So I've decided to make a game. Now what? How do I put pen to paper and start?
My daytime gig is software engineering. I learned quickly that if I can't communicate an idea in plain english, then it has a low chance of making it into the world. This is especially true if the idea is in an area I am unfamiliar with. I also find it helpful to write ideas out in order to refine the idea itself.
Trying not to make the same mistake, I did some research into how the pros do video game development. I found some old design docs from Rockstar and Blizzard. They were the right idea, but far too intensive for my project.
I eventually found a document from Pirate Software that was a good in between. It touches on the many parts of a game, but it's simple enough to compliment my lack of experience.
I like the approach of making a planning document for any creation, whether it be software, furniture, or a recipe. It's a theory saying "here are a set of steps that I think will reach this result." Capturing intention and leaving a trail to follow makes creation faster. It's also easier to change design on paper than to change it after cuts have been made. That being said, it's important to maintain some degree of flexibility around a plan, allowing for experience and skill to fill in gaps that weren't seen in planning.
Here is the design document I created for My Friend Ichabod. I will use it as a guide in implementation, but it is not set in stone. It's a theory.
