GAME DESIGN TOOLKIT

HOW TO PITCH, BUILD AND DOCUMENT YOUR GAME

Digital support for game design students and educators.

Welcome to the Game Design Toolkit, your ultimate resource for game design projects in education. Whether you're an educator looking to enrich your curriculum or a student eager to delve into game design, our toolkit is tailored to meet your needs. Designed to empower both educators and students alike, it provides a comprehensive set of tools to enhance game design endeavors at every level.

Structured into three distinct levels — Playbooks, Key Deliverables, and Tools — our toolkit offers a systematic approach to game design. From detailed processes in Playbooks to descriptions of essential design products in Key Deliverables, and practical steps in Tools, each section is crafted to provide clear guidance and support throughout the game creation journey. Don't hesitate any longer! Embark on your game design journey today with the Game Design Toolkit and unlock the full potential of your creative ideas.

Explore the toolkit

ABOUT

The Game Design Toolkit is a collaboration between the lectoraat Civic Interaction Design, Digital Society School, HBO-ICT and CMD at the University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam.

HBO-ICT Propedeuse GD Playbook

This project method focuses on students developing and applying professional skills for designing multiple games.

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Playbooks
HvA Game Project Playbook

A method of producing a game which let students practice with key aspects of game design and development.

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Playbooks

Digital Prototype Checklist

A list of features your prototype could have to make working with it easier.

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Key Deliverables
Game Concept Document

A game concept document serves as a repository for ideas related to a game. It encompasses impressions, loose thoughts, inspirations, and sketches that describe various aspects of the game.

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Key Deliverables
Game Design Document

The game design document is an important tool in producing a game. It contains the current state of the design of the game.

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Key Deliverables
Paper Prototype (boardgame) Checklist

When designing for a board game or any table top experience you want to make sure you cover the basics to ensure a smooth demonstration or playtest.

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Key Deliverables
Pitch document

A pitch is a simple yet alluring description of your game, highlighting its core ideas and unique selling points. It should convince people of the value of your idea, which will help you build momentum and secure resources for your project. In the industry, a pitch is used to sell your game idea to producers […]

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Key Deliverables
Pitch Presentation

A presentation to highlight and pitch the main elements of your game towards external audiences.

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Key Deliverables

Agile Statement

Describe in one short sentence what the game is.

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Tools
Breaking the Game

testing

Understand what your game actually allows its players.

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Tools
Bring your Theme to Life

Choose a theme and create a plan to integrate it in your game.

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Tools
Concept Frenzy

concepting

Gather a gazillion ideas in as little time as possible.

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Tools
Core Mechanics Diagram

Communicate visually the main actions that the player will do in your game.

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Tools
Create your Manifesto

Stay on track during your design process, especially when creating serious games.

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Tools
Design Pillars

Establish a few core experiences in your game to guide your process of design and production.

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Tools
Feedback Loops

Describe how a system responds to player actions, affecting the gameplay experience.

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Tools
Finding Experts

Collect expert knowledge to improve the quality of your content, especially when creating a serious game.

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Tools
Flow Theory

Find the right balance between the level of skill and the size of the challenge at hand.

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Tools
Following the Game

testing

Understand what your game actually asks of its players.

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Tools
Game Design Moodboard

Describe gameplay ideas and discuss them with others.

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Tools
Goal Loops

Plan out objectives from short term through long term to keep players engaged.

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Tools
Guerrilla testing

Get feedback on your product quickly and find out if players are using it as you had imagined.

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Tools
Learning Card

testing

Document your findings after a test session with users.

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Tools
Learning through Association

Provide a more engaging and memorable learning experience for players by incorporating associations and diverse forms of expression.

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Tools
MDA Framework

Use a structured approach for analyzing and designing games.

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Tools
Playtest questionnaire

A playtest questionnaire is a set of questions that you will ask players after they have tested your game.

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Tools
Satellite Mechanics

concepting

Satellite Mechanics expand the gameplay by cleverly modifying its core-mechanic.

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Tools
Steal Like an Artist

Play and analyse other games for inspiration.

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Tools
Test Card

testing

Prepare your test session with users with the help of a simple template.

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Tools
The Formal Elements

Define the structure of your game, so you can make sure that you keep all the building blocks in mind

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Tools
Variety Matrix

Come up with a lot of game content based on game elements.

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Tools

HOW TO PITCH, BUILD AND DOCUMENT YOUR GAME

ABOUT

HBO-ICT Propedeuse GD Playbook

HvA Game Project Playbook

Digital Prototype Checklist

Game Concept Document

Game Design Document

Paper Prototype (boardgame) Checklist

Pitch document

Pitch Presentation

Agile Statement

Breaking the Game

Bring your Theme to Life

Concept Frenzy

Core Mechanics Diagram

Create your Manifesto

Design Pillars

Feedback Loops

Finding Experts

Flow Theory

Following the Game

Game Design Moodboard

Goal Loops

Guerrilla testing

Learning Card

Learning through Association

MDA Framework

Playtest questionnaire

Satellite Mechanics

Steal Like an Artist

Test Card

The Formal Elements

Variety Matrix