Game design and project gender and games – game design

Gender and Games: The Digital Divide
Game Design Project Instructions
Scope:
Propose a game design based on the themes of the course. This may be a game with diverse representation(s), a game with a feminist message, a game that deals with issues of gender exclusion or inclusion, a game that deals with issues of marginality.
This assignment will be presented based on the Game Design Document template (at end of this document) provided.
Images should be included to help illustrate your game idea. These do not have to be images you created yourself. You may insert exiting artwork that demonstrates style (you should cite the artist) or images from other games that demonstrate the type of mechanics or level design you are going for.
Due Date:
Please consult the timeline for the due date for this project. Late penalties will be assessed at 10% per day for a maximum of 5 days. After that, the project will not be accepted.
General Instructions:
Choose a theme related to the course content and create a game idea based on the following criteria:
Length:
7-10 pages including images.
Format:
Word processed, double-spaced with page numbering, and spellchecked. Use template provided. Save the file as MS Word or RTF only. Other file types will not be accepted for marking.
Style:
Formal writing using standard English syntax and grammar & images.
Content:
· 1 original game idea.
· Each of the 18 criteria of the template have been filled in.
File Type
· Save the file as MS Word (.docx) or Rich Text (.rtf) format. No other file types will be accepted.
A complete assignment will consist of:
Title Page:
Displays your full name; student number; course name; project title; date submitted.
18 Criteria Points of Game Design Document:
Spell checked, formatted with page numbering.
How to Submit:
· Prepare your project as a spellchecked, word processed file.
· Save the file as XXX_gamingjournal.rtf or XXX_gamingjournal.docx, where xxx is your last name, followed by your first initial. Add numerical suffix 1-4 to mark your submission. Entry 1 = 1, Entry 2 = 2, Entry 3 = 3, Reflection = 4.
· Submit the document through Safe Assign
· “How to Use Blackboard & Submit Assignments” in Course Information. Penalties described on page 1 of this document.
Marking Criteria:
Please see assignment rubric.

Game Design Document Outline
A game design document is the blueprint from which a game is to be built. As such, every single detail necessary to build the game should be addressed. For your purpose, the intent is to capture as much as possible of your design.
1. Title Page
1.1. Game Name – Perhaps also add a subtitle or high concept sentence.

2. Game Overview
1.1. Game Concept & theme relating to the course
1.2. Genre
1.3. Target Audience

3. Gameplay and Mechanics
1.1. Gameplay
3.1.1. Objectives – What are the objectives of the game?
1.2. Mechanics – What are the rules to the game, both implicit and explicit. This is the model of the universe that the game works under. Think of it as a simulation of a world, how do all the pieces interact? This actually can be a very large section.

4. Story, Setting and Character
1.1. Story and Narrative – Includes back story, plot elements, game progression, and cut scenes. Cut scenes descriptions include the actors, the setting, and the storyboard or script.
1.2. Main character – Describe them in terms of appearance, motivations & abilities.
1.3. Game World
4.1.1. General look and feel of world
4.1.2. Areas, including the general description and physical characteristics as well as how it relates to the rest of the world (what levels use it, how it connects to other areas)
1.4. Characters. Each character should include the back story, personality, appearance, animations, abilities, relevance to the story and relationship to other characters

5. Technical
1.1. Game system/ why?

Game Design (a short) Example
STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS
A game about identity, oppressions and connections.
Full name
Student number
Course name
Date submitted

6. Game Overview
Strong Female Characters is a card game about representation tropes. It is also an ‘educational’ game designed to provoke discussion around attributes of the allusive ‘strong female’ and how ‘she’ might be effectively or problematically portrayed in media.
Players are dealt cards from a deck with identity aspects. Players select one card from their hand and all players reveal their cards at the same time.
Based on the cards displayed, players discuss the resulting representation.
1.1. Game Concept & theme relating to the course
Strong Female Characters is about media representation. We have discussed tropes and female representation in this course and the game design asks players to think about and discuss how a ‘strong female’ character might be created and even if the idea of a ‘strong female character’ is problematic.
Based on reading around the subject (see bibliography), this game presents tropes of the ‘strong female’ and encourages critical discussion of this representational trope.
1.2. Genre
Card Game with a collaborative play style and discussion.
1.3. Target Audience
Because of the theme of the game it is intended to be played in the classroom of a media related study program/class. Because of some of the themes raised the card game should be for ages 13+.
7. Gameplay and Mechanics
1.1. Gameplay
Players are dealt 5 cards each from the deck. Cards feature attributes associated with the idea of a ‘strong female character’. Players chose one card and lay it facedown on the table until all players have submitted a card. Cards are turned over at the same time. Based on the attribute cards revealed players hold discussion around the 2 following points:
1. Where have you seen these attributes of a strong female character in media and was the representation and positive or problematic one?
2. How might the attributes revealed be combined to create a ‘strong female character’ to feature in a piece of media?
Following the discussion, players put the used attribute cards into a discard pile and each player draws an additional card for their hand.
The game is complete when all cards have been used.
7.1.1. Objectives – What are the objectives of the game?
The objective of the game is to stimulate discussion and have players creatively approach the media representation.
1.2. Mechanics –
The core game mechanics are collaboration, discussion and creation based on a limited set of options.
8. Story, Setting and Character
1.1. Story and Narrative –
This is not strictly a narrative game, however, players reflect on existing narratives and create new narratives through discussion of media tropes.
1.2. Main character – Describe them in terms of appearance, motivations & abilities.
This is a game about character creation. In that respect there are a number of characteristics presented in the game that can be put together to create new characters. Here are a sample of the characteristics (attribute cards) in the game:
Trope: LONER
Description: A woman who is disconnected and deals with things alone and on her own terms.
Trope: VIOLENCE
Description: A tough woman who can stand up with herself. She might deal with her issues with brawn more than brains.
Trope: PHYSICAL BEAUTY
Description: She is beautiful. Attractive to all sexes. She might use her looks to her advantage.

Trope: ANDROGYNOUS
Description: Does not conform to gender norms in terms of self-presentation.

1.3. Game World
8.1.1. General look and feel of world
The style of the game is inspired by the art of Hellen Jo (website in reference section). She is known for her complex and sometimes controversial representations of women. Her style seems appropriate for the theme of the game.
8.1.2. Areas OR Card formatting
All cards are ‘attribute cards’. They consist of 1. a trope or attribute associated with a ‘strong female characters’; 2. a description of the trope/attribute; 3. an indicative image.
1.4. Characters. Each character should include the back story, personality, appearance, animations, abilities, relevance to the story and relationship to other characters
A list of ‘strong female character’ attributes is listed below:
1. Loner. 2. Violence. 3. Physical Beauty. 4. Androgynous. 4. Don’t Care Attitude. 5. Genius. 6. Traumatic Backstory. 7. Sense of Humour. 8. Rides Motorbike. 9. Has A Family and a Career.
9. Technical
1.1. Game system/ why?
Card game. Since this is to be used in an instructional context, the game needs to be simple and accessible. Instructors can print cards from a PDF file and cut them out. This is designed to be a low cost and accessible resource.
References
McDougal, S. “Why I Hate Strong Female Characters”. New Statesman. 2013. Web. 4 November 2015. http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2013/08/i-hate-strong-female-characters
Carroll, M. “The Problem with “Strong Female Characters”. The Outtake. 2015. Web. 4 November 2015. https://theouttake.net/the-problem-with-strong-female-characters-8d36fa4cd6bb#.x2k00qsma
Valibeigi, B. “Strong Female Characters are Rarely Strong and Barely Characters”. The Mary Sue. 2015. Web. 4 November 2015. http://www.themarysue.com/strong-female-characters/
Chocano, C. “The Plague of Strong Female Characters”. New York Times. 2011. Web. 4 November 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/magazine/a-plague-of-strong-female-characters.html?_r=0
Helen Jo. 2015. Web. 4 November 2015. http://helllllen.org

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