game design

Study Notes

Pre-production: Concept development, idea generation, and project planning
- Define project scope, goals, and timelines
- Develop a rough game design document and pitch
- Assemble the development team
Production: Asset creation, programming, and testing
- Create game assets (art, sound, music)
- Implement game mechanics and features
- Test and iterate on the game
Polish and Bug Fixing: Refine the game and fix bugs
- Identify and fix major bugs and issues
- Balance and tune game mechanics
- Add polish and visual effects
Launch and Maintenance: Prepare for launch and post-launch support
- Finalize marketing and distribution plans
- Deploy the game to the target platform
- Monitor and update the game after launch

Level Design Principles:
- Challenge and Progression: Gradually increase difficulty and introduce new mechanics
- Pacing and Rhythm: Control the flow of gameplay to create a sense of rhythm
- Player Guidance: Use visual cues, audio, and gameplay to guide the player
- Story Integration: Integrate the level with the game's narrative
Level Design Elements:
- Layout and Architecture: Design the physical space of the level
- Gameplay Mechanics: Implement specific gameplay mechanics and challenges
- Enemies and AI: Design and implement enemy AI and behavior
- Puzzles and Challenges: Create puzzles and challenges that require problem-solving
Level Design Process:
- Concept and Prototyping: Develop a concept and create a prototype
- Iteration and Testing: Test and iterate on the level design
- Polish and Refine: Refine the level design and add final details

Pre-production involves concept development, idea generation, and project planning, defining project scope, goals, and timelines.
A rough game design document and pitch are developed during pre-production.
The development team is assembled during pre-production.

Production involves asset creation, programming, and testing, including creating game assets (art, sound, music).
Game mechanics and features are implemented during production.
Testing and iteration occur during production to refine the game.

Polish and Bug Fixing involves refining the game and fixing bugs, identifying and fixing major bugs and issues.
Game mechanics are balanced and tuned during polish and bug fixing.
Polish and visual effects are added during this phase.

Launch and Maintenance involves preparing for launch and post-launch support, finalizing marketing and distribution plans.
The game is deployed to the target platform during launch and maintenance.
The game is monitored and updated after launch.

Challenge and Progression is a level design principle that involves gradually increasing difficulty and introducing new mechanics.
Pacing and Rhythm is a principle that controls the flow of gameplay to create a sense of rhythm.
Player Guidance is a principle that uses visual cues, audio, and gameplay to guide the player.
Story Integration is a principle that integrates the level with the game's narrative.

Layout and Architecture is a level design element that involves designing the physical space of the level.
Gameplay Mechanics are specific mechanics and challenges implemented in the level.
Enemies and AI are designed and implemented in the level.
Puzzles and Challenges are created to require problem-solving.

Concept and Prototyping involves developing a concept and creating a prototype.
Iteration and Testing involves testing and iterating on the level design.
Polish and Refine involves refining the level design and adding final details.