Computer Games and Technical Communication

Chapter 6Game Design Documents:Changing Production Models, Changing Demands

Anthony T. Sansone

Game design documents (GDDs) are a common documentation tool used by game designers to manage the development process. Typically, GDDs describe, sometimes in great detail, a game’s story, mechanics, art direction, level design, sound and music, obstacles and rewards. GDDs borrow from similar documentation in other creative endeavors like film and books for authorial treatments and software engineering for development processes. However, game design differs from all of these artifacts; thus, approaching game design in the same way may not produce a quality product. Game design is a fluid undertaking that changes as development proceeds. The need to manage ...