Using a supplied Game Concept Document (GCD) template you will develop a FEASIBLE, CLEAR and CONCISE proposal (plan) for a small 2D game design project. Your concept MUST be realistic and achievable. This is likely to be your first game, there is limited time and a lot to learn i.e. you are not designing the next Call of Duty or Mario Brothers. During this period you will also commence your ongoing Game Design Journal (Blog) and address the designated topics/tasks for weeks 1-4. 

Considerations
The genre and type of game project you pursue is optional, but your concept MUST meaningfully engage with the core thematic element ('You are the Enemy') and be achievable within the timeframe.

The following aesthetics MUST be factored into your game concept with priority given in the following order:

1. Narrative. Game as drama (strong backstory that sets the scene and creates interest)
2. Discovery. Game as uncharted territory (make the player feel like an explorer)
3. Challenge. Game as obstacle course (include escalated challenges)

In other words, your game concept must not only meet the standard expectations of a game i.e. enjoyment & challenge but also demonstrate alignment with the three-aesthetics defined above. Narrative is more important than discovery and challenge, but all must be factored into your design. How you do this is up to you!

The Game Concept Document (GCD)
An editable GCD template will be provided for you to flesh out your game concept. The document structure is split into the following sections:

• Core statement; your 'Elevator Pitch' - sell your idea!
• Background; Why are you making this game? Why is it different to other games in the market?
• Game Narrative; Set the scene for your game world and protagonist, and explain how you are addressing the core thematic element.
• Target Audience; Create an Audience Persona to clarify the target audience for your game project.
• Mechanics, Dynamics & Aesthetics (MDA); How will your game design elements work together to deliver a good player experience and meet the expectations of the 3 aesthetic constraints?
• Key Features; A feature list which explains what happens in your game world, when, why and how?
• Game Assets; List the game assets you will need to develop for both the paper prototype game (Assignment 2) and digital prototype game (Assignment 3).

TIP: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

The GCD is the FOUNDATION for your game design projects this term and will help you transform your initial ideas into a playable paper prototype game (Assignment 2) and a simple 2D digital prototype game (Assignment 3). If you create a solid GCD, it will help smooth the path for the following assignments.

Deliverables:

1. Game Concept Document (GCD). An editable template will be supplied for this task. Once complete, you will upload this document in Microsoft Word-format through the Assignment 1 submission page on the unit website.
2. Game Design Journal (Weeks 1-4). Complete journal (blog) entries addressing designated topics/tasks on a weekly basis.

Allocation of marks:

• Game Concept Document (GCD) = 24 marks
• Game Design Journal (Weeks 1-4) = 6 marks
• Total = 30 marks (30% of your overall score for MMST12017)

Supplementary notes:

• Your submission MUST meet the constraints of the task.
• The GCD and ideas within in it will be assessed against for feasibility, clarity and quality.
• The underpinning game concept is sufficiently ambitious i.e. not too simplistic but reflects an outcome that is realistic and achievable.
• Evidence of extra effort with respect to innovation, creativity and production value may result in higher marks.
• The game design ideas within your GCD MUST be original. You cannot use someone else's Intellectual Property (IP) within your work e.g. Star Wars, Monopoly.
• Journal entries made after the Assignment 1 due date will NOT be marked.
• Penalties WILL be applied for late submission or for failing to comply with the assignment requirements.

Please refer to the unit website for the GCD template, detailed assignment criteria, along with exemplars and supporting materials.

Assignment 2 requires you to develop a playable paper prototype game based on the Game Concept Document (GCD) which you developed for Assignment 1. You will also create a short playtest video showing the important parts of your paper prototype gameplay, and continue working on your Game Design Journal (Blog) for weeks 5-7.

Paper (Physical) Prototyping
Paper prototyping is used extensively within the game industry and it allows game designers to rapidly develop, playtest and iterate simplified versions of game mechanics, dynamics and aesthetics to improve the overall player experience. Once complete, your paper prototype game will become the blueprint for the final game design task, the creation of a simple 2D digital game prototype (Assignment 3).

What does ‘playable’ mean?
The term 'playable' means exactly that! Consider Assignment 2 to be a 'boardgame' version, or approximation, of your underpinning game design concept. Your submission MUST include all game object required for game play with the exception of common items such as dice and counters.

