You will create a FEASIBLE, CLEAR, and CONCISE proposal for a modest 2D/3D game design project that addresses the theme "Lost and Found" using a template for a Game Concept Document (GCD) that has been provided. Additionally, you will begin an ongoing Game Design Journal (Blog) and respond to the specified blog topics/tasks for weeks 1-4.

TASK 1: GAME CONCEPT DOCUMENT (GCD)

You will be given an editable GCD template to develop your game's concept. The following sections make up the document's structure:

• Core statement; your 'Elevator Pitch' - sell your idea!
• Background; Why are you making this game? How 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 main game assets you will need to develop for the paper prototype game (Assignment 2) and digital prototype game (Assignment 3). This is your best guess, and is designed to get you into the habit of forecasting which is a key project management skill.

Your GCD is the basis for this term's game design projects and will lead to creation of a paper prototype (Assignment 2), then a digital prototype (Assignment 3). Future assignments will be made simpler by a well-planned GCD.

Considerations for this task

"Lost and Found" is the core thematic element (i.e. theme) for 2023. For all MMST12017 submissions, you MUST consider this as a design restriction during the game design process. Failure to meaningfully incorporate the theme into your submission will result in a 30% penalty for the GCD task. The genre and type of game project you choose to work on are entirely optional, but your proposal MUST effectively engage with the core thematic element, and be feasible within the given timeframe. The best game ideas are often small, have an engaging story, and use simple game mechanics.

Your game concept must show understanding of both formal and dramatic game elements, with particular emphasis on the following three core dramatic elements:

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

Narrative and challenge are more important than discovery, but all three must be factored into your design. How you do this is up to you!

TASK 2: GAME DESIGN JOURNAL (BLOG) WEEKS 1-4

Respond to weekly critical reflection tasks on time using the provided Moodle blogging tool. Your responses may be written or recorded in video/audio format. I will read and respond to student blogs each week, so do not leave this task until the last minute! Unless you have an approved extension, blog posts submitted after the Assignment 1 due date will NOT be graded.

A note about designing computer games

Because this is most likely your first experience with game design, you will discover that there is a lot to learn in a short period of time. It is critical that your game concept be realistic and achievable; after all, you are not creating the next Call of Duty or Mario Brothers! Traditionally, students are encouraged to design and develop a simple 2D game, such as a platformer, dungeon crawler, or racing game. However, if you have prior experience or are looking for a challenge, you are welcome to design and develop a simple 3D game.

Deliverables:

1. Game Concept Document (GCD). An editable template will be supplied for this task. Once complete, you will upload this document as an UNZIPPED 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.
• It is important that you do NOT Zip your document.
• 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.
• Failure to meaningfully address the core thematic element ("Lost and Found") will result in a -30% penalty against the GCD task.
• Unless you have an approved extension, Game design Journal (blog) entries made after the Assignment 1 due date will NOT be marked.
• Overdue submissions will receive a -5% per day penalty.

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 addressing the theme "Lost & Found" as per 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. In combination, these three 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.

TASK 1: PLAYABLE PAPER PROTOTYPE GAME

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 digital game prototype (Assignment 3).

Considerations for this task

"Lost and Found" is the core thematic element for 2023. For all MMST12017 submissions, you MUST consider this as a design restriction during the game design process. Failure to meaningfully incorporate the theme into your submission will result in a 30% penalty for the paper prototype and playtest video task.

Q&A1: 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.

Q&A2: But aren't boardgames and digital games different?

Designing a boardgame that will eventually become a digital game can be difficult and time-consuming. Some aspects of the gameplay will not translate across mediums, but don't let this deter you. You are attempting to create a simplified version of your game concept in order to test your core game mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics by developing a playable paper version of your game. Because the game is playable, you can put it in the hands of your target audience and get '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 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.

TASK 2: PLAYTEST VIDEO

To showcase the important parts of your paper prototype gameplay you will create a short video (maximum 5 minutes) and upload it into the unit website through the Assignment 2 submission page.

