(tentative title)

Temporal Diffusion

game design documentv1.4

by Heather M Decker

Interactive Design/Media App | ITGM-705-OL

Savannah College of Art and Design

Professor David Edwin Meyers

August 11, 2010

Table of Contents

Design Statement—1

General Description—1

Audience and Context—1

Motivation—1

Genre—1

Story—1

Game Mechanics—1Overview

Current Screen Layout

Jilted Door

Levels—3Level 1

Audio Assets—3

Art Style—4Concept Art

Appendix—5In-Game Instructions

Raw User Testing Data

Design StatementMy external goal is to develop a gameplay mechanic that could possibly be applied to a

multi-player Facebook game at some point in the future. The mechanic of time and the

puzzle game genre seem full of potential, and the spirit and style of steampunk just lends

itself to the time travel theme.

General DescriptionThe object is to exit the area, and the player has three phases to work with: past, present

and future. Players are given time-warped pieces found in the room, which they can play

and use only in specifi c phases (indicated on the pieces.) For instance, the player is given a

door piece they can only play in the past and only interact with in the future.

Audience and ContextThe target audience is the casual puzzle game crowd, most notably fans of the steampunk

genre. The context it is to be played in is (currently) single-player computer gaming ses-

sions, such as browser-based Flash gaming.

MotivationMy own particular motivation is to explore the game mechanic of time in a puzzle setting,

as well as reacquaint myself with Flash. Externally, players should feel compelled by the

story elements and appealing style of the game, and intrigued by the prospect of solving

puzzles based on the relationship between objects in the fi eld of three phases of time.

GenrePuzzle/platformer

StoryYou are a brilliant female inventor preparing to launch your amazing new time machine to

save the world from a fatal mistake that caused the eruption of a worldwide confl ict.

However, something went terribly wrong with your maiden voyage. As the smoke clears,

you realize that you’re neither here nor there. In fact, you seem to have become lodged

somewhere in an off-branch of the time stream, with only the smallest components of your

time device in your possession. Using your limited time-altering functionality and what

time-warped items you can fi nd around you, escape this strange place!

Game MechanicsOverviewThe protagonist possesses a limited fl ux alternator which causes the area around her to

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be pushed into a one of three phases: past, present, or future. However, due to the acci-

dent, the device has limited capacity, which she will only be able to rebuild over time. The

quantum energy meter indicates how many mode adjustments may be made in the current

level (bars.)

All items picked up are stored in inventory by default. Items may be played in the level

according to their specifi c rules. For instance, certain items may only be played in the past

and interacted with in the future, door knobs may only be played on door handles, certain

keys pair to certain types of locks, etc. Item requirements may be viewed at any time by

hovering the item.

Current Screen Layout

Item Descriptions

Jilted DoorA door that’s been warped by quantum distortion.

• Only playable in Past mode

• Only interactive in Future mode

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Levels

Level 1Layout: single room, single fl oor, no exits

Starting Mode: Present

Pick-ups: Jilted Door in Present

Solution: Pick up Jilted Door. Toggle to Past. Place Jilted Door. Toggle to Future. Use

Jilted Door.

A torn fragment of your notebook fl ickers unstably on the fl oor, a composition your don’t

remember ever writing, but that mysteriously details your current situation.

“The time machine isn’t here with me… where ever here is. From what my log readings

indicate, some type of interference caused the generator to sputter, which in turn scram-

bled the parameters I had entered. I’m stranded somewhere outside of reality and existing

time, but everything is still somehow connected. This looks like the federation’s library. I

was trying to get to the capital…”

Audio AssetsSound Effects• http://www.a1freesoundeffects.com/

• http://www.audiomicro.com

MusicVernian Process - “Dance of Pales”

http://www.vernianprocess.com/

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Art StyleConcept Art

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AppendixIn-Game Instructions

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Raw User Testing Data

Temporal Diffusion | Prototype v2 Questionaire

1.) Please share some basic information with me, such as name (optional,) age, gender, and gam-

ing experience.

Dreama Jeantet, 25, Female, Play a lot of games!

