A game design document is a comprehensive document that can be changed and updated. Developers’ vision is usually solidified in the game. The developers depend on it to enable team members to have a defined collaboration. It would be best if you decided on it, and then the collaborators will abide by the requirements needed. Description of text, character drawings, props, and world levels should be included in it. The collaborators mostly prefer using either document pages that are printed or a collaboration system that is online and digital. The following are the importance of a game design document.
Everything is kept in order
It takes longer to develop a game, especially when the colossal scope or a single developer is involved. It is therefore essential to keep everything orderly; otherwise, chaos is most likely to arise. Additionally, diverse discipline is brought together in the process of developing a game. Designing, testing, art, sound, and many more are needed. It is needful to organize everything to enable proper track keeping of things and implementation. The best way of doing it is through the document, as you will refer to it if you get stuck. Documentation will give room for the streamlining of the process and make the experience smoother.
You could try the use of this document, especially if you have had a series of unfinished game projects. Going through the document features will allow you to estimate the time that you are likely to take in each of them. Consider your commitment, then give yourself enough time for it. Suppose you estimate one week; you can add it two or three. Developing the document will take longer than you imagine.
It keeps you more focused
There is a common mistake of either putting many or little game features. Both are problems made by many developers. Many features make your game overwhelming, and some may not be fully implemented. It is a notion that should not occupy the developers’ minds. The addition of new features during the process worsens game development. Consequently, the developers who put in little features make the user not enjoy the games.
A good document should be able to unveil functions and features that are missing in games. Platformer games, for instance. should have jump features. The document can be used as a guide. It motivates the developer as you can easily know when you are most likely to end your game.
It makes concrete ideas
New ideas for developing games may get to you at the time when you least expect. They may come while playing different games, traveling, or when engaged in other chores. Keep the new ideas from whichever source you have acquired them. Writing them down can be the best option as our brains tend to forget easily. A game development document is the best way of keeping ideas in written form. It will help you keep the new ideas and make them super concrete. You will, therefore, not be worried about losing concepts and will focus more on the generation of new ones. It is a significant way of referring to your game features. The document will give the games’ inner understanding and how it functions if a team is involved.
Furthermore, it enhances communication among the departments and lessens confusion therefore saving time. It aids in reference in the case of one developer. Moreover, it will assist you in interplay concepts and give users better outcomes when pooled together. Failure to have the document makes you lose insight and limits you to combine new ideas.
Places everyone on the same page
Many parties are usually involved in developing the document. Developers of the deferent department take part in it. The entire process becomes confusing if the people involved are not of the same level. Each developer will come with a unique version of developing the game that may contradict each other. This mess is likely to lose the best version of the game.
The vision of the game will be made clear by this document to every party involved. Each developer will therefore know what is expected of them. Managers will also have ample time to check the entire process and make corrections where necessary.
The document assists single developers in knowing which areas of engaging other individuals. It will be easy to explain the game’s vision to them and eventually make them do what is required.
It is good for marketing
A properly designed game design document is highly marketable. It entails various game features, themes, and artworks. It makes marketing work more efficient. Markets should know how to grasp the attention of the intended group. Some documents are more understood and enable marketers to create more convictive effort to get as many users as possible.
Parties involved need to design a game design template. It will enable the developers to make the document more relevant and unique. The following guidelines should be put into consideration when designing a template.
- A good name creates curiosity among users to know the content of the game. It entices many potential users during marketing.
- The template of the document should entail a feature that will attract many people to play it.
- Game summary. A good template of a game design document should have a summary. It can be written in two or three elaborate sentences.
- Worlds’ overview. Your game’s overall world should be described to make it more consistent from the beginning to the end.
- Description of characters. The template of the document should explain how the characters of the game interact with each other.
- Rendering system. The 2D system can either be used or 3D.
- Decide on the type of imagery that will be dominant in the game.
- Music and sound effects. The template of the document can make the words’ game attract and entertain more using music.
- A good template of the game should show which buttons to control the games’ events.
Conclusion
GDD is the abbreviation of the game design document. It is more descriptive in the design of videos and games. It is used in developing videos and games in the industry. The document is created as a result of partners’ collaboration in the industry. Games that publishers commission require the developers to stick to the document during the process of development.
