GameDesignDocument

TeamBlueMage
HarlanFalkoff
TravisThomas
JamesSlanina
DevinKing

Contents
Pitch
ExecutiveSummary
GoalsandObjectives
MomentsofGameplaythatareCentraltotheGame
APopularGenrewithanewTwist
CoreMechanicandScope
RisksandPossibleOmission
PlayerMechanics
Sandstorm
Lightning
Rain
Snow
EnvironmentalHazards
WindZones
RainZones
BarbedWire
LightningSpike
LavaPit
Enemies
EnemyTypes
Grunt
Kamikaze
Heavy
Quick
Ranged

MechanicalEyeSentry
CandleEnemy
BabyFlames
StatueGolem
ScrapMan
OozeTrap
Zeppelin
ClockworkMan
SteamKnight
IronDragon
RotarySlugger
HellonWheels

HUD
AbilityWheel
Health
Controls
ComponentMatrix
Progression
LevelConcepts
Stage1
Stage2
Stage3
Stage4
ProductionPlanning
PrioritizedFeatureList
Week1TaskList
Week2TaskList
Week3TaskList
Week4TaskList

Pitch
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10CKOyRNpBhVYBKrn0QSklwFns8eRmhhyZtznHVsSh
IM/edit?usp=sharing

ExecutiveSummary
1.1. Describegoalsandobjectives
Thegoalsofourgameistobemoreexploratoryinnaturethanin
mostshmupstylegames.Interactingwiththeenvironmentwillbekeyto
uncoveringsecretareasandadvancingthroughthegameslevels.Our
developmentgoalsarefocusedoncreatinganentertainingvariationofa
classicgenre.Byusingthepowerofdifferentstorms,playerswillexplore
andcombattheirwaythrough5levelsofincreasingdifficulty,eachwitha
uniquebossenemy,untiltheycompletethemall.Withineachlevelwill
consistofapuzzlethatthroughcompletionprovidesplayerswithan
alternatepathtoadvancing,apowerup,oraidfortheplayer.Playerswill
losehealthwhenhitbyenemiesandloseliveswhentheyrunoutofhealth.
Losingwillsendthembacktothelastcheckpointwithoutanypowerups
theymayhavecollected.Losingalifewhennolivesremainwillreturnthe
playertothemainmenu,butoptionswillallowforplayerstochangetheir
initiallifecount.

1.2. Describethemomentsofgameplaythatarecentralto
thegame
Inatypicalshmup,theplayerisunderaconstantbarrageofenemy
attacksandtakesthemalldownwiththeirarsenalofweaponry.Inour
game,playerswillbeundernearconstantfirefromenemiesindifferent
ways,justlikeothershmups.Someenemiesmightshootattheplayer
whileothersactassuicidebombers.Ideally,wellhave10uniqueenemy
typesandintroducethemgraduallythroughoutthegame.Thesevarious

enemieswillkeeptheplayerdodgingfrommomenttomoment.Playerswill
beabletousetheir4differentstormabilitiesastheirweapons.Variations
ofthesameenemieswillbestrongorweakagainstdifferentstormsso
keepingtrackofwhatstormisinusewillbekeytowinningincombat,even
againstenemiesofthesametype.
Thestormweaponswillalsobeusedtointeractwiththeenvironment.
Solvingpuzzleswillaidtheplayerbydisablingenemyspawnpoints,
openingnewpaths,unlockingpowerups,andactivatingenvironmental
changesthataffectgameplay(suchasturningonlightsindarkplacesor
openingnewpaths).Powerupswillrestorehealth,awardextralives,and
improveweaponswithinthatstage.Scopeaccommodating,unique
powerupsmaybeaddedthatgivebuffssuchasincreasedspeedor
temporaryinvincibility.Ourlevelswillincludeaminimumof5puzzlesin
eachbeforepresentingtheplayerwiththelevelsboss.

1.3. Describehowthisgamewilltakeapopulargenreand
putanewspinonit.
Mostshmupgamesaredescribedsimplytheplayermovesaroundto
dodgeandshoottheenemies(andtheirattacks)thatappear.Inourgame,
weareincorporatingexplorationandpuzzlesasamainfocusinadditionto
thetypicalshmupmechanics.Thedifferentstormstheplayercanshootwill
havedifferentpropertiesthatarekeytosolvingenvironmentalpuzzlesand
exploringthesecretsofthegame.Byaddingexplorationinthisway,itwill
createagameplaystylethatkeepsthefocusonskill,butaddsawayto
incorporatethelogicalthinkingofourfantasysteampunkthemeintothe
moreactionorientedshmupgenre.

