D​‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​esign Document Option Game/Design Document Option Please

D​‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​esign Document Option
Game/Design Document Option
Please note if you are considering the design document option, you should discuss this with me as soon as possible so that we can jointly arrive at a suitable plan.
Your plans must include the development of a game to at least the wireframe stage, including at least some playtesting. The game, and the process of its development, are documented in the design document. The design document will be uploaded to Blackboard via the “Final Assignment Submission” link, and we will decide together how I can access/evaluate the wireframe.
Game Development Resources:
You are free to select and/or develop any design process for your game.
Resources to inspire your process:
Tracy Fullerton’s Game Design Workshop
Salen, K. & Zimmerman, E. (2004). Rules of play?: game design fundamentals. MIT Press. [hard copy available via UQ library]
This excellent description of a modding workshop
Four Elements of Game Design Part 1
Four Elements of Game Design Part 2
Making Difficult Fun: How to Challenge Your Players
Tools you might look into:
Construct 3
Game Maker Studio
Game Salad
Stencyl
Twine
Squiffy
If you want some professional experience, try
Unreal Engine
Unity
(I am not advocating the use of any specific tool. You will need to evaluate the needs of your project and decide how to build it. These a​‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​re some popular tools to help your thinking)
Documentation:
It’s important to note that a design document is a living document that changes and grows to suit the game. It also helps to set reasonable parameters for the game, and to make the project achievable. So, the design document, and its components, will be unique to the game you are building. There is no easy checklist.
Game Design Document Template and Examples
This comprehensive resource is filled with excellent materials, including why design documents matter, how to write them, and some templates to get you started. While it is based around a specific tool (Nuclino), there is still a lot of excellent stuff here. You do not need to use the tool. If you choose to try the tool, there’s a free option.
How to Build Your First Game Design Document
This is a nice short guide to walk you through the process. It is also part of a larger site on game design that you might find very useful.
Values at Play, who brought us the Grow-a-Game cards, have a number of design documents here:
Game Tools : Values At Play
Scroll to the bottom where you’ll see the “Design Documents” heading. Note: These documents are from early in the design process (pre-wireframe), and so are shorter and less detailed than yours needs to be.
Again, there are many more good resources out there. It’s up to you to find them, evaluate them, and ​‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​use them.