Level Up.pdf

Writing the GDD, Step 2: The Ten-Pager
examples of how you should skew the information in your ten - pager for
each audience type:
Production Team Marketing/Executives
Provide clear diagrams of gameplay Show exciting conceptual images
Use short, punchy sentences Text in bullet points form
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Use specific terminology to get your
intention clearly across
Use vivid, descriptive examples
Compare gameplay to appropriate Use successful, modern games as
games, even vintage titles comparative titles
While the above table shows two different audiences for a ten - pager, that
doesn ’ t mean you have to write two different documents. Just remember
that both audiences will be reading it 5 .
Keep in mind that the 10 pages of a ten - pager are more what you ’ d
call “ guidelines ” than actual rules. Feel free to go over or under 6 the 10 ­
page count as long as you succinctly communicate the basics of your
game design. By the way, you will find an example of a ten - pager in Bonus
Level 3 .
The Rule of Threes
Before we start writing our ten - pager, here is a very important rule of
thumb, that I use when creating a ten - pager:
THREE IS A MAGIC NUMBER
History has observed that all good things come in threes. Don ’ t believe me?
Observe!
• The Holy Trinity of Christianity
• The Star Wars trilogy (the original good ones)
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears
• Three ’ s a crowd
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Then again, sometimes you might want to make a version that caters to one audience over
another … it never hurts to be prepared.
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Preferably under.