What is a game design document?
Part of a series on the: Video game industry. A game design document (often abbreviated GDD) is a highly descriptive living software design document of the design for a video game. A GDD is created and edited by the development team and it is primarily used in the video game industry to organize efforts within a development team.
What is the game development process management document (GDD)?
Maintaining detailed internal documentation is a must for effective game development process management. For decades, the GDD has been an industry standard, intended to provide everyone involved in the game design process with a singular vision.
What is the concept section of a game plan?
This section of the document is a simple explanation of the ideas for the game. The concept includes what the game exactly is, and what is being made of it. This portion of the document will also inform such people like the art team, publishers, developers, etc., on the expectations of the game when it is being developed.
What should be included in a game description?
It must include all the game mechanics, all the character descriptions and behaviors, all the technical specifications, and all other design decisions made about the game. This is a living document that continues to grow as long as development on the game continues.
Which terms are required to describe a game treatment document?
Basically the game treatment document should be a printed version of the more developed sales pitch you make for your game in the formal meeting you have with the investor or publisher, few terms needs to be explained in game treatment document such as the introduction of the game, story background, hooks, challenges, ...
What should a game design document include?
A GDD usually includes:Executive summary (game concept, genre, target audience, project scope, etc.)Gameplay (objectives, game progressions, in-game GUI, etc.)Mechanics (rules, combat, physics, etc.)Game elements (worldbuilding, story, characters, locations, level design, etc.)More items...
How do you write a game documentation?
How to write a game design documentRule #1: Don't do it in MS Word. ... Rule #2: Start with one concise sentence. ... Rule #3: Make it visual. ... Rule #4: Keep it collaborative. ... Rule #5: Make room for changes. ... Game overview. ... Game description. ... Game elements.
What is a high concept game document?
The High Concept Document Think of it as a résumé for a video game. The point of a résumé is to quickly convey a job applicant's qualifications and try to get him an interview with the hiring manager. The point of a high concept document is to try to get a meeting with a producer, the chance to “pitch” the game.
Are game design documents important?
A GDD helps bring the key parts of a game design together. It records the main ideas, contains descriptions of gameplay, critical assets like art styles or sound, allows teammates to visualize the plan for future work.
Why is a game design document important?
A game design document will precisely outline the vision for the game. Hence, each department will know exactly what it should do without any incongruencies. Various stakeholders and project managers will also find it easy to keep track of the whole process.
What does ESRB mean?
the Entertainment Software Rating BoardRatings are determined by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). The ESRB is a self-regulatory body that independently applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles adopted by the industry.
How do you present a game concept?
Here are the basic sections of a game concept....The core idea should include:A description of your game.The game's style.The game's setting.The different types of characters.An overview of the story.Any key elements.How to play.What sets it apart from other games.
What are the steps followed in creating the game specifications?
How to Develop a Video GamePick a concept. Generate a few game concepts to see what kind of game you want to make. ... Gather information. Game creation involves extensive research. ... Start building. ... Refine your concept. ... Test your game. ... Market the finished product.
Why is a high concept document important?
In short, a good high concept statement can be very beneficial to people in creative fields because it helps encapsulate a vision into a simple sentence. This helps creators get their idea across to people quickly, provided the high concept is short, interesting and descriptive (in a general sense).
What is a game treatment document?
The game treatment document should be a printed version of the more developed sales pitch you make for your game in the formal meeting you have with the investor or publisher. It should be an attractive document that can be used for reference after the meeting.
What is the purpose of design documents?
In addition to their separate purposes, the design documents have two purposes in common: to help develop the game, and to help sell the game concept to a publisher or development studio.
What is a high concept statement?
Part 1: A high concept statement is meant to be short, descriptive, and attractive to the publisher. It should resemble the teaser blurbs you would see on an ad for the game or on the cover of the package. It should explain the game well enough that you immediately are interested in knowing more about it.
What is a game mechanics record?
It is a record of all decisions made by the lead designer or the team, used for reference whenever there is a question about how the game is to work. It must include all the game mechanics, all the character descriptions and behaviors, all the technical specifications, and all other design decisions made about the game.
Is a game design document a sales tool?
It is not a sales tool, it is an ongoing chronicle of design decisions that must contain useful information for the people building the game. This document may be broken into component documents for different teams, but the components must coordinate to represent one vision for the game.
