The first assignment is to produce three game treatments, one for each of your proposed game ideas.  In our class, a game treatment serves as a short, one-page description of a game idea, it's core content and what will be involved in building it. 

Prepare your treatment document as follows.  Submit your document as a pdf using the class online SUBMIT page for this assignment.  Use no larger than 12 pt font, no smaller than 10pt font.  On the first page, include your team name, your game name and list all team members.  If you know your rough work assignments (e.g., AI, Animations, 2D Art, etc), include that along with each team member's name. 

The second through fourth pages should each have content for your three game ideas.  Your treatments should include the following content, all within ONE page per treatment (this specification is an edited version of a longer treatment spec provided by the game designer Earnest Adams):

• Provide the game's title and a short tagline to indicate what it’s about. Something like

  • Psychic Warriors: Supernatural Combat Against the Forces of Evil

• Executive summary paragraph. This is a one-paragraph bulleted list of the most important things to know about the game

  • Psychic Warriors is an exciting new 3D action game. With an original and compelling storyline, Psychic Warriors combines paranormal and real-world combat against humans and huge morphing monsters. The psychic + military combat theme is not found in any product currently on the market.

  • etc.

• The main concept. This is also one paragraph

  • A new threat has appeared on the streets of America: a mysterious drug code-named Indoctrinol. No one sent to investigate it has ever come back, and it’s clear that something sinister is going on. To neutralize this menace, you’re given command of a super-secret team of four psychic warriors—psychically talented and superbly trained individuals drawn from the Special Forces of the U.S. Armed Services.

• The Genre spec.  A short sentence or two indicating the specific genre the game fits into.

  • Mission-based small-squad action/tactical game combining psychic and real-world combat with a variety of weapons against humans and huge morphing monsters.

• Gameplay highlights.  One paragraph or so describing the experience of playing the game.

  • Very large variety of animations, to allow for a vast number of specialized activities.

    • Many different richly detailed environments from around the world.

    • Intelligent situation-based movement by AI-controlled characters, implementing proper tactics and muzzle discipline.

• Tech highlights.  One or two paragraphs where you talk about the great technology that your game will include, particularly anything innovative. Don’t go into programming details.  Instead, discuss how the software will enhance the game.

  • Morphing polygonal enemies. Humans transform into hideous zombies and other monsters as they run at you.

  • Voice-recognition of commands in single-player mode. In multiplayer mode, players can talk to other team members live

  • using speakers and a microphone.

• Art and Audio Highlights.  One or two paragraphs describing the art or audio that you want to include.  Many games now feature soundtracks by rock or hip-hop groups, or dance tracks by famous DJs. These are obviously big selling points for the product, so be sure to mention them prominently. Likewise, if your art or animation includes anything special or unusual, point it out.

  • Motion-captured animations drawn from ex–Delta Force personnel (for characters), actors, dancers, and gymnasts (for enemy humans and monsters).

If you have space, you can include one or more of the following elements.  Note that these are OPTIONAL, but should be used as space permits to complete the picture of your game.

• The game objective.  What is the player’s overall objective, the thing she is trying to achieve to complete the game? This doesn’t have to be the “true” objective, however—the player can find evidence of a deeper and more serious problem as he plays.

  • Follow the trail of Indoctrinol back to its source, and wipe it out. This will take you to locations around the world, operating undercover to perform missions against Third-World dictators, drug lords, terrorists, organized crime, and anyone else who has anything to do with Indoctrinol.

• The game's characters.  Include their names, backgrounds, and special abilities here.

  • Paul “Mayhem” Jackson

  • Psychic ability: Shield. Can project a protective shield around teammates.

  • Weapons: Chain gun, grenade launcher. Mayhem is a heavy-weapons expert.

  • Armor: Very heavy, which makes him relatively slow-moving.

  • Personality: Angry and ruthless over some event in his past.

• Mission or story progression.  Lay out the game's narrative arc as far as you know it. Document the twists and turns that the story might take, and indicate the way in which the player’s success or failure will affect her progress through the game. For example, if the story is linear and the player must accomplish each scenario in order to proceed, say so; if it is branching, say that and explain how the player goes down one branch or another. Don’t write a novel—this isn’t the design script—but rather provide an outline for a novel, listing the key events in the plot.

  • In the single-player game, missions will progress from easy to hard as the team follows the drug back to its source. Initially dealing only with human drug dealers on a local scale, they will eventually take on smugglers, distributors, and manufacturers of the drug.

  • In later missions, it will become clear that there are demonic creatures among the humans, for reasons that are not initially clear. They will remain in human form for as long as possible, but when attacked hard enough, they will morph into their original demonic forms, huge and terrifying.

  • To combat these creatures, additional psychic training and nontraditional weapons will be provided to the team as the game goes on . . . .