I was wondering of there is a specific industry/organization wide format for writing a complete design document, or some sort of standard to go by so that publishers wont burst out laughing when they read mine.... Here is an excerpt from the table of contents... =============================== 0.1 Update Section 1.0 General Information 1.1 Basic Premise 1.2 Storyline 1.3 Multiplayer 1.4 Hybrid of Genres 1.5 Player Killing 1.6 Respawning 2.0 Environment 3.0 Classes/Races/Factions 3.1 Playable Races 3.2 Faction Information 3.3 Faction Advantages & Disadvantages 3.4 Classes/Roles ========================= etc etc ... So thats how essentially how we are formatting the Table of contents and stuff. Is there a tutorial somewhere on writing design docs, perhaps something with a template that I can compare *our* design doc to? Also, should I include a glossary of terms for stupid people and stuff?

*bumpity bump bump*

By the looks of it, I''m guessing you want to send your game idea of a MMORPG to a game developer/publisher.

This is done all the time by young script kiddies who think their game ideas are sacred, but don''t get discouraged ...

There are many different ways design documentation is set up. I suggest sticking with what GameDev has to say in their Articles section.

- Rob Loach
OverTech Technologies
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"Life moves pretty fast. If you don''t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it."
- Ferris Bueller

The book "Game Architecture and Design" (I forget the author''s name) has quite a bit on this sort of thing, and a lot of good advice. You should check it out.

*ahem*
On GameDev.net on the Articles & Resources page there is a section called Game Design and in that section there is a sub-section called Design Documents and in that sub-section there are approximately 8 links including the downloadable Captain Claw design document, a series named The Anatomy of a Design Document, and several other articles to help you out.

Have fun!

-- Ivyn --

[edited by - Ivyn on December 3, 2002 11:32:31 PM]

Okay, I'm sure your not trying to start a flame war or anything but let me make a few things very clear to you, I'm pretty tired and I'm not particularly interested in dealing with smart remarks...

A) I'm not a script kiddie, I don't not claim to be a "know-it-all" OR an "total newb".

B) Did I ever say I was going to publish anything? Did you the thought even cross your mind that perhaps, the game our "team" is working on is going to be an open-source project that would be free for everyone?



[edited by - raymondo on December 3, 2002 12:08:07 AM]

Ivyn and Plasmadog...thank you.

I don''t really think Rob Loach was referring to you when he said "script kiddies". He was simply stating the fact that many people with no skills try to make MMORPGs more than other games.

quote: Did I ever say I was going to publish anything?

YES. You said you were looking for "some sort of standard to go by so that publishers wont burst out laughing when they read mine...."

~CGameProgrammer( );

*if* I showed it too them...I do not SPECIFICALLY say I was going to publish anything...

Anyway, can we get back on topic? This is a really stupid argument with no purpose

Perhaps some personal experience with writing design docs that the articles don't cover?

[edited by - raymondo on December 3, 2002 12:35:01 AM]