Game design process summary

As the game development process became more agile, the approach to documentation evolved as well. Realizing that overly lengthy and rigid GDDs are difficult to maintain and are hardly ever read, most studios have moved away from traditional design documentation.

Today, most game developers follow the agile approach to documentation. As Jim Highsmith, one of the 17 original signatories of the Agile Manifesto, said, " We embrace documentation, but not hundreds of pages of never-maintained and rarely-used tomes.

So rather than doing away with game design documents altogether, the documentation process can be adapted to support the creative, iterative, and collaborative process of game development.

Keep the game documentation lightweight. You might have to scrap the game, or pivot in a different direction. Either way, keep the inital documentation to a minimum so you don't have to rewrite a multi-page document. Fit it on a single page and let it evolve from there. Write the GDD collaboratively.

Unless you are an indie game developer working solo, involve your team in the process from the start. Make your GDD the central hub where your team members discover, discuss, and solve issues together. The GDD should evolve together with the project. A GDD is only useful when it's up-to-date. Choose a documentation tool that preserves a version history and let your design document evolve together with your game by updating it daily.

Use visual aids. Don't let your readers drown in text. Game design is a field with a broad focus. As such, the skills of a game designer are drawn from the fields of computer science and programming, creative writing and graphic design.

Game designers take the creative lead in imagining and bringing to life video game stories, characters, gameplay, rules, interfaces, dialogue and environments. This being the case, a game designer is a cross between a writer, artist and programmer.

It is an individual who presents a comprehensive artistic vision, while also possessing the technical skill to oversee and contribute to programming, image rendering, level design, digital editing and other construction aspects of game design. A game designer's role on a development team differs from the specialized roles of graphic designers and programmers.

Graphic designers and game programmers have specific tasks to accomplish in the division of labor that goes into creating a video game, international students can major in those specific disciplines if desired. However, international students who study game design in the US will be groomed to create their own video game from the ground up as well as take on a role on a development team. That being the case, international students who study game design must decide what role on a development team they would like to have upon graduation.

Once a desired role has been established, an international student should then subsequently fine-tune to the degree they are to receive. This will ensure that they are optimally prepared for that particular role on a development team until they have the industry credibility necessary in order to be given the reins over creating their very own title. Game design is a diverse field that will equip graduates to both design and create their own video game universe, but what are the roles on a development team that game designers hold prior to being a lead designer?

Learn how to ace the answer with our complete guide and sample answers. The layout of your resume matters just as much as its contents.

Who to address a cover letter to? How to address a cover letter with no name? See best cover letter addressing tips AND actionable examples. Read more! To learn more visit our Privacy Policy Got it! Developed ideas for gameplay throughout the player life-cycle. Worked within existing systems and expanded them, including integrating feedback from UX testing. Partnered with other teams to consider the game design and player engagement targets.

Created and tuned content to create accessible but deep experiences for players. Key achievements: Designed and co-wrote 5 AAA released game titles.