2.1. Describehowthecoremechanicintheproject'sinitial
pitchwillbeexpandedtoafullyscopedproduct.
Inourgamepitchwepresentedanexampleofhowthesnowstorm
abilitycreatedasnowpilethatcoverstheimpassiblebarbedwirefence.
Thisisanexampleofhowourcoremechanicswillincorporateboththe
puzzleandexplorationmechanics.Additionalpuzzlescouldbecreatedthat
willrequiremultiplestormsinordertosolve,rampingupthedifficultyofthe
puzzlesastheplayersadvancethroughthegame.
Storms,beingamajormechanic,willalsoberelevanttodefeating
enemies.Atfirst,enemieswillbesimpletodefeatregardlessofthestorm
used,butlater,enemieswillappearthatarestrongorweaktodifferent
storms.Bossesandmoredifficultenemiesmightrequirepuzzlesolvingin
ordertomakevulnerabletoattacks,inadditiontobeingelementally
attuned.Thesewilltypicallybeuniquetoeachlevelsoeverynewpuzzle
feelslikeanewchallenge,ratherthansimply,turnonanotherlightor
openanotherdoor.

2.2. Describehowatroubleddevelopmentmightimpactthe
project,andifitcouldsurviveiffeaturesandmechanicshad
tobecutfromthefinalproduct.
NoneofTeamBlueMagehasworkedonaprojectofthisscopeso
thereisverylittledoubtthattherewillbedroppedcontent.Ourpriorityisto
bringpuzzlestotheShmupgenresothataspectofthegamewillnotbe
removed.Amongthefirstfeaturestobedroppedintheeventofarushon
theprogrammingendwouldbecomplexAIenemiesfollowedbya
simplificationofendoflevelbosses.Theseprogrammingheavyfeatures
couldenduptakingtimeawayfromotherportionsoftheprojectthatare
keytokeepingthegameconceptspuzzlefilledvisionbothfunctioning
properlyandfuntoplay.

Artfeaturestodropwouldbeartassetsthatarenotintegralto
gameplay.Thismeansflashyparticleeffectsanddetailedlandscape
textureswilllikelybedroppedinfavorofpowerupicons,enemyvariations
basedontheirelement,andpuzzlehintssuchasarrows.Withoutthese
keyartdesignfeatures,ourgamemayprovemorefrustratingthan
entertaining,soourartist(s)willfocusonthem.Thismeansparticleeffects
thatarenotnecessaryforindicatinggameplayelementsandappealing
worldtexturesserveasmuchlowerpriorityartassetsthatwillneedtobe
neglectedinordertocreateentertaininggameplay.

PlayerMechanics
Sandstorm
FeatureDescription
Theplayerhastheabilitytocreatesandstorms.Whentheplayerusesthisabilityasandstorm
whirlsaroundcirclingtheplayer.Thesandstormabilityblindsfoesandblockslightemission.
Additionally,thesandstormabilityerodesspecificwallsandpilescreatedbythesnowability.
CannotbeusedinWindZoneorRainZone
Surroundsplayerinacloserangecircle
Abilityupgrades:
StageOne:2focalpointsshowhowthestormspinsaroundtheplayer,eachwithatrail,
andsmallopeningsremainduetothetrailendingbeforetheotherfocalpointreaches
thesamespot.
StageTwo:Changesto3focalpointswithsmalleropenings.
StageThree:2morefocalpointsappearoutsideofthefirst3,bothorbitinginthe
oppositedirection.

Lightning
FeatureDescription
Theplayerhastheabilitytoconjureupalightningbolt.Whentheplayerusesthisabilityaquick
lightningboltisshotdirectlyinfrontoftheplayer.Thelightningboltignitesanyfloralobjects
creatingfireandpowersupmechanicalobjects.
Abilityupgrades:
StageOne:Only2shotspersecond.

StageTwo:Diagonalshotsbranchhalfwaythroughthebolt.
StageThree:Diagonalshotsbranchhalfwaythroughtheextrabranches.

Rain
FeatureDescription
Theplayerhastheabilitytosummonarainstorm.Whentheplayerusesthisabilityawide
circularareaabouttwothreecharacterlengthsinfrontoftheplayerisdelugedwithrain.The
rainputsoutfires.
Abilityupgrades:
StageOne:Stormistheplayerswidthindiameter.
StageTwo:Twiceplayerswidth.
StageThree:Shootstinyboltsoflightningrandomly.

