Game Design

Overview
https://www.callofduty.com/uk/en/hub

Document Produced by: Julian Thompson

Date: November 17th 2016

Contents

Introduction- 1.0

Title- 1.1

 Format- 1.2
Genre- 1.3
Market Research/ Audience- 2.0
Territories- 2.1
Overview- 2.2
Objective- 2.3
Theme- 2.4
Structure- 2.5
Features- 3.0
Characters- 3.1
Mechanics- 3.2
Environment- 3.3

Introduction 1.0
For this unit of work, I was asked to design and develop a video game on a
platform of my choice. The video game that I produce could be original
intellectual property meaning that the game is a fresh new idea that is
different to what is already available on the market. Or, it could be a
franchised IP. This means that it is a follow- on, or has based its idea
already on the market. I will also need to decide on other important
aspects of the game I will be designing like the target audience, the
features of the game and the environment that the game will be played in.

Title 1.1
To begin with, my game will be a franchised IP. This means that it is a
follow- on from an existing game. In my case, the game I will be basing
my own game on will be the Call of Duty franchise. There are many games
in the already existing and widely popular Call of Duty franchise, but none
have the same storyline and setting as my game Call of Duty World at
War II.
I have decided to name my game Call of Duty World at War II as the
game is set in the midst of one of the most historical periods in human
history, world war 2. The name for this game is also fitting
as a one of the previous Call of Duty games called Call of
Duty World at War was released in 2008 was set in the
Vietnam war and incorporates many key elements that I plan
on using in my game as well. The title for my game will
hopefully give players a sense of nostalgia as many Call of
Duty players today will remember Call of Duty World at War
as one of the very first Call of Duty or first-person shooter
(FPS) games that they played.

Format 1.2
The game I will designing will be made available across multiple formats.
This is because the Call of Duty franchise is so popular, that it makes
sense to make the game playable across most, if not all, formats. The
most popular gaming format is arguably the console. This is because
many households in the UK, US and other modernised countries have
3

some type of console that allows for gaming on various levels. Popular
consoles include Xbox 360 and the more recent Xbox One; as well as
PlayStation 3 and the next generation version PlayStation 4. The most
recent type of console from Xbox and PlayStation are generally the
audience that I will be targeting in- particular as these types of gamers
are the most popular and account for most of the gaming population
across the UK and the United States. The consoles are also the most
recent and allow for high-definition and even 4K gaming with a TV that is
capable of 4K viewing.
I will also be releasing my game on PC and laptop gaming formats. This is
because PC gaming is becoming increasingly popular with gamers. This
could be because new gaming PCs are now being released with highpowered running systems that are capable of running data demanding
games with ease. PC monitors have also changed drastically over the past
decade as monitors are now becoming available that are capable of
playing games in high-definition. This can be in both the visual aspects of
a game and the audio.
I wont be planning on releasing my game to portable gaming formats.
The reason for this is that from the market research I have done, I can see
that there just is not enough people who play portable gaming devices
regularly to make the game available to play on this format.

Genre 1.3
Action themed games are usually fast-paced,
high- impact shooters that are mostly targeted
towards the younger generation of gamers
(16- 21 year olds). Action games tend to be
targeted towards younger audiences as they normally require players to
have faster reactions when compared to games in other genres. Shooting
games are often found in this category as companies are able to develop
a fast- paced shooting game with relative ease as there is already so
many available on the current gaming market. However, action games can
be found across multiple gaming platforms, the most popular of which are
consoles like the Xbox and PlayStation with a selection of action games
available on home entertainment consoles. Other gaming platforms such
as PC and portable devices like the PSP also include countless action
games that are playable with varying graphics and in-game content
offered to players.
The game that I will be creating will definitely be classed as an action
game, as it will be a follow- on from the already existing gaming franchise
4

Call of Duty, which is also classed as an action game because of its fastpaced shooter gameplay.

