What is the Game Design Document?
The GDD is a design document that is made at the beginning of the project. It defines a whole series of characteristics of the future game. This document is a living document, it can and should change during the creation process, and it should serve to ensure that the entire team is aligned.
In the case of large studios, this document is usually more detailed and the way to modify it should be more consensual and agreed upon.
In small teams, or even in independent studios or single developers, we can make this document more like a guide to the ideas we have and its volatility will be much faster, since there are fewer people on the team.
Among other things, a GDD should contain a description of the game, the story, the mechanics, the objectives, some sketches, how to play, and so on.
This could be a GDD template:
1.Summary
- Title:
- Genre:
- Platforms:
- General Description:
- Target Audience:
2.Game Concept
- Story and Narrative:
- Game Mechanics:
- Player Objectives:
3.Gameplay
- Game Progression:
- User Interface (UI):
- Controls:
4.Game Mechanics
- Basic Rules:
- Physics and Movement:
5.Game Elements
- World and Setting:
- Characters:
- Levels and Scenarios:
6.Art and Sound
- Sketches:
- 2D/3D Models:
- Music and Sound Effects:
7.Technology
- Game Engine:
- Tools and Software:
8.Planning and Production
- Schedule:
- Budget:
9.Marketing and Distribution
- Marketing Strategy:
- Distribution Channels: