Game design and game design documents

Developing games, especially AAA games, takes a Herculean effort from a game project team. Sophisticated game engines such as Lumberyard go a long way in helping development teams with tools and efficiencies. Perhaps the single most important tool a game developer can have is the game design. More specifically, a Game Design Document (GDD). These documents contain the game's specifications, including a game's description that details the overall game concept, the game's genre or genres, a storyline synopsis, the target audience, and distribution platforms. GDDs also document the game's interface design, game mechanics, and immersion plan.

Not having a game design to guide the development process is like starting to build a house without knowing whether it is supposed to be constructed out of wood or brick, how many floors it should have, the square footage, and the style. That would be a nightmare house construction project. To avoid...