GDC 2025 Session Viewer
Thriving Players Summit: Prosocial Design Workshop
Natasha Miller (Senior Research Scientist II, Blizzard Entertainment)
Weszt Hart (Head of Player Dynamics, Riot Games)
Location: Room 3005, West Hall
Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 9:30 am - 11:50 am
Pass Type: All Access Pass, Core Pass, Summits Pass, Expo Pass, Audio Pass, Indie Games Summit Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Advocacy
Format: Workshop
Vault Recording: Video
Audience Level: All
Using methods from the Digital Thriving Playbook, this two-part workshop introduces how to design for prosocial behavior in games. Weszt will lead Part 1, which focuses on how to think about digital thriving (e.g., Rafting Model) and plan for prosocial interactions (Chapters and TAGG methods). Part 1 is based on Weszt’s work at Riot Games. Natasha will lead Part 2, which focuses on expanding player interactions, control, and impact while mitigating risk and increasing reward. Part 2 is based on Natasha’s work with the Polaris Design Retreat working group and experience at Blizzard Entertainment.
Takeaway
Attendees will leave with frameworks and examples that can be utilized at their companies when looking to implement prosocial interactions in their games. They will also have a better overview of the Digital Thriving Playbook and how that can be used as a tool to increase their work.
Intended Audience
While anyone who is interested in implementing prosocial interactions in their games would benefit from this workshop, the workshop is designed with designers and researchers as the target audience.