Snow
FeatureDescription
FreezesWater
Shootsacloserangeconeinfrontoftheplayercharacter
Whensnowabilityisusedonbarbedwire(orsimilarobstacles)thesnowpilesupallowing
passageoverthebarbedwire
Abilityupgrades:
StageOne:Shotguneffect
StageTwo:BurstfireShotguneffect
StageThree:Constantstream

EnvironmentalHazards
WindZones
FeatureDescription
TheWindZoneisanareathatappearsinopenareasofeachlevel.Eachwindzonehasan
arrowindicatorwithinittonotifywhichdirectionitisheaded.Iftheplayer,snow,orrainabilities
enterthewindzonetheywillbepushedslightlyinthedirectionthewindisheading.Lightningis

unaffectedbythewindzoneandthesandstormabilityisnullified.

BarbedWire
FeatureDescription
BarbedWiresarehazardsthatbothdamageandslowtheplayerwhenentered.Typically,but
notalways,barbedwireislocatedinfrontofapuzzlelocationoralternatepath.

Weakness:
Snow:Ifthesnowabilityisusedonthebarbedwire,thesnowwillpileupallowingthe
playertotraverseovertheburiedhazard.

LightningSpike
FeatureDescription

Thelightningspikehazardcreatesacircularareaofeffectshockwavewhenstruckbylightning.
Theshockwavedamagestheplayeruponenteringthearea.Lightningstrikesincludethose
createdbytheplayer.

LavaPit
FeatureDescription
Thelavapitisastationaryzoneinwhichthatcausesasetamountofconstantdamagewhen
enteredbytheplayer.Thistypeofzonewillbebestedthroughtheuseoftherainabilitywhich
createsasolidgroundforplayerstobeabletowalkover.Thisgroundistemporary.

Enemies
MechanicalEyeSentry

FeatureDescription
Theeyeenemyisanenemythatcanbestationarythatrotatesorisolatedtomovealonga
specificaxis.Theeyeitselfdoesnoharmtotheplayer.However,iftheplayerinterceptsthe
lightfxcastedbytheeye,analertwillsoundspawningenemiesthatwillattacktheplayer.

Weakness:
Sandstorm:Ifthesandstormabilityhitstheeye,theeyesvisionwillbehindered.This
willbeevidentbythelightFXconebeingabsent,allowingtheplayertopasswithout
alert.
(Heavy)

CandleEnemy
FeatureDescription
TheCandleisastationaryenemythatrotatesandshootsflamesattheplayerfromadistance.
Theflameontopofitsheadsignifiesifitisactiveornot.
Weakness:
Rain:Ifthecandleishitbytherainabilitythecandlewillnolongerbeactive.Thisis
evidentfromtheextinguishedflame.

(Ranged)


BabyFlames
FeatureDescription
Consistingofasmallcircleofflames(4ormore)thatmoveinapulsingpatterninonitselfand
thenoutwardessentiallyguardinganarea.
Weakness:
Rain:Rainwithintheeffectiveareawillreducetheflamesonebyoneuntiltheyare
gone.
(Grunt)

StatueGolem
FeatureDescription
Aslowmovingenemythatslamsthegroundinfrontofittoattack.Alwaysmovestowardsthe
player.
Weakness:
Sandstorm:Thisabilitywillerodeatthestatueandcausehimtoweakenwitheach
secondheisforcedendurethestorm.Eventually,thiswillcausehimtobedestroyed.
(Grunt)

ScrapMan
FeatureDescription
Asimpleenemyunitthatwillattacktheplayerbyshootingmetalatthem,thenduckintohiding.
Stationaryunit.(LikethewrenchmolesinSuperMarioBros.3airshipstages)Invinciblewhen
ducking.ImmunetoRain(tinfoilhat).
Weakness:
Lightning:Adirectblastwilldestroythisunit,butonlywhenitisabouttoshoot.
(Grunt)

OozeTrap
FeatureDescription
Whentheplayerstepsoverittheirmovementspeedwillbehalfeduntiltheyremovethemselves
fromitsproximity.