But, boardgames and digital games are different….
Designing a boardgame which will eventually become a digital game can be tricky and requires careful planning. Some aspects of the gameplay will not translate between the mediums but don’t let this put you off! By developing a playable paper version of your game, you are trying to create a simplified version of your game concept to allow you to test your core game mechanics, dynamics & aesthetics. Being playable, you can also put the game into the hands of your target audience and receive ‘real’ player feedback to help you build a stronger and more enjoyable game.

Here are some common examples to highlight differences between board and digital games:

• Game Style/Genre. Regardless of whether you are hoping to create a 2D dungeon crawler; shooter; racing game; adventure game; platformer, or simple arcade game for your Assignment 3 digital submission, each of these game types can be replicated as a boardgame. The easiest way to do this is to visualise the gameworld from a top-down perspective. If you are struggling for inspiration, browse some of the game concepts on platforms such as Kickstarter.
  
  
• Movement. Controlling player movement in boardgames is generally done through dice-rolls, turns or some form of ‘spinner’. In a digital version of the game, the player will (generally) use the keyboard to move the player around.
  
  
• Combat. Boardgames have simple systems in place for line-of-sight and combat between players and enemies. This may include listing abilities and scores for various ‘classes’ of character in your rules and using dice rolls or turns to decide the outcome of interactions. Digitally, combat is controlled by player movement and scripts attached to the player and enemy game objects.
  
  
• Replayability. Each time a game is played it must play differently in order to keep the player engaged. Simple methods to achieve this in a boardgame include using moveable markers on gameboard tiles to indicate collectable ‘pick-ups’ (health, power-ups, weapons, hazards etc); using a modular tile system which can be setup differently for each game; using an ‘Event’ card system which forces players to draw a card(s) from specific piles when they begin a new turn / move into a room / or land on a specific gameboard tile. In the digital version, these events can be controlled by creating spawning points for game objects or even have dynamically generated maps. You can use whichever system you choose, but you WILL implement one (or more) systems to ensure your boardgame plays differently and offers a dynamic play experience.

Playtest Video: Show don’t tell!
To showcase the important parts of your paper prototype gameplay you will create a short video (less than 5 minutes). You WILL upload this video to YouTube as an ‘unlisted’ video (so it is not searchable by the public) and include the URL with your submission.

In combination, these tasks allow you to demonstrate that you can apply your understanding of the theoretical game design concepts covered in the unit textbook and broader course material, and will set you up for success in Assignment 3.

Deliverables:

1. Playable paper prototype game. PLAYABLE game based on the Assignment 1 GCD and complete with all game objects require to physically play your game. Either scan your paper components, or include all digital artwork files in a ZIP file for submission.
2. Playtest Video. To showcase the important parts of your paper prototype gameplay you WILL create a short video (less than 5 minutes) and upload it to YouTube as an ‘unlisted’ video (so it is not searchable by the public) and include the URL with your submission.
3. Game Design Journal (Weeks 5-7). Complete journal (blog) entries addressing designated topics / tasks on a weekly basis.

Allocation of marks:

• Playable paper prototype game = 15.5 marks
• Playtest Video = 5 marks
• Game Design Journal (Weeks 5-7) = 4.5 marks
• Total = 25 marks (25% of your overall score)

Supplementary notes:

• Your submission MUST meet the constraints of the task.
• The paper prototype game MUST be playable. Ensure that you supply ALL rules, procedures and game objects required to play the game (aside from common elements such as dice or counters).
• You MUST consider player engagement and replayability e.g. creating a system introduce randomness, account for pick-ups, collectables, hazards etc into your game such as 'Event' cards, moveable markers or a modular game board.
• Visual assets that you create for your game MUST be original.
• You cannot use someone else's Intellectual Property (IP) within your work e.g. Star Wars, Monopoly.
• Evidence of extra effort with respect to innovation, creativity and production value of game objects may result in higher marks.
• Journal entries made after the Assignment 2 due date will NOT be marked.
• Penalties WILL be applied for late submission or for failing to comply with the assignment requirements.

Please refer to the unit website for more detailed assignment criteria and supporting resources.