Can you make a game alone?
You cannot create the game alone, so you will need an investor to pay staff, a studio to provide staff and skills, and a publisher to promote and distribute the game. The investor could be the publisher or the studio or another entity related to either of those parties.
Why do you make a game design document?
Because no one wants to read a boring manual. If you make the game design document a reflection of the fun behind the game and personality of your team, your team will be more willing to reference it. No one wants to open a document that’s going to suck the fun out of them.
What is the role of concept art in a game?
Words aren’t always the best way to do this, so don’t be afraid to supplement your explanations with visual material. Concept art, for example, plays a vital role in the game design document. Storyboard art can help describe scenes or the feeling of the game.
Is it harder to put together a puzzle?
A puzzle is a lot harder to put together when you have six puzzles’ worth of pieces and no picture to look at for reference. When it’s done right, a game design document gives you both a picture for reference and only the relevant puzzle pieces.
Do you have to explain a game to anyone?
Since the game is so simple, you don’t need to bring on any new help. You don’t have to explain the game to anyone because your team already knows the details as well as you.
What is a GDD in Nuclino?
A GDD is meant to be a constantly evolving, living document, and the tool you choose needs to accommodate that. An ideal tool for writing a game design document is open, collaborative, and most importantly visual. Nuclino aims to be such a tool – create a free account to get started.
What is GDD in game design?
For decades, the GDD has been an industry standard, intended to provide everyone involved in the game design process with a singular vision. It's a highly descriptive, living document, created through the collaboration of designers, developers, and artists. A clear and well-structured GDD should guide you through the game development process, ...
What is Nuclino workspace?
Nuclino is a unified workspace that helps you organize all of your team's work in one place. Instead of digging through the chaos of files and folders and drowning in endless meetings and notifications, Nuclino allows your team to break out of silos and collaborate more thoughtfully.
What is a GDD?
A GDD is a living, evergreen document that evolves over time. Treating it as a rigid blueprint kills creativity in the team and builds a wall between the ideas and their implementation.
Why is documenting important in game development?
When done right it can facilitate communication and collaboration within your team and become a testament to your hard work, a record of all your struggles and victories along the way.
Is Word a game design tool?
Word is a great tool that has its applications but documenting a game design process is not one of them. Its rigid and closed nature will guarantee that no matter how great the content is, it will end up locked away on someone's hard drive, without ever being updated or likely even opened. A GDD is meant to be a constantly evolving, living ...
What is a GDD in game design?
A game design document (often abbreviated GDD) is a highly descriptive living software design document of the design for a video game. A GDD is created and edited by the development team and it is primarily used in the video game industry to organize efforts within a development team. The document is created by the development team as result of collaboration between their designers, artists and programmers as a guiding vision which is used throughout the game development process. When a game is commissioned by a game publisher to the development team, the document must be created by the development team and it is often attached to the agreement between publisher and developer; the developer has to adhere to the GDD during game development process.
What is a game design document?
A game design document may be made of text, images, diagrams, concept art, or any applicable media to better illustrate design decisions. Some design documents may include functional prototypes or a chosen game engine for some sections of the game.
What is a GDD?
Game design document. A game design document (often abbreviated GDD) is a highly descriptive living software design document of the design for a video game. A GDD is created and edited by the development team and it is primarily used in the video game industry to organize efforts within a development team.
Why is a game design document called a living document?
Because of the dynamic environment of game development, the document is often changed, revised and expanded as development progresses and changes in scope and direction are explored. As such, a game design document is often referred to as a living document, that is, a piece of work which is continuously improved upon throughout ...
What is a game concept?
Game concept. The game concept describes the main idea of the game. This section of the document is a simple explanation of the ideas for the game. The concept includes what the game exactly is, and what is being made of it.
When do game developers produce their game design?
Game developers may produce the game design document in the pre-production stage of game development—prior to or after a pitch. Before a pitch, the document may be conceptual and incomplete. Once the project has been approved, the document is expanded by the developer to a level where it can successfully guide the development team.
Is a GDD a standard form?
Although considered a requirement by many companies, a GDD has no set industry standard form. For example, developers may choose to keep the document as a word processed document, or as an online collaboration tool .
