Design Document For:
Planet Dead
What’s out there?
“No one’s heard from them in quite a
while”
All work Copyright ©2006 by Team Z
Written by Joe Turner & Luke Wilkinson
13/01/2010
Contents Page
1.0
Executive Summary………………………………………
2.0
Game Overview……………………………………………
2.1
2.2
3.0
Feature Set…………………………………………………
3.1
3.2
3.3
4.0
Overview……………………………………………………..
World Features……………………………………………..
Physical World……………………………………………..
Camera……………………………………………………..
Game Engine………………………………………………
Level Design……………………………………………….
Environment……………………………………………….
Cut Scene………………………………………………….
Game Characters………………………………………
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
6.0
General Features……………………………………………..
Multiplayer Features…………………………………………
Gameplay…………………………………………………….
The Game World…………………………………………
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
5.0
Philosophy……………………………………………………..
Common Questions…………………………………………..
Overview…………………………………………………..
Hero Characters………………………………………….
Enemies…………………………………………………..
Non Playable Characters……………………………….
Weapon Details………………………………………….
Objects……………………………………………………
Asset Reveal Schedule………………………………...
User Interface……………………………………………………
6.1
6.2
6.3
Overview………………………………………………..
User Interface Details…………………………………
Game Layout Chart…………………………………..
7.0
Music And Sound Effects……………………………………
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
8.0
Single Player Game…………………………………………..
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6
9.0
Overview……………………………………………………………
Sound Design……………………………………………………..
Sound Effects……………………………………………………..
Overview…………………………………………………………..
Single Player Game Details……………………………………..
Gameplay Hours………………………………………………….
Losing The Game…………………………………………………
Next Level…………………………………………………………
Victory………………………………………………………………
Team Roles And Responsibilities……………………….
9.1
Roles………………………………………………………………
10.0 Commercial Viability………………………………………..
11.0 Project Management…………………………………………
12.0 Testing…………………………………………………………
1.0 Executive Summary
How to use product:
Purpose of the project:
The purpose of this game is to make the ultimate zombie first person shooter game
which will make a large profit which could hopefully lead to sequels.
Project components:
Target users:
This game is designed for adults only 18 – 25 or older.
Cost:
As student’s we have very little money so our aim is to go for a cost free production with as
much of the content created by ourselves, or in otherwise stated cases we will use freely
distributed content of which the author will be suitably referenced and accredited.
2.0 Game Overview
2.1
Philosophy
Philosophical point #1
This game is trying to spice up a stale market compared to most other zombie
games it has a unique story and will put a different spin on this genre.
2.2
Common Questions
What is the game?
Humans have already setup a colony on a new planet but there has been no
communication from the planet in quite some time and they had some vital research
notes so your employer sends you to retrieve the research. You get dropped off on
the planet and will be picked up when you retrieve the data and set of the beacon
you then find out why no one has heard from the planet in a while because the
planet inhabitant’s are now zombies.
Why create this game?
The market is teaming with masses of shoot-em up’s all of which have one distinct
aim, survival. First Person Shooters (FPS’) make up a very large percentage of the
market and our team wanted to put a new spin on the FPS and zombie genre with
the possibility of making money.
Where does the game take place?
The game is set in the distant future on a distant world where a human base has
been setup on a colourful landscape. Earth has been crippled severely by using up
all of it’s resources as a result they have sought to use what little they have left to
colonize other planets in hopes of locating vital resources to sustain their lifestyles.
What do I control?
You control a character in a first person shooter perspective you will be able to
control the character through using the arrows keys or if you would prefer the
analogue sticks on an Xbox 360 controller.
What is the main focus?
The characters main objective is to retrieve some important data on the planet and
then set off a beacon to get picked up.
What’s different?
Through the use of a custom designed user interface the player can customize their
arsenal of weapons. These upgrades range from increasing rate of fire and fire
power to possibly aesthetics.
We also want to focus on an immersive and different storyline to those of current
zombie and first person shooters that are currently on the market. Our aim is to
create a story that the player can come back to time and time again and still enjoy.
3.0 Feature Set
3.1
General Features
3D/2D graphics
Large World
32bit colour
Zombies
Guns
Health
Ammo
3.2
Multiplayer Features
Can chat over voice link
Local multiplayer, i.e. 2 player campaign
3.3
Gameplay
Weapons: The player will have an arsenal at their disposal throughout the game
ranging from machine guns and shotguns to pistols. All of which can be upgraded by
collecting the power-ups mentioned below.
Ammo: The player will have a finite amount of ammo which can be re-supplied by
visiting one of the supply points on the map or from power-ups.
Buildings: The majority of the game will be set in out door locations this is to
distinguish our game from others in the same genre. By setting the game outdoors it
allows us to show case an alien landscape. In order to make the game more free
flowing and easy to navigate all buildings that the player can enter will have their
doors open.
Health: The maximum health the player has will be a static amount however on
harder difficulties the zombies will hit the player for more damage. The player’s
health pool can be replenished by stopping off at a supply point on the map. Also the
player will be able to increase their damage mitigation for short periods of time
through the use of power ups.
Switches:
Power-Ups: Power ups will be scattered throughout the map randomly with a select
few being a random drop from zombies that the player kills. These power ups will
range from a refill of ammo/health or complete immunity for a short period of time.
Hordes: Players will sometimes be put in a position where they will have to react and
adopt very quickly in order to survive by the game spawning hordes of zombies that
will instantly run at the players. This is to stop the game from becoming too
predictable as the zombie placement and when they spawn will be seemingly
random. This also improves re-playability as the player can never be certain as to
what will happen next.
This is a functional description of all elements that the player (or characters/units)
can engage, acquire or otherwise interactive with. These are such things as
weapons, buildings, switches, elevators, traps, items, spells, power-ups, and special
talents. Write a paragraph at the start of each category describing how these
elements are introduced and interacted with.
4.0 The Game World
4.1
Overview
The development team would like to take the stereotypical and alien planet and
incorporate some subtle differences. These could be as simple as multiple moons
and a different coloured sky. These help to make the user feel as if they truly are in a
different world and would help to make it possible for a player to immerse
themselves in the game play. Also this will help to emphasise the fact this is not
happening on earth and thus sets it apart from other games of this type.
4.2
World Features
As the human race is seeking to populate this planet we must focus on what aspects
make it a choice for humans to inhabit. As the game will be set in a city a lot, if not
all, of the terrain will consist of buildings, benches and plant boxes.
Furthermore as the inhabitants of the planet are un-dead we need to take into
consideration the chaos leading up to the humans turning. This must be reflected in
the environment by trashed and abandoned buildings and belongings littering the
streets.
5.0 Game Characters
6.0 User Interface
7.0 Music and Sound Effects
8.0 Single Player Game
8.1
Overview
The single player part of the game will consist of large open spaces with very little
cover to hide behind and a seemingly abandoned environment. In the true sense of it
this game is designed to be a survival horror and first person shooter merged into
one. The key aim of the game will be to survive the onslaught of zombies and
eventually make your way back to earth.
8.2
Single Player Game Details
The key aim of the game is to survive! You have been sent to rendezvous with a
research facility on the planet when your ship goes down due to electrical
malfunction. Upon landing you soon realise that you have arrived at your destination,
however something isn’t quite right. It soon becomes evident that the staff have been
transformed into flesh craving monsters of the undead, zombies. You have managed
to obtain all of the munitions from the ship and have stockpiled it at a barricade
where you will make your final stand, you need to kill them all….or die trying.