Game Design Documents - a Minimalist Approach 🧘🏽

I can review/edit your GDD: https://www.fiverr.com/joebaxterwebb/review-your-game-design-document-gdd 📝 This video will show you a method I would use to make a small, lightweight GDD, for a game in early development👨🏻‍⚕️🩺. If you're new to the channel, and found this video useful, why not check out some of my playlists: 🧠 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3n3ExgUASw7rKPy3RV6i6QxbN16m0_Yo 🤨 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3n3ExgUASw4AJWyYTdCDQYdHiheSP3er 💸 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3n3ExgUASw6OXFIa4myF7OtkC8gkjE7J 🏥 SUPPORT THE INDIE GAME CLINIC 🏥 🤝 Patreon*: https://www.patreon.com/indiegameclinic * higher-tier memberships include Discord access. 🔪 submit your games for my design crit show: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSci2uYiKNsxiUxPy416Myli2J9K8Bu4nRzCcjUX1sCSrj2-MA/viewform - games sent by email will be ignored! 🎓 hire me for design work, private coaching etc.: [email protected] ⌚Key Moments⌚ MY APPROACH 00:00 - why make a Game Design Document... 01:15 - why the minimalist approach? GDD CONTENT 03:15 - Top-Level Design Description 04:50 - The Specificity Principle 05:50 - Design Pillars 06:58 - Using the 14 Forms of Fun 09:47 - Audience & Marketing 12:48 - Core Gameplay 13:13 - a note on bullet points 15:29 - justify your mechanics and systems 16:46 - Controls 17:40 - images and typography in your GDD 18:45 - Gameplay Balance & Pacing 21:35 - Character Design / Visual Content 23:55 - Setting & World 25:35 - Tone & Aesthetics 27:26 - (No) Narrative 28:52 - Business Model (sort of) 32:05 - think holistically 33:49 - use multiple documents (if needed) SUMMARY 34:52 - How can I help you? 36:06 - Fail Fast & Find The Fun I made all of the music in this video, apart from the LoTR theme.