Weakness:
Snow:Usingthesnowabilitywillslowlyremovethesetraps(shrinkthem)aswellas
nullifyitseffectwhilestuckinthetrapitself.
(Grunt)

Zeppelin
FeatureDescription
Anairshipthatwilldropbombsuponthefieldofplay.Thesebombswilldetonateandcreatean
AoEdamage.Theairshipwillmoveupanddownthescreenmovingeitherleftorrighteachtime
itcompletesafulltoptobottommovement.
Weakness:Lightning:Thisattackwillpuncturetheshipandcauseittocrash.
(Ranged)

ClockworkMan
FeatureDescription
Holdinganexplosivetheclockworkman'ssolemissionistorunattheplayerandcausean
explosion.
Weakness:Rain:Hittingthetargetwitharainattackwillnotonlyextinguishtheexplosivebut
alsorusttheenemyanddefeatthem.
(Kamikaze)

SteamKnight
FeatureDescription
Poweredbysteam,thismechanicalenemypositionsinfrontoftheplayeranddartsforwardwith
aswordpierceandthenrecoilsbackafewsteps.Itwillrepeatedlydothisuntildefeated.Darts
straightthroughsandstormswithoutharm.
Weakness:Snow:Snowpilesplacedinthesteamknightspathwillstophismovementand
freezehim.
(Quick)


IronDragon
FeatureDescription
AlargepatchworkDragonthatattacksaplayerwithinacloserangewithaswipeattackand
shootsadistantplayerwithafireballinastraightpathinfrontofitforlongrangeattacks.The
enemywillbeconfinedtoasmallareainwhichitcanslowlymove.
Weakness:Lightning:Directblastsfromthisabilitywillstunthedragonanddealincreased
damage.
(Heavy)

RotarySlugger
FeatureDescription
Aturretthatwillrotate360*andfirethroughoutitsrotation.Theammunitionwillbechunksof
metalthattheplayerwillhavetoavoidorusetheirabilitiesasshieldstoprotectthemselves.
Weakness:Rain:Rustingthegearsofthesluggerwillpreventitfromspinningmakingitsimple
todefeat.
(Ranged)

HellonWheels
FeatureDescription
Amulticarlocomotivethatpathsalongthescreenfromoneendtotheotherinasnaking
pattern.Allattacksstopat,insteadofpassingthrough,thelocomotive.
Weakness:Snow:Asnowpileplacedonthelocomotivespathwillcauseittoderailandbe
defeated.
(Heavy)

HUD
Abilities

TheAbilityGearshowstheactiveabilityatthetopofthegear.Changingabilitieswilltaketime,
asreflectedbythegearrotating.Thegearcanrotateinbothdirectionswithdifferentbuttons.
Thismakesoppositeabilitiestakelongertoswitchbetween,makingtheplayerhaveto
efficientlyswitchinbothdirectionsforoptimalplay.

Health
EachtoothontheAbilityGearrepresents1hitpointfortheplayer.Asaplayertakesdamage
theteethwilldisappear.Thereare10totalteethculminatingintheplayershitpoints.
Alternativelyastheplayerpicksupbonusestohealthmissingteethwillbereturnedbutnever
exceedthemaxhealthof10.

Controls

Key

ButtonName

Function

WorUpArrow

Up

Movetheplayer+x

AorLeftArrow

Left

Movetheplayerz

SorDownArrow

Down

Movetheplayerx

DorRightArrow

Right

Movetheplayer+z

Space

Fire

UseSkill

EorRightShift

NextSkill

CycleSkillWheelClockwise

QorRightAlt

PreviousSkill

CycleSkillWheel
CounterClockwise

ComponentMatrix

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xwRUhLJmEW2bTTcs0avXx22BOPfqg122ECqFp9v
nm8/edit?usp=sharing

Progression

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1BABCdLZa_JvI0ktIb2kiP0OAq9sicF44J2nBihZ7Go/edit?u
sp=sharing

LevelMaps
Level1

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1Fm3Q1KSW5XURTb9H1InMVAzuZCXT5T95pndTERlBC
wM/edit?usp=sharing

Level2

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1OCyAqaMZSGIqnKYjQomH5fa6FJUiUHHQsZUDF_GaoL
U/edit?usp=sharing

Level3

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1dfKr9zNVCAZg5GnqQJ49nV2zdwqmk6826NlwX_6PQ/e
dit?usp=sharing

Level4
Seenextpage.

ProductionPlanning
PrioritizedFeatureList
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VgbwZiFDfR8Y4daRv0qoWYnnzYj6v0nGHcYD3LA
wc/edit?usp=sharing