DXB205 Interactive Narrative Design
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | DXB205 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | Completion of 24 credit points of study |
| Equivalent(s): | DXB304, DXB404 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,164 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,356 |
| International unit fee | $5,172 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | DXB205 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | Completion of 24 credit points of study |
| Equivalent: | DXB304, DXB404 |
| Coordinator: | Jane Turner | j.turner@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit serves as an introduction to creating immersive environments and building interactive worlds for player performance and dramatic agency. The role of the narrative designer is central to the success of any significant professional project in interactive media and game design. The unit addresses theoretical issues associated with immersive / non-linear story structures and interactive narrative forms through the analysis of game / play systems, the creation of original game concepts and the application of techniques of narrative design. It extends this understanding into practice through the application of relevant skills, which will scaffold you into the production of a portfolio work (suitable for interaction designers, visual communication designers, game designers, media designers, creative writers and performance studies).
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Understand narrative components and forms in design for player performance and agency.
- Analyse and apply non-linear and interactive narrative structures.
- Create original game narratives in appropriate formats for dramatic agency and performance.
- Apply theories and techniques associated with game narratives; branching story structures, interactive narratives, environmental narratives and emergent narratives.
Content
This unit addresses content such as:
- Play and story in game (and interactive media) design
- Principles of designing for performance in immersive environments
- Principles of systems for player agency
- Principles of narrative forms in fictional worlds
- Principles of representation (image and text)
- Critical language use related to types of communication
- and - Design as it relates to effective communication.
Learning Approaches
Lectures will describe and demonstrate conceptual issues.Tutorials will provide the opportunity for group discussion of concepts and principles explored in the lectures, as well as group and peer critiques of project work during milestone reviews for formative assessment.
In the online mode of this unit, you will learn through engaging in a variety of online activities, online self-directed learning, and weekly research and readings that are designed to support your learning experience. The recorded lectures will examine conceptual and theoretical principles and issues across a variety of design areas, with a focus on contemporary case studies. Throughout the online delivery of this unit, you will receive support from your instructors and peers. You will have access to online resources and materials, and you will be able to communicate with your instructors and peers via various online platforms. A variety of support materials will be published on the Canvas website to coordinate the unit.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in following ways:
- online criteria sheets
- Canvas general comments to cohort group
- online comments on Padlet postings
- peer and tutor feedback
Assessment
Overview
Assessment offers opportunity to implement principles and practices of narrative design in production of a work suitable for portfolio and opportunity for individual exploration of interactive narrative forms and systems in an individual project.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Design Project 1
Assessment: Interactive fiction project
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
All students and staff who access campus buildings and facilities are required to complete the Tier 1 General Health and Safety Induction. This must be completed online.
Resources
Resource Materials
Other
To enable your full participation in the virtual learning environment, for example, participating in online activities and engaging with online learning materials, you will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection, webcam, headset and microphone, as well as a learning environment where you are able to fully participate undisturbed when required.
Risk Assessment Statement
For risks associated with using campus buildings or facilities, refer to the Tier 1 General Health and Safety Induction. This must be completed online.
Where substantial computer-based work is required, particularly in the case of fully online students, you are recommended to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work, and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.IN05 Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments
- Demonstrate broad knowledge of games and interactive environments principles and theory, with an in-depth knowledge of one games-related discipline.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Apply creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills to generate solutions to design challenges.
Relates to: ULO2, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Create engaging and meaningful games experiences for specific target audiences in partnership with diverse industry and community stakeholders using industry-relevant software and technologies..
Relates to: ULO3, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Communicate complex concepts at all stages of the development cycle to specialist and non-specialist audiences in written, oral and interactive visual formats.
Relates to: ULO3, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project
KK43 Bachelor of Creative Industries
- Demonstrate broad and coherent theoretical and practical knowledge required for creative enterprise, career development and interdisciplinary collaborations, supported by depth in at least one creative disciplinary area.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Demonstrate well-developed cognitive and ideation skills to identify, analyse and evaluate opportunities to address authentic complex problems.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Demonstrate technical expertise to support skills and knowledge within the Creative Industries.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Communicate effectively in a range of forms across multiple media modes, for sharing and disseminating knowledge, skills and ideas, and collaborative practice and navigation of social networks.
Relates to: ULO3, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Apply and adapt creative disciplinary knowledge and skills with agility in a range of industry, community and intercultural contexts.
