Table Of Content
This overview offers a concise summary of the game’s essence, while refraining from delving into intricate specifics of game mechanics. That said, there are a few recommendations that most game designers would include when creating a GDD template. GDDs can contain any kind of relevant material for the game — including text, concept art, videos, musical references, photos, and even working prototypes or demos. There’s no rules about what you can or can’t include, so focus on things that will be useful and relevant to people throughout the development process. If the game design document is updated properly and frequently, it can lead to less frustration. This section is critical for programmers and other designers to understand how the game should feel and function.
Concept Art
Instead, try to think of the one-page approach, and game design documents in general, as an exercise in communication. Exactly how you secure an agreement with a publisher is beyond the scope of this article and I’m not going to pretend that it’s as simple as only writing a marketing focussed game design document. A game design document that’s marketing focussed might include information that a potential investor or publisher might want to know before considering your project for investment. The point of a basic game design document like this is that it’s simple and easy to use.
Level Design Specifications
The outline is highly elaborate, mentioning every question you might have regarding the project, its mechanics, art style, genre, and other aspects. And yes, the game design document template can look like this, as there are no strict regulations on arranging and formatting one. It should focus on explaining the key features of your game in detail, including game modes, controls, social features, monetization, and so on. Unlike the first two sections, which are relatively static, this section is likely to undergo fundamental changes over the course of your game design process. But making a game takes more than a good idea and the skill to turn it into code, a fact that indie game designers know all too well. Jumping straight into coding without cultivating a game design document is a sure way to end up being hampered by placeholder art, malfunctioning code, and clashing mechanics.
Game concept
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Other common examples are the number of bullets in a weapon, character jump height, and the cost of upgrades. All of these are variables that might be raised, lowered, and otherwise adjusted to make an experience more appealing and responsive. These can be their own section or embedded into the Gameplay section. As the largest section in the GDD, this is the place to describe how the game will play, feel, and engage. Describe your health system, enemies, obstacles, and the systems that govern them in detail.
Which is why the format of your design document can make a huge difference to how helpful it is. Untested ideas, unless you really know that they’re going to work in the way that you expect, will often change as soon as you start to build them or as soon as people try them for the first time. Or maybe you want to use the GDD as a kind of concept document, where the general style and feel of each level is set out, but isn’t specifically described. For example, if you need to keep track of the game’s narrative, keeping a reference to your game’s characters and how the story will unfold can be useful as you develop it. Typically, someone who’s willing to consider funding part of your game’s development will probably want to be able to understand how much of a risk investing in that project will be.
What should be in your GDD template?
A GDD is meant to be a constantly evolving, living document, and the tool you choose needs to accommodate that. As your game evolves and details begin to take shape, you may want to create dedicated documents for different topics. Better yet, turn your game design doc into an internal wiki and organize your work in a more structured way. So feel free to use this outline, but remember, it’s just a starting point so you don’t have to start with a blank page. Just be sure to include clear and detailed information in each section.
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Start with a core game loop diagram with brief descriptions explaining each of the features and demonstrating how the player will interact with the game. It can be helpful to include a game screen mock-up to support your ideas. "Game design docs are very alive documents," explained Rodolfo Rubens, a Nuclino user and indie game developer at York Game Studio. 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.
Authorship and Maintenance of the GDD
A game design document or “GDD” is the master document which lists all of the features, concepts and ideas which are supposed to gel together to create the final game experience. The GDD’s Technical Requirements section furnishes specifics on necessary hardware, software, engine requirements, and any required third-party software, plugins, or middleware for the project. This section ensures that the development team possesses a comprehensive understanding of the technical specifications needed to develop and execute the game.
Mechanics
A GDD is necessary to organize the game development process and establish a shared understanding among team members. The controls section within the Gameplay segment should elucidate the methods through which players will engage with the game and execute diverse actions. The objectives section should encompass both short-term goals within each level and overarching goals that span the entire game, along with the core gameplay loop that players will engage with repeatedly. Typically, the lead game designer drafts the initial versions of a GDD. They are responsible for synthesizing, organizing, and filtering ideas to create a cohesive vision that aligns with the project’s overall vision.
Of course, not every game has a huge development team — some titles are created entirely by solo developers. But even a solo developer may find a GDD useful, as a later reference point for decisions they took early in the process, or in case they bring in a second developer to help share the work. He’s utilized his web dev skills and desire to help others by creating a resource where expert game designers can share what they’ve learned with the next generation of aspiring game makers. Encouraging new ideas is a worthwhile endeavor throughout the entirety of your game design process. The core concept, the major tenets, and what you’re trying to accomplish can be outlined in the beginning. But listing every single gameplay feature is unrealistic, especially for complex games.
Additionally, include a project overview, product requirements, and deliverables in the document. This will help ensure clarity and organization in your design process. There is no single, agreed-upon way to make a video game design document — because no two games are the same. Each GDD needs to serve the requirements of the game it represents, so there’s no single template that will fit the needs of every game. It’s important to remember that lots of people from many different disciplines may refer to a GDD — from artists and level designers, to engineers, composers and even the marketing team. So creating a document that’s easy for everyone to understand is really important.
In such cases, informal approaches such as prototyping might be used. Initially focused on web dev, Dustin was introduced to game design by a friend after college and was immediately attracted to the combination of technical skill and creativity required to make an awesome game. After creating lore (if you so choose), you need to focus on the actual, physical levels. However, you need to be extremely specific, as this could muddy the waters with individual developers. Or is it a game like Outlast in which the main character needs to find crucial information in an ‘abandoned’ hospital? You’re putting together a strategy guide that everyone on your team can follow.
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In conclusion, the Game Design Document (GDD) plays a crucial role in the game development process. It serves as a blueprint that guides the entire development team, aligns efforts, and ensures a shared vision for the game. While the necessity of a GDD can vary based on project size and complexity, it remains an essential tool for larger, more intricate games and projects involving multiple team members or external stakeholders.
Hopefully, you can clear a path towards creating a game design document by creating or following a game design document template. Remember to be specific with certain aspects of the game design document, as the more precise, the easier the team can communicate ideas with one another and turn out a great product that you can be proud of. The plot, the characters, the core concepts, the game mechanics, etc.
If you need to persuade other people to join or invest in your project, having a solid GDD will be a valuable tool. When you can present a well-organized, detailed GDD, it builds trust that you’re a “professional.” And it gives stakeholders confidence that you’ve thought everything through. So it’s a great way to confidence in your ability to deliver the game successfully. Laying out a clear vision in your GDD can also help the team stay motivated and focused.
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