Author in the Loop: Human-Guided AI for Interactive Game Storytelling

Summary

AI can increasingly generate dialogue, characters and branching story for games and interactive experiences. As these tools enter production, the defining question is not whether AI can create content, it is whether a human author can stay in control of what it makes and keeps it coherent, on-tone and worth playing. Left unguided, AI-generated narrative may drift off-script, contradict itself and lose the voice and craft that make a game or interactive experience compelling.

This PhD investigates how to keep the author in the loop as these tools enter game and interactive production. You will design and build an author-facing tool, integrated with a game engine, in which a writer or designer sets the rules of a story world, its characters, plot beats, tone and canon, and AI generates branching dialogue and scenes within those rails, with the author previewing, steering and regenerating throughout. The project is structured around three research areas:

- Authorial control: the mechanisms and interfaces that give a writer genuine, learnable command over AI-assisted narrative.
- Narrative coherence and consistency: techniques, from narrative-state tracking to game AI and machine-learning methods, that keep branching story on-canon and on-tone.
- Evaluation and validation: testing with real writers and players, and a short playable slice that demonstrates author-guided storytelling in practice.

You will be based in the Games Design and Development research studios at our Derry~Londonderry campus, with access to XR, motion-capture and immersive facilities, and supervision spanning AI, game design, real-time creative systems and bio-sensing. The work is deliberately build-led, suiting a strong developer, technical designer or games writer who wants to make as well as research.

This is an opportunity to help shape one of the defining discussions facing the games and screen industries as AI enters creative production, and to develop specialist skills that help grow a globally competitive, innovative and creative economy.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal detailing background, research questions, aims and methodology

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Applicants should hold, or expect to hold a relevant Masters Degree at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
• Experience or knowledge of research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Department for the Economy (DfE)
• Vice Chancellor's Research Scholarship (VCRS)

PhD scholarships are available for this project to all applicants worldwide, regardless of residency or domicile, and will cover:

• Tuition fees.
• A maintenance allowance of approximately £22,000 (exact rate is to be confirmed) per annum for three years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
• A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of approximately £900 per annum.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year, or part-time equivalent, funded from any source, including self-financing students, are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Students in full-time employment are not eligible for an award.

Part-time PhD scholarships may be available at a 0.5 pro rata rate of the full-time scholarship, which would require a six-year registration period.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.

The University will award a successful candidate one of the following scholarships for the project, depending on the funding available at the time an admissions offer is made:

1. Department for the Economy (DfE) PhD Scholarships
2. Vice Chancellor’s Research Scholarships (VCRS)

Please note that the Terms and Conditions for scholarships are subject to change for 2027/28.