game design outline template

Game Design Outline Template 

1. Game Mechanics  

 Discuss any and all game mechanics unique to your game idea 

Hiding – while hiding you will have to hide your heart beat with a heart beat sensor if you don’t hide it then the monster will find you 

2. Genre  

 Game genre 

horror 

3. Platform and Controls  

 What consoles and why. Map out control schemes 

Will be available on the playstation store, xbox store and steam  

4. Avatar  

 The main character that you control. Look, abilities, background 

Archie – Archie is a 24 year old male, average height (5’11), he finds out he has a gift which allows him to see paranormal beings such as ghosts, demons. Archie has a 5-year-old daughter who he cares for dearly, his wife died in childbirth. 

5. Camera Perspective  

 this/first person? Top down? Etc. Why? 

Third person – gives a more realistic feel and sets the tone better, guns are involved in this game and the third person allows more possibilities with the guns and the UI 

6. Goals and Scores  

 What are you aiming to do? What are your rewards? What ‘currency’ do the game have if any (what can you spend) 

The game will cost £40.There will be a DLC available only when the player has finished the main story and will cost £25. There will be character skins available to be bought in the in game shop and will vary in cost from £5 - £25 

7. Progression and Variety  

 How will you keep the game varied and interesting throughout 

The save feature, will be able to save your game in case of being killed to not lose too much progress, there will be new monsters and villains around every corner, plot twists and unexpected twists in the story to keep the player interested 

8. Tension and Rest  

 How will you build moments of tension and excitement. How and when will you let the player relax (but not become bored) 

There will be parts of the game where the player will need to solve a puzzle to unlock a needed area to progress the story, however the player will be faced with enemies needed to be passed or dealt with keeping the player on edge at all times even when thinking they can relax, this partnered with the atmosphere of the game will work as a way to scare players 

9. Obstacles and Penalties  

 What is in the way of the objective? What is the penalty for failing an objective? 

The character is urgently trying to find his kidnapped child – but it is found out through the story of the game, that the enemies/ monsters need to use Archie’s daughter to offer some sort of blood for blood sacrifice – this will be shown to the player if they die task showing the consequences of their action- there are hundreds of wolf-like monsters who stand in your way along with the main villains 

10. Resources  

 What can you pick up and use? 

Guns, knifes, grenades – will all be sold by a mysterious being that appears to follow you wherever you go. 

11. Decisions  

 What decisions can the player make during the course of the game, action or story based? 

The character can decide to follow secrets or look further into decisons which will not affect the main story of the game 

12. Storytelling  

 How will the story be told? Through game, cut scenes, voice overs, etc. 

The story will be told through the game, cut scenes will play a massive part in telling the story, flashbacks will also show the past of Archies life , 

13. Art Direction and Style  

 How will the game look, what is its visual inspirations? 

The game will be set in a town surrounded by a forest – inspirated from American forests 

14. Sound Design  

Very eerie, often loud to put the player off or out right scare them