CSCI 171: project phase II game design document

Deliverables and expectations

This deliverable represents the focal design document for your planned course project. It should significantly revise and expand on your original concept document from phase 1.

The submission should include two components:
(i) a hardcopy, word-processed document,
(ii) a thumbnail (USB) drive containing any sample media (audio, video, animations), code samples or demos, etc.

• The drive must be submitted in an envelope with your name on it.
• The drive must not contain files or folders that are not directly related to the course project.
• The game must run either on the machines in the CS linux lab or be compatible with a PC running a typical XP or Vista setup.

If any of the requirements above are not met, then your assignment may not be accepted for grading.

Keep your own, seperate, copy of all the files you submit on the thumbnail drive! It might take some time before the instructor is able to complete grading of your submission.

Both parts are to be submitted to the course instructor by the deadline noted above.

Spelling, grammar, and overall professionalism of the document will be considered as part of the grading.

Required contents:

• Cover page
  This must include the names and email addresses of the team members (you may work individually or in pairs), your team name, and your project/game name, and (optional) your team and game logo(s).

• Concept document / sell sheet
  A single page, summarizing what your game is and who would buy it if you were to market it. This should be targetted as a clear summary for folks who don't see the rest of the submission.

• Skills prospectus
  This introduces your team (you, or you and a partner).

  Include your name(s), team name, logo (optional), contact information (a valid email address will suffice), and a short paragraph describing your background, your gamemaking goals and philosophies, and your skills/strengths as a game maker.

• Game design
  This describes the games features in much more detail than the overview, and needs to be carefully written and organized for clarity.

  This should (at least) include:

  • An overview of the game, introducing the player's objectives, the challenges they will face, how they win or lose, and what will make the game fun, and for what kind of player.
  • Preliminary descriptions of key characters and storylines, plots and subplots (as appropriate for the game genre), including unique or significant character talents, abilities, properties, backgrounds, objectives, etc.
  • Preliminary descriptions of the different types of minor or supporting characters that will appear in the game, and their role/relevance/contribution to any plot lines and game play.
  • Preliminary descriptions of the game universe, including movement/travel, physics, scale, locations, interaction of items/characters/effects, etc (as appropriate for the game type).
  • Preliminary descriptions and images or screen mockups for each of the gameplay screens, displays, interfaces, and controls.
  • Preliminary descriptions and examples of the artistic styles used in the different game areas (covering images, animation, cut-scenes, music, special effects, etc).
  • Preliminary game walkthroughs - images and description walking the reader through key portions of the game experience, possibly including audio, images, and animations on the accompanying USB drive.
  • Preliminary discussion of any anticipated challenges in playability and game balance, and how you plan to address them.

• Technical issues
  
  • Preliminary discussion of the platforms and technologies your game targets, any anticipated challenges, and how you plan to address them.
  • Preliminary discussion of plans for supported player tools (e.g. level editors, model viewers, etc).
  • Preliminary discussion of how game distribution, patches, and upgrades would be handled.
  • Preliminary asset lists, identifying the kinds of game content that needs to be created, e.g. sound effects needed, voice-overs needed, music needed, cut-scenes needed, animations needed, characters that need to be created, etc.