Market Research/ Audience 2.0

The client that I will be creating my game for has requested that I specify
a target audience for the game I will be designing and developing. I have
chosen 18 year olds and older to be the target demographic for the game.
This is because my game will be a follow-on from the already existing
franchise Call of Duty. Most of the previous games from this franchise
have been certified for mature audiences (18 or over). Another reason is
that the game is based around violence and the second world war. This
means that there will also be a certain amount of blood and gore in the
game as well, which is not suitable for young people or children.
I think that people younger than this age group would not be eligible to
play my game, as people that are too young that play the game would be
exposed to too much blood and gore at a young age and could be them in
a negative mind-set.
My game will not have a particular target gender either. My game could
potentially appeal to both male and female gamers. Previous Call of Duty
games have showed that the majority of people that play are male.
However, the amount of females that play the game has increased greatly
over the last few years. Therefore, my game will potentially appeal to both
genders, giving my game a wider audience and customer database.
With all this said, the core people that will be playing my game will
generally be males aged between 18 and 26. This is because this the
audience that Call of Duty appeals to most. This might be because on
average more males play action games regularly than females.
My game would also suit the casual gamers that dont play games
regularly or on a daily basis, but instead play games as a form of passtime or quick entertainment. This is because anyone over the age rating
could play the game as it is not a complicated game, it also has standard
controls that are easy to learn and perfect. No one would need past
experience to play the game either.

Territories 2.1
In terms of computer games, the territories refers to the virtual reality in
which the game is set. This includes the location that the game is set in,
5

the characters that are based in the game and the items that can be
found in the game are all related to the world in which the game is set in.
The territories refer to the area of land in a game. This can change
depending on exactly where you are based in the game. In relation to the
game I will be designing the terrain changes throughout the world. This is
because some of the locations and territories found in my game will be
based on a real- life location. There will be various territories for players to
choose from when playing the multiplayer option. This gives a wide range
of territories and locations for players to choose from so that the players
are kept interested in the game. However, when playing the single player
mode, players will not be given a choice of what location and territories
they want to play in. This is because players are given set-missions to
complete and they must complete the missions to progress in the story
and move to different territories.
Here is an example of one of the
Call of Duty maps from a previous
game. This will be similar to how I will
in the game I will be creating. The highlighted
birds-eye-view map represent different
some of which can be explored
players. The yellow arrow-head
shows the character that the player
controlling, it also shows which way the
character is facing and which direction they
travelling in.

layout my maps
sections on the
buildings,
inside by
is
are

Overview 2.2
As mentioned previously, the game I will be creating will be a franchised
IP. This means that it is based on an already existing game. In my case,
the game or franchise that I will be basing my game on is the Call of Duty
saga. A highly popular first-person shooting game, the Call of Duty
franchise is an action video game that incorporates single-player and
multiplayer playing options. The general idea of Call of Duty is giving
people the chance to experience fast-paced shooter action. It is also a
game that is made purely for entertainment purposes. The same can be
said about my game as it will follow the same layout and has the same
objective as all other previous Call of Duty games.
My game Call of Duty World at War II will be a follow on from the previous
game Call of Duty World at War. My game however, is set in a different
period of time to this game. Instead of war-torn Vietnam, my game will be
6

based in the midst of World War 2, in Germany and other countries that
took a major role in the outcome of World War 2.

Objective 2.3

In every game there are varying goals and

tasks that players are required to complete.
This varies greatly from game to game as players must achieve different
objectives in order to complete a game successfully. Objectives in a game
can also be compulsory to complete, this is where players are required to
achieve a certain objective otherwise they cannot progress in the game
any further. Or, in some games there are also side- objectives. These
types of goals do not require players to complete and are instead
commonly used to give players a break from the main narrative of a game
and offer a different insight into the game. However, the main narrative is
usually not affected whether players decide to complete side-objectives or
not.
In terms of my game, there will be varying objectives to complete
throughout the game. This is instead of players working towards a single
objective for the entirety of the game. I think that setting different
objectives throughout the game will more likely keep players interested in
the game, than giving players a single objective to focus on. Objectives
will change depending on which game mode players
As mentioned previously, there can be various challenges or sidemissions which players can choose whether or not to complete.
Challenges within a game usually dont affect the overall outcome of the
main narrative if players choose not to complete them. However,
challenges can offer a different perspective into a game and can give
players a chance to explore new possibilities within a game that they
might not have had a chance to see in the main storyline of a game.
Therefore, some challenges within games can offer one- off opportunities
for players to experience a different way of playing the game or try
something that they wouldnt have done if they hadnt taken the
challenge.

