Assignment brief
Qualification
BTEC Level 3 National Qualification - Diploma
Unit number and title
Unit 40 Computer Game Design
Start date
October 2010
Deadline
December 2010
Assessor name
Robert Wilkins
Assignment title
Effective computer game designing.
The purpose of this assignment is to:
The aim of this unit is to provide learners with an understanding of the underlying principles of game design.
Learners will examine visual style and game play present in games by undertaking structured game play. They will
generate game design ideas and learn about and prepare initial formal documentation to communicate these ideas.
Scenario
You have been given the job of games designer for a newly formed computer games company – ’In-touch gaming’
wants to become the market leader in interactive gaming. The company’s philosophy is that gamers shouldn’t be
confined to a chair with a joy pad.
‘In-touch’ wants gamers to be active and involved with as many aspects of gaming as possible.
Task 1
What’s in the game?
P1, M1, D1
Your first task as an employee of ‘in-touch gaming’ is to assess the competition. You need to research interactive
games which are available on a number of different consoles in preparation to write an article for a gaming website.
You need to think about:
 Visual style
 Interactivity
 Good and bad aspects of games
 Design process
You will be assessed on both you research/ preparatory notes and the final article.
Task 2
P2,M2,D2
Ideas Portfolio
‘In-touch gaming’ has provided you with the brief for the game which they want you to work on:
 The game must have a new peripheral which has not been seen on mass market before.
 The game must be focused on one platform.
 It must be based on current technology or you must design a viable new technology.
 You must pick a genre and audience and make the game suit them.
Working to this brief you will need to create a research portfolio which addresses the following areas:
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The genre and its history
Audience
Market research – similar games on the market
Target console
It is important that your portfolio contains all of the associated documents which are relevant to your research, this will
include:
 Brainstorms
 Ideas notes
 Draft copies
 Market research notes
Your portfolio must be presented in an acceptable format.
Task 3
P3,M3,D3
The Game: Design Document
This task requires you to prepare a formal design document which will be given to the board of ‘In-touch gaming.’
This formal document should encompass:
 Unique selling point
 One line sales pitch
 Concept document:
o Make the first paragraph exciting - make the reader feel like he's the main character in the game,
experiencing a high-tension moment of game play.
o Tell the reader what the game is about. The genre, platform and main features.
o Competitive analysis. What's unique about this game? How does it compare to its nearest competitors?
o Discussion of the audience and why you chose the platform.
 Game Treatment document – this type of document allows you to give much more details about the
characters, paths through the game and should use a variety of images/diagrams.
Task 4
The Pitch
The final task is to present a pitch of your game concept to the board of ‘In-touch gaming’
This will require the following elements to be produced:
 Presentation slides for the pitch
 Speakers notes
 A professional standard handout
Sources of information
Web Based Resources
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www.alanemrich.com
www.edge-online.com
www.designersnotebook.com
www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal
www.gamasutra.com
www.gamedev.com
www.gamespy.com
www.igda.org
www.shockwave.com
www.skillset.org/games
www.sloperama.com/advice/specs.htm
www.wildtangent.com
www.worldofspectrum.org
P4,M4,D4
Books:
This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose
Assessor
Robert Wilkins
Date
Signature
Internal verifier
Signature
1st October 2010
Martin McLean
Date
1st October 2010
Internal verification of assignment brief
Qualification
BTEC Level 3 National Qualification - Diploma
Unit number and title
Unit 40 Computer Game Design
Assessor name
Robert Wilkins
Internal verifier checklist
Y/N*
Are accurate programme details shown?
Y
Are accurate unit details shown?
Y
Are clear deadlines for assessment given?
Y
Is this assignment for whole or part of a unit?
W
Are the grading and assessment criteria to be addressed
listed?
Y
Does each task show which criteria are being addressed?
Y
Are these criteria actually addressed by the tasks?
Y
Is it clear what evidence the learner needs to generate?
Y
Are the activities appropriate?
Y
Is there a scenario or vocational context?
Y
Are the language and presentation appropriate?
Y
Is the timescale for the assignment appropriate?
Y
Overall is the assignment fit for purpose?
Y
Comments
* If “No” is recorded and the internal verifier recommends remedial action before the brief is issued, the assessor and the
internal verifier should confirm that the action has been undertaken.
Internal verifier
Signature
Martin McLean
Date
Action required:
Action taken:
Assessor
Signature
Date
Internal verifier
Signature
Date
25th September 2010