Sustainability Project

Game Design Document

9/26/2013

1 Overview1.1 In one sentenceQuickly sort trash, recyclables and compost items while learning how to properly be sustainable.

1.2 IntroThe player will choose items from a conveyor belt and sort them correctly in a timely manner. Meanwhile cheerleaders will provide assistance and comedic relief.

1.3 GenreThe game is in the category of simple arcade.

1.4 Target AudienceThe game is relatively simple so that it is accessible to our wide audience from incoming freshmen to new staff that may have never played a video game.

2 Game Mechanics2.1 Core GameplayA conveyor belt at the top of the screen will carry in items in one direction. Trash, recycling and composting bins will be moving in the opposite direction on a conveyor belt at the bottom screen. The player will need to quickly drop the items off the top conveyor into the right moving target bin. They will need to time their actions carefully, but also move quickly so the items do not fall off the end of the conveyor and make a clutter of trash.

2.2 ScoringThe score will be a combination of two factors. First, whether or not they completed the task within the time limit, and whether or not they put the objects in the correct bins.

2.3.1 Conveyor Belt TimeIf an item is not sorted in time, no points will be awarded and trash will build up on the floor. A correctly sorted item in time will award 100 points. Sorting an item into the wrong bin will lose points, or in the case of the compost bin, make that specific bin unusable.

2.3.2 TimeEach level will have a set time limit that shows how long items will continue to stream in on the top conveyor.

2.3.3 CompletionTo advance to a faster level, or to complete the game, a certain score must be met. This score would be dictated by the number of objects you need to sort in that level.

2.4 Game Flow

The game progresses from the Start Screen to the Tutorial to the Gameplay and finally the End Screen.

2.4.1 Start ScreenThis will be a simple menu that the game will start on, so that it does not begin right away.

2.4.2 TutorialThis section will have the cheerleaders explaining the rules of recycling and which items goes in what bins. They will also inform the player about the consequences of contaminating the wrong bins.

2.4.3 GameplayThe gameplay will consist of three locations on campus. Each location will give the player less time to sort the objects. Locations include the MSC, a dorm, and outside.

2.4.4 End ScreenThis screen will show when the player has completed the game and could be used to determine when the student is allowed to leave the seminar.

2.5 Game Elements2.5.1 GloveA gloved hand will represent the player. This avoids any potential minor issues with the player being a different race than the color of the hand. They will control this glove and pull items off the top conveyor with it.

2.5.2 CheerleadersCheerleaders will help the player to understand their mistakes and also provide comedic banter to entertain the player.

2.5.3 ObjectsThe games objects will include a variety of recyclables, compostable, and trash. These would be common items on campus such as pizza boxes and water bottles.

2.5.4 BinsThere will be the three bins that we have here at Stout. Blue is for recycling, green for composting, and black for trash. These would fill up after a few items, so the player must use other bins and not just focus on one.

3 Interface and Controls3.1 InterfaceThe interface will be kept clean for user friendliness. It will show the time remaining and the score.

3.2 ControlsThe player will click while the glove is over an item to pull it off of the conveyor. They can also press the space bar to speed up the conveyors if they require bins that are empty.

4 Media4.1 Overall GoalsThe art will need to help develop a muscle memory for the player. So items and bins must look similar to their real life counterparts.

4.2 Game Art Two cheerleaders 3 campus locations 3 bins Hand Menus A variety of objects Interface elements Conveyors

4.3 SoundThere will be two easily distinguishable sounds so that the player knows immediately whether they were right or wrong. These would play when an item enters a bin. There will also be a soft background music playing.