Game Design Document (GDD)

Dark Tales of Literature

(Working Title)

Version (1.0)

Created (17/12/2015)

Last Updated

Table of contents:

1: Project Overview

1.1    Summary

Making and educational game for teenagers.

1.2    Basic Concept (no backstory)

Player goes through each story as a character within that novel and has to collect tokens to prove they have played whole story.

1.3    Core Gameplay

Teaching students the stories. 

1.4    Genre

Victorian Horror / gothic style.

1.5    Target Audience

Teenagers (16+)

2: Game Overview

2.1   Overview

Play through the stories of Frankenstein, Jekyll & Hyde, and A Christmas Carol. Helping English literature students interact with these stories.

2.2   Story

Three stories within three levels. Level 1, Frankenstein, Level 2, Jekyll & Hyde Level 3, A Christmas Carol.

2.3   Character

Level 1-Igor, Dr Frankenstein, The Monster. Level 2-Mr Uterson, Dr Jekyll, Mr Hyde. Level 3-Rat.

2.4   Environment

Level 1, dark, eerie, Laboratory. Level 2, crime scenes of Mr Hyde. Level 3 a rat’s view of a Christmas carol, set in the 1800’s.

2.5   Level Overview(s)

Level 1, Frankenstein. Level 2, Jekyll & Hyde. Level 3, A Christmas Carol.

3: Gameplay

2.6   Combat

Story, NA. Multiplayer, melee, ranged/guns.

2.7   Abilities

Igor, stealth. Dr Frankenstein, puzzle solving, calm monster. The Monster, strength. Mr Uterson, puzzle solving. Dr Jekyll, potion brewing, turns into Hyde. Mr Hyde, strength, wall climbing, fear spread, turn into Jekyll.

2.8   Score

Time, Collectables, Detection

2.9   Power-ups

Level 1-Health, number of matches. Level 2-Clues, potions. Level 3-Health, jump boost.

4: Menu Layout

2.10   Colour Scheme

Shades of yellow.

2.11   Title Screens

Main Title menu, shades of yellow in background, title of game, top of screen. New game, Continue, Select level, Exit game. 

2.12   Tutorial screen

NA, learn controls as you go.

2.13   Credits Screen

Black background, thanks for playing, list of people involved in creation of game.

2.14   Game Win Screen

End of each level, music plays, game blurs out, score menu fades in. (?)

2.15   Game Over Screen

Black background, Game Over in red text, play again / Quit options.  

2.16   High Score Table

End of each level, list of objectives percentage of completion. Multiplayer mode, same.

2.17   Level Select Screen

Icons for each level, select a level to open the menu for that level.

5: Game Layout

2.18   Camera Set up

Level 1 third person, over shoulder. Level 2 first person, POV. Level 3 side view plat former.

2.19   Game Controls

Level 1, W,A,S,D to move, Space Bar to jump, C to light candle. B to blow, out candle. Level 2, W,A,S,D to move. Right click to inspect, Left click to examine / pick up.

2.20   Game Mode(s)

Story / Multiplayer.  

2.21   Player Count

Single player, unlockable multiplayer up to 5/6

2.22   Hours of Gameplay

All together about 10-15 hours (give or take)