and emotion.

Useful resources from the Skillbox.by editorial team

The profession of a narrative designer is the key to creating captivating stories that leave an unforgettable mark on the world of media. Our stories and games, films and animations - they all depend on narrative design. They bring characters to life, create compelling worlds, and deepen understanding of the plot. The profession of narrative designer is noteworthy because it combines technical skills and creative thinking, allowing creators to translate their ideas into engaging stories. And for those looking to delve deeper into this world, the Skillbox.by editorial team has compiled a list of useful resources.

Literature:

• Joseph Campbell's "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" is a kind of bible for narrative designers, written in the format of an analytical work that reveals in detail the essence of the profession.
• Christopher Volger's "The Writer's Journey" is a guide for writers exploring the process of creating compelling stories and character development.
• Robert McKee's "The Million Dollar Story" reveals to readers the secrets of creating compelling plots and stories that can be worth millions.

Professional communities:

• GameDev.ru — the largest Russian-speaking community of game developers and narrative designers.
• International Game Developers Association (IGDA)is a global organization that unites game development professionals, including narrative designers.

Blogs:

• Blog on Narratorika — a resource for narrative designers with articles, recommendations, and insights on creating engaging plots and interactive stories.
• Emily Short’s Interactive Storytelling is a blog by Emily Short, a renowned narrative artist and creator of interactive storytelling games.