Theme 2.4

The theme for my game will be an action themed game. These types of
games are usually fast-paced, high- impact shooters that are mostly
targeted towards the younger generation of gamers (16- 21 year olds).
Action games tend to be targeted towards younger audiences as they
normally require players to have faster reactions when compared to
games in other genres. Shooting games are often found in this category
as companies are able to develop a fast- paced shooting game with
relative ease. However, action games can be found across multiple
gaming platforms, the most popular of which are consoles like the Xbox
and PlayStation with a selection of action games available on home
entertainment consoles. Other gaming platforms such as PC and portable
devices like the PSP also include countless action games that are playable
with varying graphics and in-game content offered to players.

Structure 2.5
The structure of my game will follow the same structure as many other
previous Call of Duty games. This means that the game will have two
main playing options: single-player and multiplayer. The multiplayer
option can only be played with a stable internet connection, otherwise,
players are only able to play single-player. Players have the option to
complete the story-mode of the game. The story-line will follow a singlecharacter on his mission to limit the damage of World War 2. The story will
progress as players complete each individual mission and uncover
different secrets the war that will keep players interested in the game.
Players will get various rewards from completing missions and certain
objectives in the game. These rewards will vary in-game and will depend
on the difficulty on the mission that the player completes.

Features 3.0
My Call of Duty game will include many in-game features. These features
will include an inventory. This will be where players are able to access all
their weapons that they have unlocked throughout the game. As players
progress further in the game, more and more weapons and equipment will
be unlocked for people to use. This will only be for the multiplayer option
for the game. This is because in the single-player mode, players will be
given weapons and equipment to use in a particular mission. Depending
on the difficulty that the player has chosen, various weapons will be given.
For example, for an easier difficulty, players will be given more than
enough ammunition and a selection of guns and weapons to choose from.
8

However, on harder difficulties, players might be given limited

ammunition and only be able to choose from a couple of weapons to take
on a mission.
There will be other features that will be included in my game as well.
Players of the game will be able to connect to the Call of Duty community
and share their experiences with their friends and other players of the
game. This will only be available for multiplayer as it will require an
internet connection to connect to the community. Players will be able to
share what they have done in multiplayer games and share what weapons
they have unlocked throughout the game.

Characters 3.1
There will be many characters included in my game, but only a single
character can be controlled at a time. This is true for both multiplayer and
single-player options as players can only control a single in-game
character. Players arent able to, like some other games, switch between
characters whilst completing a mission or playing online in multiplayer.

Mechanics 3.2
The mechanics of the game can refer to how the game is played by the
player. This can mean that the inventory of a game. The inventory Is
where multiple items that players collect in a game can be stored within
one area and be easily accessible for players when they need to choose
an item or switch one that would be more helpful in different scenarios.
Different games offer different types of inventories and how the layout of
them are. In most games, there is a limit as to how many items can be
stored in the inventory which players arent allowed to exceed. A limit is
placed on an inventory in order for players to
keep their inventory fresh with items that are
useful and so that the game is not so easy so
that they can just store as many items as they
wish.

Environment 3.3

The environmental game setting means the location and the surroundings
of the characters in the game. This varies dramatically from game to
game as there is such a selection of
games available that they are all set
in varying locations. Some games
are located and based on real-life
locations within the world and are
re-created to a certain degree that
they are recognisable to players.
Whilst other games can be located
on different virtual planets and set
in space in some cases.
Environmental game setting also
refers to the surroundings and what can be seen around the characters in
the game. This can include buildings and infra-structure found in real
locations and also imaginary structures that are designed solely for
specialised games by the game developers.
The environment of my game will mainly be World War 2 Germany and
war-torn city suburbs. This is because my game is set in a war zone, so
there will be ruined buildings and uneven terrain. Here is a storyboard of
my environment in my game.

10