“The best way to learn games is to play games. The best way to make games is to work.” – Alan Emrich
Weekly Homework:
Read Chapters 12: Inside Information, 13: Not at Home, and 14: Fire and Water. Be prepared to discuss these in class next week for extra credit and as preparation for the Final Exam.
Final Course Project Game:
Samples: Concept / Treatment Document Samples by various students
More Samples: Concept / Treatment Document Samples by various students
Here are some more samples of good Concept / Treatment Document for this course. Use it as a guideline while working on your assignment.
Your specific homework for this week is to take your characters created previously and “play with them in your mind” to compose the story you want to tell. Outline it for your own use, and then create a Concept Document (GAD and VPG students) or a Story Treatment (MAA students) that would be used to sell or “pitch” your idea.
Read this week’s Review Sheet carefully and follow its instructions for composing a successful Concept Document. In addition, I’ve created a supplemental lesson (it will either be a link on the web site or I’ll email it to you with your newsletter this week) to help with some of the key parts at the opening of a Concept Document. Please, give it your best shot this week.
You will need to bring this first draft of your Story Treatment / Concept Document to class next week! No excuses!!
It will be evaluated by your classmates and critiqued. That document, with their comments and suggestions, will be returned to you and next week’s homework will be to pull it all together into a final draft of your Story Treatment / Concept Document that you will hand in on Week 8 for a grade (30 Points).
Looking ahead, your homework will ultimately be to iterate that game’s Concept Document into the Final Project: a Chapter Storyboard with captioning (MAA students) or a level / mission / quest design demonstrating your clever blending of story, character, plot, and gameplay (GAD and VGP students), as foreshadowed in the Lecture Notes from Week 4.
