How to Create a Fool-Proof Game Design Document

Designing and planning is a very integral part in the creation and development of a video game. Without a design or plan, video game programmers and artists are lost sheep without anywhere to go. That’s where you come in. You’ve got it all mapped out in your brain, ready to go and ready to amaze. But how are you going to get your ideas onto paper and into the brains of those lost sheep? There’s a series of steps you should follow, along with a number of questions you should ask yourself.

Developing your Idea

Complete video games all start with an idea, which you probably already have. That idea needs to develop and grow, so you can communicate it to others in order for it to be implemented. Imagine the following scenario:

You’re sitting at a table with programmers, artists, and game designers. They’ve all congregated together just so they can hear your wonderful new idea for a blockbuster video game that will attract millions of raving people. You know your idea is great, but you just can’t get everyone else to understand it the way you do. To make a long, embarrassing story short, your quest for exciting everyone over your game idea completely failed.

Looking back at that scenario, why do you think no one was as excited as you were? If your idea had no issues or weaknesses, it could have been that you didn’t anticipate any questions that your co-workers asked. Knowing every (or almost every) aspect of your idea, and writing it down clearly, is very crucial to having a good plan that everyone can understand and follow.

Tip: There is an amazing book on game design called “Level Up! the Guide to Great Video Game Design” . In the book, the author writes that it is very helpful and comprehensible to others (and yourself) if you draw out your ideas for video games.

Important Questions to Ask Yourself

When it comes to writing your idea down, there are many questions you should ask yourself:

1. What’s your “big idea” for a video game?
2. What is the goal of the game?
3. Will this be a 2D or 3D game?
4. Will you use a game engine to build your video game? If so, which one?
5. What is the game type? (platformer, top-down scroller, side scroller, first person, RPG, endless runner, etc)
6. What genre is your game? Will is be action, adventure, sports, strategy, puzzle, racing, platformer, role-playing (RPG) or a combination of these?
7. What is the theme? Is it sci-fi, fantasy, medieval, or some other theme?
8. On what platform will your game be played? Game console? Computer? Mobile device?
9. What size will your video game be? (Dimensions of the screen; total size of all files; etc.)
10. How complex will your game be? (Make sure you’re not trying to create the next Halo as a one-person team!)
11. What is the objective of the game? How does a player know if they have “won”?
12. What makes this game “fun” and worth playing over and over?
13. What is the style of your game? What will your game look like? What will be the mood of your game? Colors?
14. What are the “rules” of your video game?
15. How will your game flow? Will you have levels?
16. Who are your characters and what are they like?
17. What sorts of special tools, skills and abilities will your characters have? Will players be able to upgrade to more skills and tools? Will they have to pay for the upgrade or will it be free? (Adding special options like tools, skills and abilities does add a significant amount of additional complex coding and tracking, which we won’t get into in this article, but make sure you budget that into your time.)
18. How will you track points, levels, usage of tools, etc.?
19. Will you have music? Sound effects?
20. Who will play your video game? What are the demographics of your game players? What types of games do these players typically like? Are you designing your game for young kids, older kids, or adults? Guys, girls, or both? Will this be for hard-core game players who like deep, complex, challenging games or casual players who like to play a little every day?
21. Will you allow player feedback to tell you what they do/don’t like about the game? How will you get that feedback? From inside the game? A website contact form? A forum? A Facebook page?
22. How and where will you distribute your video game?
23. How will you get your game to go viral? How will you market your game? Encourage live streaming?
24. Who is going to be on your game development team?
25. Where will you get your game assets (graphics, backgrounds, sound effects, music, etc.)? How much money and time do you have to spend on them?
26. How will you pay for your game development?
27. How will you monetize your game (i.e. make money through ads, upgrades, add-ons, game purchase)?
28. What is your exit plan? Would you eventually like to sell the distribution rights to your game to someone else? What if you get tired of managing the development of your game?

All of these questions are important. If you stopped a stranger on the side of the road and proposed your game idea to him, he would probably ask at least one of them. Be thorough and be prepared; all of those questions will help steer you and your team in the right direction.

Tip: Don’t be afraid to ask your team (or friends or family) for input on any of your game ideas; they may be able to improve upon them.

Game Design Documents

An official way to write down your game ideas in a professional manner would be by making a GDD (Game Design Document). A game design document includes the specifics of your video game, and it can range from one page to dozens of pages in length, depending on how detailed you wish to be. Before I started programming one of my video games, I made a short GDD to help organize all the details that were rushing in. I generalized it so you can use it as a template.

Game Design Document – [Game Title]

Supported Platforms:

Target Age:

Intended ESRB Rating:

Projected Publishing Date:

• Game Story:
• Game Flow: [What is the game loop?]
• Character(s):
  • Character 1:
    • Description:
    • Background:
  • [Repeat for each character]
• Gameplay:
  • Inputs
  • Important movements:
  • Other:
• Game World:
  • Location:
  • Theme:
  • Mood: [What is the mood of the game?]
  • Layout of Levels: [How do levels look? Is there a levels screen or a world with levels?]
  • Music:
• Game Experience:
  • Starting Scenes:
  • Cinematics:
• Music and Sound Design:
  • Camera:
• Gameplay Mechanics:
  • Mechanics: [Movements and actions]
  • Hazards:
  • Power-ups:
  • Collectibles:
• Enemies:
• Multiplayer and Bonus Materials:
  • Multiplayer: [Is the game multiplayer? If so, elaborate]
  • Bonus Materials:
• Monetization: [Will you use ads or IAP (In-App Purchasing)?]
  • Possible Exit Plan:

Like I said, GDDs can have varying lengths. They can also have different compositions. You should look for a GDD template that works best for you, or you can make your own based off of other GDDs. Though that wraps up the basics of game design, if you are planning on making your game yourself, please visit the “10 Fun & Easy Steps to Create a Video Game” article – you’ll find it interesting.

Coming up with amazing ideas is a great feeling. Being able to communicate them and organize them feels even better. Now, you can share your ideas with others, without compromising clarity or details. With great game design and communication, your dream game could one day become a big hit.