2.) What operating system are you running? (example: Windows XP, Mac OS 10, Windows

Vista, Linux, etc.)

Windows Vista

3.) Did you understand the basic concept behind the gameplay? Feel free to elaborate as much as

you wish.

Yes, and I love the style of the game.

4.) Did you encounter any bugs? If so, please explain.

No

5.) Suggestions?

Not that I can think of at this time, I look forward to seeing what becomes of the rectangle place-

holder :-)

Temporal Diffusion | Prototype v2 Questionnaire

1.) Please share some basic information with me, such as name (optional,) age, gender, and gam-

ing experience.

Amy Jo, 25, female, intermediate gamer .. pc games like Journeyman, Myst (and the following se-

ries) Oregon Trail if you go waaaay back. Nintendo, 64, ps2 and some random moments here and

there on contemporary platforms.

2.) What operating system are you running? (example: Windows XP, Mac OS 10, Windows

Vista, Linux, etc.)

Windows..xp

media center edition

2002

service pack 2

3.) Did you understand the basic concept behind the gameplay? Feel free to elaborate as much as

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you wish.

Yes. I believe that the gameplay goal is to fi x the error, but to do so we must jump thru time. Our

items can only be used in certian times... which will be part of a puzzle aspect.

4.) Did you encounter any bugs? If so, please explain.

When it fi rst loaded up, I had to click the next and close buttons numerous times before they

recognized the clicks. When playing the fi rst time.. i went over, grabbed the door and then wasnt

able to jump between the times.I could click and it would take away my energy, but it didnt change

times. I restarted and then tried again. Didnt work right away but then it did in no time.

5.) Suggestions?

I like the story and visuals implied. Its got good bones just needs fl eshing out.

Maybe making the time jump more evident ... most of anything I would suggest would be along the

aesthetic lines, but I understand that its more about game play. I think that it is understandable

and easily navigated, but not toooo easy~ I dont see anything to criticize about the actual gaming

process.

Temporal Diffusion | Prototype v2 Questionnaire

1.) Please share some basic information with me, such as name (optional,) age, gender, and gam-

ing experience.

Melissa, 26, F, long time gamer

2.) What operating system are you running? (example: Windows XP, Mac OS 10, Windows

Vista, Linux, etc.)

Vista

3.) Did you understand the basic concept behind the gameplay? Feel free to elaborate as much as

you wish.

I did.

4.) Did you encounter any bugs? If so, please explain.

Clicking the next button was unresponsive until I clicked exactly on the lettering. Numeric pad

(which I attempted to use fi rst) was unresponsive. I eventually fi gured out to use the numbers

above the keyboard. If I reset when the door was unavailable to be picked up (future, past) it

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remained greyed out even tho I was reset in the present. the only way to fi x this was go into the

future or past and then go back to the present again.

5.) Suggestions?

Back button on the instructions. I clicked through too fast and ended up not getting reading every-

thing. Clicking and dragging the lever would be more fun than using the numbers, since you have a

nice little lever graphic that’s clearly labeled what the past present and future are. And clicking and

dragging the door into its spot would be more fun too.

Temporal Diffusion | Prototype v2 Questionnaire

1.) Please share some basic information with me, such as name (optional,) age, gender, and gam-

ing experience.

Female, late 20s, variety of gaming experience from casual games to platform, rpg, etc, I dabble a

lot.

2.) What operating system are you running? (example: Windows SP, Mac OS 10, Windows Vista,

Linux, etc.)

Windows Vista

3.) Did you understand the basic concept behind the gameplay? Feel free to elaborate as much as

you wish.

I think it was very clear. The only thing I think needed more communication was switching be-

tween the times. Perhaps

a sound effect or more variation of what the three different times look like would make that more

clear.

4.) Did you encounter any bugs? If so, please explain.

I noticed when you get the door item the pop up window is in the center of my screen, not the

screen

of the game. The next button was a little hard to hit because I think just the letters were clickable?

5.) Suggestions?

Some sound effects would be a good next step.

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