Game Design Document (GDD)

Submitting a GDD using our template

In recent game development projects, we have learned two things with regard to game design and game success on the platform:

  1. Studios that submit a GDD create better games because they are able to get feedback on their game design ideas sooner, and

  2. Games that don’t submit a GDD are sometimes not fully incorporating the content specifications such as learning through gameplay and minimizing learning through text

The goal of the GDD is for us to check in on your game concept idea and provide an initial stop/go decision for your proposal to teach the academic topic. This should make for a smoother review process, as well as overall better engagement with students as the game design has approval earlier in the process. To make this easier for you, we have created a template for the GDD that you should use. Do not use your own template. Unless directly notated as “[optional]”, every section of the GDD you see in the template is required. The template and a sample are linked below.

Here is the process for the GDD:

  1. Game design documents should be submitted via email to gamedevs@legendsoflearning.com within 3 weeks of ICA completion.

  2. We will review all GDDs within 1-2 weeks. Once approved, you may begin full development.

  3. If your GDD is not approved, we will ask for a revised version based on our feedback. If the 2nd version is not approved, we will consider an opportunity to revise again on a case by case

  4. Games will be due 10 weeks after your GDD is approved.

We are giving you a lot more time because of the GDD requirement, but many studios will find that they can submit games faster than this. Remember, you may take a new slot as soon as your submitted game is approved and published, so developing faster has benefits as well.

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