TASK 3: GAME DESIGN JOURNAL (BLOG) WEEKS 5-7

Respond to weekly critical reflection tasks on time using the provided Moodle blogging tool. Your responses may be written or recorded in video/audio format. I will read and respond to student blogs each week, so do not leave this task until the last minute! Unless you have an approved extension, blog posts submitted after the Assignment 2 due date will NOT be graded.

Deliverables:

1. Playable paper prototype game. PLAYABLE game based on the Assignment 1 GCD and complete with all rules, procedures and game objects require to physically play your game. Either scan your paper components into a Word/PDF document, or include all of the associated digital 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 (maximum 5 minutes) and upload it into the unit website through the Assignment 2 submission page.
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.
• For simplicity, you are STRONGLY encouraged to ZIP all of the elements of your paper prototype game. Alternatively, you may choose to present them professionally in a Word/PDF document for ease of viewing.
• You MUST upload your playtest video into the unit website through the Assignment 2 submission page.
• 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.
• Failure to meaningfully address the core thematic element ("Lost and Found") will result in a -30% penalty against the playable paper prototype and playtest video tasks.
• Unless you have an approved extension, Game design Journal (blog) entries made after the Assignment 2 due date will NOT be marked.
• Overdue submissions will receive a -5% per day penalty.

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

In Assignment 3 you will transform your ideas from your GCD (Assignment 1) and paper prototype game (Assignment 2) into a functional and enjoyable Unity digital prototype game addressing the theme "Lost & Found." Additionally, you will create a playtest video, and complete your journal entries for weeks 8–11. Successfully completing these tasks demonstrates your ability to apply what you have learned in lectures, tutorials, and previous assignments.

The Unity Game Engine

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 improve your knowledge. To get you underway, you will work through a number of Unity Learn tutorials and will be introduced to a simple framework known as the Unity Playground which can help you plan and create a range of common 2D 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 get some ideas to help you plan some of the game mechanics for 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 Visual Scripting or the Unity 2D/3D Game Kits.

TASK 1: UNITY DIGITAL PROTYPE 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 an appropriate 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.

Considerations for this task

"Lost and Found" is the core thematic element for 2023. For all MMST12017 submissions, you MUST consider this as a design restriction during the game design process. Failure to meaningfully incorporate the theme into your submission will result in a 30% penalty against the digital prototype and playtest video task.

TASK 2: PLAYTEST VIDEO

To showcase the important parts of your digital prototype gameplay you WILL create a short video (maximum 5 minutes) and upload it into the unit website through the Assignment 3 submission page.

TASK 3: GAME DESIGN JOURNAL (BLOG) WEEKS 8-11

Respond to weekly critical reflection tasks on time using the provided Moodle blogging tool. Your responses may be written or recorded in video/audio format. I will read and respond to student blogs each week, so do not leave this task until the last minute! Unless you have an approved extension, blog posts submitted after the Assignment 3 due date will NOT be graded.

Deliverables:

1. Unity Digital Prototype Game. A functional and playable Unity 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 (maximum 5 minutes) and upload it into the unit website through the Assignment 2 submission page.
3. Game Design Journal (Weeks 8-11). Complete journal entries addressing designated topics/tasks on a weekly basis.

Allocation of marks:

• Unity 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 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 MUST upload your playtest video into the unit website (i.e. Moodle) through the Assignment 3 submission page.
• 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 (if in doubt, ASK beforehand)
• Evidence of extra effort with respect to innovation, creativity and production value of game objects may result in higher marks.
• Failure to meaningfully address the core thematic element ("Lost and Found") will result in a -30% penalty against the Unity digital prototype and playtest video tasks.
• Unless you have an approved extension, Game design Journal (blog) entries made after the Assignment 3 due date will NOT be marked.
• Overdue submissions will receive a -5% per day penalty.

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