Video Game
Proposal

What is a video game
proposal?
A video game proposal is
developed to try and convince
managers and investors to
spend money on the idea of
the game.
It is very brief but covers
enough of the basic idea
before developing the design
fully.
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What is covered in a
proposal?
The game designer will add anything they
feel will
attract management or investors in the
game idea.
This includes and not limited to:
• Title idea
• Genre and Themes
• Platform and controls
• Narrative / Objective Design
• Design Elements
• Features

The Title
A title must be catch and relate to the game
however, it can often change as you
develop the games.
Some famous examples of name change
decisions:
◦ Pac man was originally, Pakkuman,
was inspired by the Japanese
onomatopoeia, “paku-paku," which
describes the sound of eating, similar
to the English word “chomp.
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Genre and Themes
◦ Deciding on the style of the game helps
with the development of the story and
characters.
◦ Games often use more than one genre.
For example Tomb Raider is a action /
adventure game and Overwater is a
fantasy/ futuristic game
◦ Themes would consider the overall
gameplay style. This can help you
decided on controls and mechanics of
the game. So for example Rainbow Six
Siege is a tactical first person shooter and
the original Super Mario is a platformer.

Platform and Controls
◦ Depending on what platform
you are developing on can
change the controls and
mechanics drastically.
◦ For example if you are
developing a game for a phone
app, your controls will have to
work with the gestures and
motions of touch screens.
Something as simple as on two
different consoles would have
two different button sets to work
with.
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Narrative / Objective
Design
◦ Depending on the genre will depend on
if your game has a narrative or an
objective design.
◦ If your game is a roleplaying game, it’s
likely you are to have a story behind it to
explain your characters actions.
◦ If your game is a platform / puzzle game,
you are more likely going to have an
objective design. This is a detailed
description of the role of your character
and the objective/goals at the end.

Games Design Elements
This adds depth and
understanding to a proposal. Talk
about and explain:
◦ Main Character design and
ideas
◦ Level / Environment design
◦ Gameplay / Mechanics
◦ User Interface / HUD design
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Features
◦ Everything from level design, items
they may have to collect or use, doors
that will be opens, menu themes and
enemies must be considered.
◦ Use images and influences found in
other games and searched to develop
your features proposal.
◦ For example if I was going to make a
fantasy platform based game, I could
use images from Zelda, super Mario
and Donkey kong to help explain my
gameplay and perhaps the rings from

Peer Feedback
◦ Once your proposal is
finished, you will propose this
idea to the rest of the class.
◦ The class will offer feedback
on ideas they feel might
contribute to your idea.
◦ Note down these ideas in this
section.
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