Relates to: ULO4, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Online
| Unit code: | DXB205 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | Completion of 24 credit points of study |
| Equivalent: | DXB304, DXB404 |
Overview
This unit serves as an introduction to creating immersive environments and building interactive worlds for player performance and dramatic agency. The role of the narrative designer is central to the success of any significant professional project in interactive media and game design. The unit addresses theoretical issues associated with immersive / non-linear story structures and interactive narrative forms through the analysis of game / play systems, the creation of original game concepts and the application of techniques of narrative design. It extends this understanding into practice through the application of relevant skills, which will scaffold you into the production of a portfolio work (suitable for interaction designers, visual communication designers, game designers, media designers, creative writers and performance studies).
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Understand narrative components and forms in design for player performance and agency.
- Analyse and apply non-linear and interactive narrative structures.
- Create original game narratives in appropriate formats for dramatic agency and performance.
- Apply theories and techniques associated with game narratives; branching story structures, interactive narratives, environmental narratives and emergent narratives.
Content
This unit addresses content such as:
- Play and story in game (and interactive media) design
- Principles of designing for performance in immersive environments
- Principles of systems for player agency
- Principles of narrative forms in fictional worlds
- Principles of representation (image and text)
- Critical language use related to types of communication
- and - Design as it relates to effective communication.
Learning Approaches
Lectures will describe and demonstrate conceptual issues.Tutorials will provide the opportunity for group discussion of concepts and principles explored in the lectures, as well as group and peer critiques of project work during milestone reviews for formative assessment.
In the online mode of this unit, you will learn through engaging in a variety of online activities, online self-directed learning, and weekly research and readings that are designed to support your learning experience. The recorded lectures will examine conceptual and theoretical principles and issues across a variety of design areas, with a focus on contemporary case studies. Throughout the online delivery of this unit, you will receive support from your instructors and peers. You will have access to online resources and materials, and you will be able to communicate with your instructors and peers via various online platforms. A variety of support materials will be published on the Canvas website to coordinate the unit.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in following ways:
- online criteria sheets
- Canvas general comments to cohort group
- online comments on Padlet postings
- peer and tutor feedback
Assessment
Overview
Assessment offers opportunity to implement principles and practices of narrative design in production of a work suitable for portfolio and opportunity for individual exploration of interactive narrative forms and systems in an individual project.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Design Project 1
Assessment: Interactive fiction project
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
All students and staff who access campus buildings and facilities are required to complete the Tier 1 General Health and Safety Induction. This must be completed online.
Resources
Resource Materials
Other
To enable your full participation in the virtual learning environment, for example, participating in online activities and engaging with online learning materials, you will need access to a reliable computer with an internet connection, webcam, headset and microphone, as well as a learning environment where you are able to fully participate undisturbed when required.
Risk Assessment Statement
For risks associated with using campus buildings or facilities, refer to the Tier 1 General Health and Safety Induction. This must be completed online.
Where substantial computer-based work is required, particularly in the case of fully online students, you are recommended to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work, and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.IN05 Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments
- Demonstrate broad knowledge of games and interactive environments principles and theory, with an in-depth knowledge of one games-related discipline.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Apply creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills to generate solutions to design challenges.
Relates to: ULO2, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Create engaging and meaningful games experiences for specific target audiences in partnership with diverse industry and community stakeholders using industry-relevant software and technologies..
Relates to: ULO3, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Communicate complex concepts at all stages of the development cycle to specialist and non-specialist audiences in written, oral and interactive visual formats.
Relates to: ULO3, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project
KK43 Bachelor of Creative Industries
- Demonstrate broad and coherent theoretical and practical knowledge required for creative enterprise, career development and interdisciplinary collaborations, supported by depth in at least one creative disciplinary area.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Demonstrate well-developed cognitive and ideation skills to identify, analyse and evaluate opportunities to address authentic complex problems.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Demonstrate technical expertise to support skills and knowledge within the Creative Industries.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Communicate effectively in a range of forms across multiple media modes, for sharing and disseminating knowledge, skills and ideas, and collaborative practice and navigation of social networks.
Relates to: ULO3, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project - Apply and adapt creative disciplinary knowledge and skills with agility in a range of industry, community and intercultural contexts.
Relates to: ULO4, Design Project 1, Interactive fiction project