Assignment 3 draws together everything that you have learned from the MMST12017 lectures, tutorial activities and previous assignments! For this task you will transform the ideas that you proposed in your GCD (Assignment 1) and physically playtested with a paper prototype (Assignment 2) into a functional, playable Unity 2D digital prototype game. As with the previous assignment, you will also create a short playtest video and complete your Game Design Journal (Blog) entries for weeks 8-11.

Throughout the term you will develop skills and knowledge of the Unity game engine which is an industry-standard platform for game development, but is also great for rapid prototyping of game designs. We will cover the basics of Unity through a number of tutorial sessions, but you are encouraged to be proactive and spend additional time exploring tutorials and resources to increase your understanding. To get you underway, you will be provided with a collection of pre-compiled scripts known as the Unity Playground that you can attach to your game objects and combined to create a broad range of common game interactions. Although we won't be covering Unity straight away, as we have a number of game design building blocks to cover first, you will be shown the Unity Playground in first week of the course, so you can incorporate some of the mechanics into Assignment 1 and 2. If you have existing knowledge of Unity and are confident in your abilities, you are welcome to explore other frameworks such as Unity Bolt (now known as Visual Scripting) or the Unity 2D Game Kit.

Unity 2D Digital Prototype Game

Your digital prototype game will meet the following criteria:

• clear alignment to your original Game Concept Document (GCD) you developed for Assignment 1 AND the paper prototype game you developed for Assignment 2;
• includes at least one complete and functional game 'level' (scene) executed to a good standard;
• demonstrates basic competence with the Unity game engine, manipulation and management of simple game objects;
• includes custom media assets (visual & sound) that you have created for the protagonist and the game background;
• may include some supporting open source e.g. Creative Commons media assets and Unity scripts so long as these are appropriately credited in a supporting 'Readme' text file that will be uploaded with your submission (if you are unsure ASK);
• demonstrates application of game design theories and knowledge;
• provides an enjoyable and engaging player experience;
• finished quality displays evidence of playtesting and iteration (i.e. is bug free with no unexpected behaviours );
• published in either WebGL or Windows Executable formats, with ALL source files provided for assessment (Unity, Photoshop, Illustrator, Piskel etc), and
• satisfies ALL of the assessment constraints.

Playtest Video: Show don’t tell!

To showcase the important parts of your digital prototype gameplay you WILL create a short video (less than 5 minutes) and upload it to YouTube as an ‘unlisted’ video (so it is not searchable by the public) and include the URL with your submission.

Deliverables:

1. Unity 2D Digital Prototype Game. A functional and playable Unity 2D digital prototype game which satisfies the Assignment 3 constraints. You must provide a published version of your game, along with your Unity and media source files.
2. Playtest Video. To showcase the important parts of your digital prototype gameplay you WILL create a short video (less than 5 minutes) and upload it to YouTube as an ‘unlisted’ video (so it is not searchable by the public) and include the URL with your submission.
3. Game Design Journal (Weeks 8-11). Complete journal entries addressing designated topics/tasks on a weekly basis.

Allocation of marks:

• Unity 2D Digital Prototype Game = 34 marks
• Playtest Video = 5 marks
• Game Design Journal (Weeks 8-11) = 6 marks
• Total = 45 marks (45% of your overall score)

Supplementary Notes:

• Your submission MUST meet the constraints of the task.
• Your digital 2D prototype game MUST be functional and complete.
• You must submit a ZIP file containing a published version of your Unity game in WebGL or executable format. Be sure to include a 'readme' file with instructions if required.
• You must submit a ZIP file containing all of your game source files (i.e. Unity project, code, artwork).
• You cannot use someone else's Intellectual Property (IP) within your work e.g. Star Wars, Monopoly.
• You MUST credit any third party assets that have been used in your project. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism and may result in failure or administrative action in accordance with university policy.
• Evidence of extra effort with respect to innovation, creativity and production value of game objects may result in higher marks.
  
• Journal entries made after the Assignment 3 due date will NOT be marked.
• Penalties WILL be applied for late submission or for failing to comply with the assignment requirements.

Please refer to the unit website for more detailed assignment criteria, along with previous student examples.