When it comes to creating game design documents, there isn't just one golden rule or an exact recipe to follow. It's a bit more flexible than that. Still, it's still super important, and we like to break them down into two major categories based on difficulty.
Tier 1: Simple Game Design Document (GDD)
A simple game design document provides a basic overview of the game's concept and key features. It outlines the core gameplay mechanics, objectives, and high-level design elements. Here are the key components of a simple GDD:
1. Concept: This section describes the game's overall idea and theme in a concise manner. It provides a brief overview of the setting, characters, and the player's main goal.
2. Gameplay Mechanics: The GDD should outline the fundamental mechanics' players will engage in during gameplay. This includes actions such as movement, combat, puzzle-solving, or resource management.
3. Objectives: Clearly define the primary and secondary objectives players need to achieve to progress in the game. These objectives could include completing levels, defeating bosses, collecting items, or solving specific challenges.
4. Level Design: Provide an overview of the game's levels or areas, highlighting their main features and intended progression. This section should cover the environments, obstacles, and any unique elements that make each level distinct.
5. Characters: Describe the main characters or player avatars, including their abilities, strengths, weaknesses, and any special features or powers they possess. Mention any important non-playable characters (NPCs) and their roles within the game.
6. User Interface (UI): Provide a basic outline of the game's user interface, including menus, heads-up display (HUD), and any additional interfaces for inventory, settings, or multiplayer functionality.
7. Art and Audio: Mention the game's visual style, art direction, and any audio requirements, such as sound effects and background music.
Tier 2: Complex Game Design Document (GDD)
A complex game design document expands upon the simple GDD by providing more detailed information, specific mechanics, and a deeper understanding of the game's systems. Here are the additional elements you would find in a complex GDD:
1. Detailed Mechanics: A complex GDD delves into the specific mechanics of the game in greater detail. This includes explaining the intricacies of combat systems, character progression, skill trees, crafting systems, artificial intelligence (AI) behaviors, or complex physics interactions.
2. Narrative Design: Provide a comprehensive narrative framework for the game, including the main story arc, character development, and plot twists. This section may also include dialogue examples, cutscene descriptions, and branching storylines based on player choices.
3. Progression Systems: Outline the various progression systems in the game, such as experience points, leveling up, unlocking new abilities, or acquiring better equipment. Explain how players can improve their characters and the impact of progression on gameplay.
4. Game Balancing: Discuss the balancing of various aspects, such as difficulty levels, enemy encounters, item distribution, or resource management. Provide formulas or algorithms used to determine enemy strength, rewards, or other dynamically adjusted parameters.
5. Multiplayer and Online Features: If the game includes multiplayer or online functionality, detail the different modes, matchmaking systems, player interactions, leaderboards, and any relevant social features.
6. Monetization and Business Model: For games with monetization elements, outline the business model, such as free-to-play with in-app purchases, premium pricing, or subscriptions. Describe the specific monetization strategies employed, such as cosmetic item sales, expansions, or loot boxes.
7. Marketing and Launch Plan: Discuss the target audience, competitive analysis, marketing strategies, and planned platforms for the game's release. This section may include plans for promotional campaigns, community engagement, beta testing, and post-launch support.
So a simple game design document provides a high-level overview of the game's concept, while a complex GDD goes into greater detail, covering mechanics, progression systems, narrative design, balancing, multiplayer features, and monetization.
Why it's important to start with a game design document ?
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