Game Project Management

Graded Course Project Information

Pitch Packet Information

Consider this your itemized, detailed checklist of the Pitch Packet that is left with a client at a Pitch Presentation. The Pitch Packet is a notebook (or other creative binder) of information about your company and game proposal that works on the same principle as an infomercial. That is, even when your asleep, that Pitch Packet remains with the client, constantly 'selling' them. Here is a list of what a good Pitch Packet should contain:

1. A binder of some sort. Often, this is just a notebook with a clear outer cover so that you can slide in artwork of your own. Naturally, you should create and insert appropriate cover art (front, back, and side ― don't forget the side art; it will do half your selling when that notebook is sitting on a desk back at the client's office). However, more creative binders tend to distinguish themselves from the crowd on a decision-maker's desk, so feel to consider more creative 'packaging.'
    
2. The front inside pocket should contain:

• A Business Letter thanking the client for this meeting and expressing your hopes for an opportunity to work with them; this should be signed by their Direct Contact at your company along with that person's contact information
• Information about your company
• Extra business cards

3. The first page they see should be the Cover Sheet that contains:

• The product name (logo, subtitle, and artwork as appropriate)
• Your company name and business address
• A Confidentiality Statement (usually in the footer at the bottom of the page) such as, "[Game Title] Presentation Packet. Copyright © 20XX [Your Company Name]. CONFIDENTIAL"

4. After the Cover Sheet, the second page should be a one-page Executive Summary of the game with an emphasis on what will make it sell. The Executive Summary should contain:

   • The game's title (at least), subtitle, and artwork (as appropriate)
   • The game's High Concept (media, genre, epoch), Hook (i.e., it's unique selling point) and One-Sentence Marketing Description
   • The game's target market(s), ESRB rating, platform(s), and suggested retail price
   • Anything novel about the game's marketing, manufacturing, or distribution
   • A Brief, back-of-the-box type description of the game with key features listed in bullet points

5. Following the Executive Summary is the 'meat' of the pitch packet. The third page is generally the Table of Contents for the entire Pitch Packet. Not surprisingly, therefore, you'll want to put page numbers within the Pitch Packet so that the client can reference them quickly in the future when reviewing your information.

6. Following the Project Overview there are two main sections of the body of the document, The Sizzle and The Steak. Always put The Sizzle first. The Sizzle section of your Pitch Pack should include (in no particular order):

• A no-more-than-two-page narrative description of the gameplay experience. That is, what the user will see, hear, and react to while playing the game; what sorts of resources will the player manage and what types of cool decisions will the player be making. (Hint: some art here, such as screen mock-ups, to illustrate key concepts goes a long way toward highlighting the narrative.)
• All other art being presented (plus any written information that art might require to provide context) including character and background sketches, storyboards, screen shots / mock ups (important: there must be a mock up of the Main Game screen included in the Pitch Packet), items / vehicles in the game, and so forth.
• The results of your marketing research and your marketing ideas for this product. (Use graphs here to illustrate marketing data; you may also want to use some game art and create some mocked-up ads or other promotional material.) Don't go crazy with verbiage here; be succinct.

7. The second main section of the body of the document is The Steak. It should include (in no particular order):

• The Design Document outline. Some key concepts, design decisions, and innovations and be explained (briefly) within the outline. You don't want to give too much away here, but it's important to demonstrate the you've thought through the tricky bits.
• The written Technical Document including all the scary bits and how they will be negated or minimized.
• A Flowchart showing the connections of the game's interface screens and the structure of gameplay progression. I.e., Main Menu, Saved Games, Options, Level 1, Level 2, and so forth.
• The proposed Project Schedule for making the game once work commences. This can be in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, or some other useful schedule tracking software.
• The proposed Budget. This should be in Microsoft Excel. Note that this is the 'external' budget that the publisher gets to see (the one using The Multiplier), not your own internal budget.

8. The final section of the Pitch Packet, if you have a final section, would include everything else that is left to say that doesn't fit into the above.

Suggested Reading:

The links below is provided to help you, in general terms, with your Pitch Packet. Your Team's Lead Writer / Designer, at the very least, should read this!

Article: The Game Proposal, Part One: The Basics by Luke Ahearn

Part one of this two-part article examines the process of putting together a game proposal. Here you'll see the basics of the game proposal (what it is intended to accomplish) as putting together a complete game proposal is very involved. What the proposal is intended to accomplish is very similar to that of a business plan.

Article: The Game Proposal, Part Two: The Contents by Luke Ahearn

Part one of this two-part article examines the process of putting together a game proposal. Here you'll see the basics of the game proposal (what it is intended to accomplish) as putting together a complete game proposal is very involved. What the proposal is intended to accomplish is very similar to that of a business plan.

Sample: The Hulk by Radical Entertainment

This .pdf file is an interesting Pitch Document and well worth a squint before embarking on your own team's offering to Next Thing Games.

Sample: Capture the Dude by Radical Entertainment

Here's a web page with a Pitch Document for a 3D Brawler game that you might take an idea or two inspiration from.

Sample: Ice Warriors by unknown

Part Pitch Document, part Design Document, this will certainly show you how to display the design elements of your game.