GAME DESIGN DOCUMENT (GDD)

A Game Design Document (GDD) is a comprehensive blueprint that describes the vision, mechanics, systems, and features of a video game. It acts as both a planning tool and a communication document, outlining how the game should look, feel, and function.

Why is a GDD Useful?

A GDD ensures that everyone on the team understands the goals and direction of the project. It helps you identify what is achievable in the available time (e.g., 8 weeks). Your team can revisit it during development to stay on track and instructors, peers, and testers can use it to give focused feedback on scope, features, and design choices.

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GDD Template

To start working on your GDD, please download this template. It contains the main elements needed to guide your team's design and development, such as:

• Game Concept: Working title, genre (Action Platformer, Puzzle, RPG, etc), platform (PC, Web, Mobile, Console), elevator pitch (one or two sentences summarizing your game's core idea), and your target audience.
• Core Loop: Describe the repeating cycle of player actions that define the game, like Collect resources → Build defenses → Survive enemy wave → Repeat for a survival game like a Tower Defense.
• Game Mechanics: Define the player actions, interactions, rules and progression.
• Story and/or Narrative
• Level and World Design: Describe the visual theme of the world (cyberpunk city, fantasy forest) and the structure of level(s).
• Visual and Audio Style: art style references and sound design.
• User Interface (UI/UX)
• Technical Requirements
• Development Plan: Your team's timeline to develop the game.

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Evaluation

Your GDD will be submitted on Wednesday of Week 5. This is a "live" document that will be altered as the term progresses. Please make sure you have your GDD as a markdown template in your project's Git repository. Submit a link to the repository on Kit. The following are the rubrics to evaluate your GDD:

• Game Concept and Core Loop: Evaluates how clearly your game's core idea is articulated. The working title, genre, platform, elevator pitch, and target audience are well defined and coherent. The concept shows originality and a feasible scope for the term. The core loop Assesses understanding of the player's main activity and engagement cycle. The loop is logical, repeatable, and central to the game's fun. 2.5 pts.
• Game Mechanics: Evaluates clarity, logic, and creativity of gameplay mechanics, interactions, rules, and progression. Mechanics should align with the core loop and demonstrate an understanding of player engagement and challenge. 2 pts.
• Story, Level, World Design: Evaluates how well the story or premise supports the gameplay experience. Considers clarity of setting, characters, goals, and storytelling method. For level and world design, it will assess the game's environment, progression, and player learning path. Evaluates structure (linear/open), tutorial design, and challenge balance. 2.5 pts.
• Style: Visual and Audio: Evaluates consistency and creativity of aesthetic vision. The art and sound choices should support mood, theme, and gameplay clarity. 1 pt.
• UI, Technical Requirements and Feasibility (Timeline): Evaluates the clarity and thoughtfulness of the interface design, player feedback systems, and accessibility considerations. Assesses whether the technical plan (engine, languages, tools, and deployment) is realistic and appropriate for the project's goals and timeline. 2 pts.