Level Up, and all exhibits, are included with Museum admission.
GET TICKETS HERE BOOK A GAMING GROUP EXPERIENCE
“For many gamers, it’s the story that ropes them in. Some gamers only play games for their story; they want an interactive narrative that they can be a part of and be whisked away by.” —THEGAMER.COM
Embark on a thrilling adventure into the world of game writing and explore the role of narrative and storytelling in gaming, from the 1970s to today. Timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of fantasy tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, Level Up enriches your understanding of writing through fun and interactive formats, inspires young people to try a new form of writing, and encourages exploration of the worlds created through games.
“Dungeons & Dragons was one of the first places I got that words can take you somewhere else.”
—TA-NEHISI COATES, author
Take a deep dive into the world of game writing, and learn about topics such as Live Action Role Playing, Decision Trees/Choice Making, Character Creation, Notable Events in Gaming History, Game-Adjacent Writing, and more. Through a timeline and a series of interactive features, including a mock basement game room where you can play games, you’ll have an active role in the story of Level Up. Online, Level Up expands the on-site exhibit with even more game writing content exclusively available online.
“Storytelling is the heart and soul of any good game. It’s what gives players a reason to care about the characters, the world, and the challenges they face.”
—TIM SCHAFER, game designer
In conjunction with Level Up, the AWM will host a series of public events with expert gamers, writers, developers and scholars throughout 2024–2025. These writers create and develop the games you know, find community in gaming, cover trends in the gaming industry, and play the games themselves!
Check out some upcoming level Up events and stay tuned as we announce even more programs and events throughout the year. View upcoming events calendar.
Plus, watch a recording of our previous Gods & Gaming program!
“The future of gaming is storytelling. The future of storytelling is games.”
—ERIC ZIMMERMAN, game designer
Gaming plays a huge role in the lives of young learners. On in-person and virtual field trips, students will learn how their favorite games were written. They’ll explore the complexity and significance of game writing and leave with a rich history of gaming and storytelling. Through Level Up, young people will see that the games they play have the power to influence daily culture—and how they can craft their own narratives in the industry and beyond.
Given the interactive nature of games, we encourage you to partake in the exhibit! Take a break and play a game in the Roberta Rubin Writers Room, which will be transformed into a gaming room. Fun books and games like Dead Poets Rise will bring your imagination to life.
Bring your gaming group! Book a table to play your next session or full campaign in the Museum.
Game stories can’t happen without players, and we want to hear why gaming matters to you! Let us know your gaming story at the link below. Select videos will appear in the exhibit on a rotating basis.
SHARE YOUR STORY
Jennifer Helen Allaway – Narrative Designer, Writer, and Public Speaker
Derek Tyler Attico – Science Fiction Author, Essayist, and Photographer
Alexander Bevier – Freelance Game Producer, Developer Support, and Content Manager
Brandon Crilly – Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer, Games Writer, and Teacher
Keisha Howard – Creator of Sugar Gamers, Co-Founder of The Blaze Breakers, and Advisor to Live CGI
Patrick Jagoda – Professor at University of Chicago, Co-founder of Game Changer Chicago Design Lab and Transmedia Story Lab
Howard Andrew Jones – Speculative Fiction and Fantasy Author and Editor
Jon Peterson – Writer and Game Scholar
Dedren Snead – Writer, Artist, Game Developer, Creative Consultant, Emerging Technologist and Futurist
Level Up Sponsors
Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation
Eugene Jarvis and Sasha Gerritson
Catherine Mouly and Ted Carlson
Sponsorship Opportunities Available
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact our Director of Development Linda Dunlavy by phone at 312-374-8762 or via email at dunlavy@americanwritersmuseum.org.