Topic Guide
What Is World building?
World building is a subject covered in depth across 2 podcast episodes in our database. Below you'll find key concepts, expert insights, and the top episodes to listen to — all distilled from hours of conversation by leading experts.
Key Concepts in World building
Systemic video game design
This refers to the creation of interlocking game rules and systems that interact with each other to produce emergent behavior. In games like GTA III, this design philosophy created a feeling of a living, dynamic world that reacted to player actions in unscripted ways, fostering deep immersion [19:40].
Sandbox video games
Overlapping with systemic design, sandbox games prioritize player freedom, allowing users to do 'anything' within the game world. When combined with systemic design, this creates the powerful illusion that the world exists independently and reacts meaningfully to player choices, enhancing the sense of agency and exploration [20:30].
360-degree character
A conceptual approach to character development where the creator imagines how a character would act in 'any possible situation.' This intensive process ensures the character feels fully rounded, consistent, and believable, even when faced with choices outside the main narrative, providing deep psychological integrity [23:40, 24:37].
World-building
This term, often associated with visual effects (VFX) and creating entirely non-existent environments (like superhero movies), is explored by Gyllenhaal as a tool to craft unique, blended realities in her films. She uses it to describe creating a technically 1936 setting for *The Bride* that is infused with elements of 1981 downtown New York and modern aesthetics, and sees it as a tool that few women have had the chance to utilize.
Tailored direction
Gyllenhaal's approach to directing actors involves adapting her communication and feedback style to each individual's personality and needs. She learned that a method effective for one actor (like Jesse Buckley) might not work for another (like Olivia Colman), emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence and flexibility on set to elicit the best performances.
What Experts Say About World building
- 1.Red Dead Redemption 2's greatness stems from its exploration of meaning amidst violence, fantastic gunplay, incredible horses, and the creative freedom exercised in its early development [00:00, 73:22].
- 2.Dan Houser's new company, Absurdventures, is developing multiple interconnected worlds for various media, including the dystopian AI-focused "A Better Paradise" and the comedic open-world game "Absurdiverse" [01:40, 08:15].
- 3.Creating a truly alive open world, as seen in GTA III, requires a combination of "systemic video game design" (interlocking rules creating emergent behavior) and a "sandbox" aspect (player freedom to do anything) [19:40].
- 4.The tension between open-world freedom and narrative-driven storytelling is crucial, with structured stories providing compelling arcs and a mechanism to unlock game features without overwhelming players [21:30].
- 5.Developing "360-degree characters" involves deep philosophical thought to imagine how a character would act in any situation, like Niko Bellic or Arthur Morgan, lending them complex humanity [24:37].
- 6.Dan Houser believes LLMs won't replace "good ideas" or "magic" in writing, but may make it harder for entry-level writers, excelling at low-level tasks but struggling with the "last 5%" of human nuance [37:41].