Assignment 4 (section 1)

You will develop a design portfolio for a game concept in response to a given brief.

Your portfolio will cover:

genre of proposed game

game ideas

audience

similar games already in the market

target platform

P2 generate outline ideas for a game concept working within appropriate conventionsM2 generate detailed ideas for a game concept showing someimaginationD2 generate thoroughly thought through ideas for a game concept showing creativity and flair

P2 generate outline ideas for a game concept working within appropriate conventionsM2 generate detailed ideas for a game concept showing someimaginationD2 generate thoroughly thought through ideas for a game concept showing creativity and flair

Here is your brief for our new project. We want to establish a new IP with core gamers, that gives

them something new. In terms of development, there are some specifics we would like your

proposal to adhere to as we feel these are core to the ethos of our company and success in today’s

market.

It has to be a new IP.

Should not be overly ambitious – we currently have limited funds to develop this project and need to keep a sense of scale.

Needs to be aimed at a core demographic for the gaming market. Again so as to secure interest and revenue.

It can be for any genre and any platform, although it will originally be a single platform release.

Should seek to do something new with the genre, either with the characters and narrative or mechanics.

Must be 3D.

Must have a narrative and the ability to carry dialogue.

MEMOTo: Development TeamFrom: Development Manager

1. Outline chosen genre in relation to visual styles and gameplay. It is expected that you will have conducted primary research into similar games to find out this information (by playing them).

2. Your game ideas can be presented through a combination of mind maps, mood boards, storyboards, concept art, gameplay outlines, flow charts etc.

3. Develop target audience profile – using demographics, psychographics – through both primary research (surveys) and secondary.

4. Research own idea – similar games research, as well as primary research looking at retail outlets: what they stock and what their best sellers are.

5. Specify target platform after assessing platforms and their pros and cons.

P2 generate outline ideas for a game concept working within appropriate conventionsM2 generate detailed ideas for a game concept showing someimaginationD2 generate thoroughly thought through ideas for a game concept showing creativity and flair

Ideas will be sketched out roughly and without much detail. Learners will not justify their choice of final ideas for implementation. However, they will present some verbal or visual record of their ideas and will give some indication of where the ideas came from or how they were arrived at. In terms of the aesthetic or imaginative qualities of their work, learners will not move beyond the conventional, but the conventions applied will be appropriate to the genre within which they are working.

P2 generate outline ideas for a game concept working within appropriate conventionsM2 generate detailed ideas for a game concept showing someimaginationD2 generate thoroughly thought through ideas for a game concept showing creativity and flair

Ideas will be presented in some detail with consideration being given to such matters as the target audience and the market. They will be presented carefully through, for example, written notes or competently drawn storyboards. The ideas will reveal imagination beyond the conventional ideas of a pass grade. For example, a learner might note, ‘The player guides Luco through a mountain town to build up his strength and defence for the challenges that lie ahead up Mount Telj. Luco climbs the mountain using his double-ended pickaxe and rope. He uses these also to fight enemy climbers that are after the gold he must collect. As it turns to night-time, Luco reaches the top of the mountain, being faced with evil werewolves that were climbers during the daytime. On the way down the other side, Luco must dodge tough obstacles like avalanches and chasms without dropping the gold so he can return the gold to the shopkeeper.’

P2 generate outline ideas for a game concept working within appropriate conventionsM2 generate detailed ideas for a game concept showing someimaginationD2 generate thoroughly thought through ideas for a game concept showing creativity and flair

Ideas produced will be substantially detailed, coherent, and fully explained, evidencing imagination and flair and revealing an ease of creativity with dash and vigour. A distinction grade learner might note: ‘After completing the climb down the mountain to the village opposite their own to meet the client, the pair are confronted by a leprechaun who congratulates them for retrieving their gold, then relays a story of how a group of humans came to him and greeted him with gifts asking for refuge, but on nightfall the men transformed into evil yetis and stole the gold. That is when he put the ad in the paper, knowing a physically able climbing team would be capable of retrieving the gold from the yetis’ mountain lair.’

P2 generate outline ideas for a game concept working within appropriate conventionsM2 generate detailed ideas for a game concept showing someimaginationD2 generate thoroughly thought through ideas for a game concept showing creativity and flair