Initial commit

.vscode/extensions.json

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+{
+    "recommendations": [
+        "bierner.markdown-mermaid"
+    ]
+}

README.md

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-# forkable-game-design
+# Forkable Game Design
 
-Game design document template(s), made temptingly forkable.
+This is a game design document template, ready to be forked by you.
+
+## Features
+* Open to be forked by anyone, really.
+* Wiki-friendly hierarchical structure.
+* Mermaid used/recommended for flowcharts and diagrams.
+* Team-friendly, assuming your team can use Git and Markdown.
+
+Please remove this preface when you fork it. Leave a link if you'd like but it's not a priority. It's yours.
+
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# Index
+Truthfully non-linear, but in a loose order of priority.
+
+1. [Game Pitch/Synopsis](pitch/README.md)
+2. [Game Flow](flow/README.md)
+3. [Game Systems](systems/README.md)
+4. [Game Graphics](graphics/README.md)
+5. [Game Audio](audio/README.md)

audio/README.md

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+# Game Audio
+Overall vibe of the auditory aesthetic.
+You may want to additionally define any leitmotifs in use.
+
+### Theory
+Is there a fixed mode or scale? Any rhythmic motifs? Leitmotif? Define them here.
+If you don't know, feel free to erase this section and just play with the rest.
+
+### Sound Palette / Instrumentation
+
+What are you going for with the instrumentation?
+Dark, bassy tones? Happy, high-pitched tones?
+
+Even electronically synthesized instruments can use a well-grounded basis. What real instruments do you want to base your palette on?
+Where is the emphasis, which instruments (if any) will carry the focus?
+
+Is there an existing song or two you want to draw from?
+
+### Stylistic Attributes / Effects
+
+Any particular musical/auditory motifs (signature phrases/effects) you're planning to incorporate?
+
+Does the game have a specific 'theme' you want to reuse throughout the soundtrack?
+
+Will you use musical cues to draw attention to certain parts of the game?
+
+### Efects
+
+What post-processing techniques are you going to need? Cross-fading? Reverberation? Filters?

flow/README.md

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+# Game Flow
+
+You can use Mermaid to conceptualize a game flow here, if needed/desired.
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart TD
+A[Deposit Coin] --> B[Credit >= 1]
+B -- "Yes" --> C[Start Game]
+C --> E[Begin Game Loop]
+E --> F[Die]
+F --> G[Retry?]
+G -- "No" --> I[Highscore]
+G -- "Yes" --> A
+```

graphics/README.md

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+# Game Graphics
+Overall vibe of the visual aesthetic.
+
+### Color Palette
+
+What kind of color scheme are you planning to use?
+Dull, desaturated colors?
+Lively, vibrant colors?
+
+How will they be applied to the game objects? Will they be silhouettes? Will they be outlined? Will they be shaded? How so?
+
+Is there an existing work or two you want to draw from?
+
+### Stylistic Attributes / Effects
+
+Any particular visual motifs (signature shapes/effects) you're planning to incorporate into the overall style?
+
+Cute, round shapes? Aggressive, harsh triangles? Obscured silhouettes?
+
+What about design languages? Should enemies or hazards be of a certain color or shape?
+
+What about to call attention to specific parts of the game?
+Nostalgic film noir, tense wide angle cameras, glitchy static?
+
+Any visual influences (cultural, setting)?
+Mayan, celtic, post-apocalyptic dystopia, alien, etc.?
+
+### Effects
+
+What kind of visual effects are you going to need for this game?
+Motion blur? Bloom? Film noir?

pitch/README.md

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+# Game Pitch/Synopsis
+Brief summary of the game. A kind of elevator pitch. Keep it simple.
+
+### Highlights
+
+ * What makes this game stand out?
+ * New/innovative uses of mechanics?
+ * Interesting algorithms?
+ * Interesting narrative?
+ * Appealing aesthetics?
+
+### Gameplay
+
+What role will the player take on? What is their *goal*, what *obstacles* stand in their way, and what are the *tactics* they'll use to overcome them?
+
+### Mindset
+
+How will the player feel throughout the game? What is their *expectation*? Should they feel powerful enough to overcome all the *obstacles* right out of the gate? Or should they feel overwhelmed at the challenge, in search of the proper *tactics*?
+
+What is the pace of the game? Is it a race against time, or does it require careful and deliberate planning/exploration?

systems/README.md

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+# Game Systems
+Game systems are pretty loose. Separated below are a few approaches.
+Choose the best fit for your project and thought process.
+You may wish to cascade these approaches down more granularly to in-game objects, obstacles, and AIs.
+
+
+
+## GMTK Definition
+Game Maker's Toolkit uses this approach to describe a game system, which is still general while being more geared towards *games.* I've adapted it mildly to fit it in with the GOTE approach, since it is fairly compatible.
+
+### Fail State
+What are the criteria that define a fail state? Timer running down? HP going to zero?
+
+### Obstacles
+What are the obstacles that push the player towards that fail state? Hesitation? Enemies?
+
+### Tactics
+What are the tactics/methods that can be employed to overcome those obstacles? Moving quickly? Moving accurately? Acquiring bandages?
+
+### Win State / Goal
+What is the win state? What is the desired outcome? High amount of time left? No damage?
+
+
+
+## Functional Definition
+
+The foundation of any system, generally, is a function of input and output.
+Between is a process, a set of operations that take the input and present an output.
+
+### Input
+
+How will the player interact with the game? Keyboard, mouse, joystick?
+What kind of actions will the player be able to perform?
+Walking, running, shooting, jumping, attacks, combo moves, etc?
+
+### Process
+How will the player interactions be processed? As movement, aiming, or shooting?
+How will actions cascade through the game world?
+
+### Output
+
+What kind of reactions will the system generate?
+What happens when a player collides with another entity?
+Will platforms fall when walked on? Will enemies get knocked back on attack?
+Will enemies need to respond to the actions of other enemies?