Unit 42 Game Design Theory (K/618/7473) Assignment Brief 2026

Unit 42 Game Design Theory Assignment Brief 2026

Introduction

What makes a great game? Although it’s easy to say, ‘This is a great game’ when your character has just cleared a zone and your friend’s voice buzzes in your headset letting you know that everybody is waiting for you to join the party – then another player interrupts, suggesting tactics to take down the next objective. It is a completely different story, however, when you (the designer) are sitting, staring at a blank sheet of paper and your producer is expecting you to present ‘The next big title’.

This unit introduces students to an exploration of the practices, principles and skills needed to successfully design a game. The unit starts by establishing an overall history of games and reviews, and how they have evolved – and still are evolving. Students are introduced to assessing common game features and identifying the roles and responsibilities of people involved in game design, and its challenges. Students will become familiar with a range of standard documents associated with games design, including the ‘Game Design Document’. Before they embark on defining, designing and documenting their own game ideas they are given opportunities to work in groups to debate and review the elements of game design. They will be introduced to the design process as well as the practices, principles, tools and techniques. As students progress, they are given opportunities to evolve their ideas through peer review, before finally presenting a ‘High Concept’ pitch. To help maximise student involvement, this unit should (where possible) simulate a real-world design experience.

Among the topics included in this unit are: design documentation, research, requirement gathering, idea generation, world design, storyboards, storytelling, characters, levels, gameplay, assets and asset management, tools and techniques, game engines and environments, genres, game mechanics, player motivation and challenge, rewards, game structure, game design vocabulary and preparing and presenting a pitch.

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to critically assess the types, practices, principles and skills used in the design of games, analyse the concepts and elements required for the production of a Games Design Document, evaluate the game design process with regard to game development and production, and use game design practices and principles to create an original Game Design Document and present a High Concept pitch. As a result, they will develop skills such as communication literacy, critical thinking, analysis, reasoning and interpretation, which are crucial for gaining employment and developing academic competence.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit students will be able to:

LO1 Critically assess the types, practices, principles and skills used in the design of games

LO2 Analyse the concepts and elements required for the production of a Games Design Document

LO3 Evaluate the game design process with regard to game development and production

LO4 Use game design practices and principles to create an original Game Design Document and present a High Concept pitch.

Essential Content

LO1 Critically assess the types, practices, principles and skills used in the design of games

Game design and game types:

Identify what game design is and explore the evolution of games over time.

Research and assess game types, trends, player features, control and technology.

Practices, principles and skills used in the design of games:

Identify the role of a games designer and introduce concepts related to the game design process (including High Concept, story and art bible, design document).

Discuss idea generation, world design, storytelling, characters, levels, gameplay, assets and asset management.

Assess the skills needed to successfully design a video game.

LO2 Analyse the concepts and elements required for the production of a Games Design Document

Games Design Document structure:

Review different Game Design Documents and identify common and shared factors.

Discuss, compare and synthesise your identified factors into an agreed format.

Concepts and elements required for a Games Design Document:

Examine the purpose of the Game Design Document (including game loops such as core, dual and compulsion as well as the principles of Metagame design) and identify the stakeholders and their possible expectations.

Debate the content, depth and quality of information expected in a Games Design Document (including age-appropriate content and content ratings).

Explain the strengths and possible weaknesses of a Games Design Document.

LO3 Evaluate the game design process with regard to game development and production

Roadmap for the game design process:

Roadmap to include concepts, planning and design, development, testing, distribution.

Debate the value of the concept stage including idea generation and establishing the audience, game world, narrative, style, features and gameplay, characters, storyboards and player motivation and challenges.

Recap why concepts are reviewed, synthesised and stored as a set of documents.

Investigate design tools and explore issues related to the planning and design stage including asset creation and management and possible redevelopment of agreed ideas.

Game development constraints and possible pitfalls, platforms commonly available to support development.

Testing methods, purpose of Quality Assurance (QA) and business and monetisation models, e.g. Steam, retail, Free-to-Play (F2P).

Techniques such as item-purchase, affiliate, advertising, freemium, restricted access, subscription,

Production and distribution, taking security issues into consideration.

LO4 Use game design practices and principles to create an original Game Design Document and present a High Concept pitch.

Game concept:

Gather and document a range of original game ideas using research on existing game types and styles for inspiration.

Peer-review and evaluation of feedback on game ideas.

Justify the selection of a specific game idea.

Apply game design practices and principles to develop a specific game idea into a full, well-structured concept.

Game Design Document and High Concept pitch:

Produce and quality check a Game Design Document and High Concept presentation, based on your selected concept.

Present and defend your High Concept pitch.

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Recommended Resources

Textbooks

Gibson, J. (2021) Introduction to Game Design, Prototyping, and Development. New Jersey: Pearson Education.

Gregory, J. (2018) Game Engine Architecture. 3rd edn. United States: Taylor.

Madhav, S. (2013) Game Programming Algorithms and Techniques. USA: Addison-Wesley.

Nystrom, R. (2014) Game Programming Patterns. USA: Genever Benning.

Rogers, S. (2014) Level Up! The Guide to Great Video Game Design. UK: John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

Schell, J. (2014) The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses. USA: A K Peters/CRC Press.

Links

This unit links to the following related units:

Unit 7: Software Development Lifecycles

Unit 43: Games Development

Unit 44: Games Engine & Scripting.

Answer

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