Comment by snickerer
17 hours ago
Is this a walkthrough or a game design document?
As a walkthrough, it is nice. But as the foundation for the game designers, it would be a fun because it is so lighthearted.
17 hours ago
Is this a walkthrough or a game design document?
As a walkthrough, it is nice. But as the foundation for the game designers, it would be a fun because it is so lighthearted.
Design document, from the page that links this pdf (http://gameshelf.jmac.org/2008/11/grim-fandango-puzzle-desig...):
"Tim Schafer at Double Fine has posted the puzzle design spec for his classic adventure game, Grim Fandango. It is that game's tenth anniversary; it was released on the Day of the Dead, 1998."
Looks like Tom Schafer style; I find him whimsical and funny in all of his communication. I don't think it's a stretch that this aspect extends to nom-public communications.
It's a game design document.
My guess is it is kinda like a first draft that some higher ups approve and budgets and then dialogue and game development and puzzle testing can begin.
Not so much a first draft I think, as the puzzles and story seem fully-formed.
The doc itself is a good high level spec, useful as a walkthrough and for testing, but the detail in each puzzle description isn’t deep enough for someone to implement it.
I think this is indeed a doc pitched at higher-ups, where they want to know that the detail has been worked through, as the game exits the design phase and moves to full production, but don’t want the low level details.
I’d love to see a detailed process of how one of those puzzles was designed though.
Looks like a GDD but just for the puzzles, a PDD