Game Design Document (GDD)
criteria

Definitions

Score
Planning: Organisation
Plan for managing time, workflow,
responsibilities and meeting submission
guidelines

Explanation of responsibilities and submission
guidelines
Explanations of workflow
Dates/times provided for significant activities
on timeline

Designing: Game Overview
Description of the game including
justification of game title, charactersand game environments. Discussion ofinspiration for game development andpoints of originality.

Game title and explanation of game title choice
Game description
Explanation of inspiration

Designing: Consideration of theme
Links to this year’s theme

Explanation of this year’s theme
Explanation of theme link to game

Designing: Gameplay/Mechanics
Discussion of the goals and objectives of
the game including player perspective andcontrols

Explanation of objectives/goals
Explanation of perspective
Explanation of controls and instructions/tutorials

Designing: Visual and Audio Design
Link between visual and audio design and Explanation of style
how they connect with the theme including
Explanation of process
production process
Reflecting: Testing and fixing
Explanation of testing
Discussion of testing and fixing game

Explanation of fixingExplanation of project execution

Detailed

Comprehensive

Missing

Basic

Provides a literal and/or
surface level response

Provides a detailed
response with at least
one written or graphic
example or reference

All points addressedwith multiple examples
and/or justifications forchoices provided

0

1

2

3

Year
7–9
Max score48

Gamejudging
criteria

Starrating

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Year
7–9

Score

4

6

8

1012Max score
70

Functionality
Completion, playability andtesting

The game has significant glitches The game is difficult tothat impact playability.
experience without intrusivebugs.

The game is largely stable andbugs do not impact playability.

The game has rare minor glitches Currently glitch and bug free. Theand bugs. It may have room forgame is complete or may havefurther improvement.
room for future development.

Visual and audio design
How do the visual andaudio elements impact user
experience

Includes only platform assets in
its visual design. Audio elements
are missing or from platform
assets only.

The game has the beginnings ofa consistent visual design, but it
is incomplete. May have someoriginal work. May or may nothave original or platform audioelements.

The game uses some originalvisual design throughout which
is appealing and related to thetheme. Audio elements areincluded which may or may not
be original.

The game uses a consistentvisual design throughout which isappealing. Main characters, key
backgrounds and character tools
are original (not from assets).
Audio elements are original.

The game’s visual designis original, consistent, anddemonstrates a thoroughunderstanding of graphic design.
Audio elements are original,consistent and add to the user
experience.

The game’s goals are difficult tounderstand, some may not beachievable, and/or the game’s
overall objective is somewhat
unclear.

The game’s goals are reasonably
clear, but there is some confusion
around the purpose and methodof play that the game uses.

The game’s goals are mostly
clear, but there are someelements of play that are
confusing, unfinished, or do noteasily correlate with overall gameobjectives.

The game’s goals are mostly clear
and players can work out how
the game is meant to be played.
Game mechanics are thoughtfully
designed but may haveinconsistencies across levels.

The game’s goals are clear,focused, and players can easily
understand how the gameis meant to be played. Gamemechanics are sophisticated andbuild in difficulty at an appropriate
pace.

The game’s programming isproblematic, affecting the design,functionality, or gameplay.

The game demonstrates a basic
understanding of programmingwith examples of successful
simple coding.

The game demonstrates
examples of successfulprogramming and evidence ofsome more advanced coding.
There may be flaws in coding anddesign.

The game’s programming isthoughtful and mostly well
executed. There may be a numberof minor technical issues present
in the finished version.

The game’s programming
demonstrates sophisticatedtechnical understandingin coding, scripting, orprogramming. The game’s
technical design is elegant andfunctional.

The game is hard to engage withas it has more than one flaw, suchas: confusing controls/gameplay/story, overly simplistic, too easy
or difficult, overly repetitive orlacks rewards for progression.

Parts of this game are engaging,but the game has flaws that
impacted its playability, such as:confusing controls/gameplay/story, overly simplistic, too easy
or difficult, overly repetitive orlacks rewards for progression.

The game has engaging and funelements. There is enough goingon to make me want to continue
playing through the levels/challenges/story to the end.

The game is engaging and fun.
It is enjoyable to play and has
a balanced level of difficulty fortarget age group and would be
fun to play multiple times.

This game is addictive. It is very
fun to play with an entertaining
story andGameplay
Ludology: Events, actions,rules and choices within thegame

Technical competency
Programming, coding anddesignEngagement
Is it fun to play? Is there
enough to do to keep youinterested?

Representation of theme
Can the theme be identified
in the gameThe game does not represent this The theme is hard to identify and/ The theme is identifiable in theyear’s theme.
or the finished game has limited
game in a very basic, superficial
relevance to the theme.
or literal manner.

The theme is identifiable and has
been creatively incorporated into
the game. The theme inclusion isrelevant and may have room forminor improvements.

enticing level of difficulty forthe target age group. The teamshould consider developing thisgame further.