to play. Thus you will want your statements about the game’s graphics to support this if
appropriate. “Winter Carnival Whirlwindfeatures a visually lush, high-contrast envi-
ronment. Despite being set in a somewhat monochromatic snow and ice environment,
specular effects will be used to clearly differentiate different types of ice. The player
character along with the patrons of the winter carnival will be brightly colored in their
cold weather gear in order to set them off from the environment and make them easier
to see.” You may decide you want to pursue a 3D engine technology that handles phys-
ics well, since that can best help capture the out-of-control nature of running around in
snow and ice, and since the nature of the marketplace demands a 3D game. As part of
the 3D engine, perhaps a variable-zoom third-person view is the one that will work best
to allow the player to control their harried carnival manager while keeping an eye on all
the attractions. So your focus statement could include: “The game uses a 3D engine
that allows for the player to easily zoom in and out on the micro or macro events taking
place at the winter carnival, with the technology capable of rendering the entire carni-
val at once when necessary.”
Of course, there could be numerous other sub-focuses forWinter Carnival Whirl-
wind, covering everything from gameplay mechanics to what sort of story line the
game will have, to how long an average game should last. Always try to avoid putting in
too much detail, however. That is for the design document. Here you are merely setting
the project’s direction, not actually implementing it. But for the purposes of our exam-
ple, we have enough sub-focuses now, leaving us with a focus and sub-focuses that look
like this:
Winter Carnival Whirlwindis a fast and furious character action and theme
park management hybrid game. The player’s experience revolves around run-
ning an ice carnival, with the player responsible for maintaining as long a sea-
son as possible, despite uncooperative weather. The game captures the excitement
of playing in the snow, including the simple physics that make that fun, through a
central character who must navigate a somewhat hazardous environment and
keep multiple systems operating smoothly. The player’s main source of conflict is
the weather itself.Winter Carnival Whirlwindhas a light and whimsical tone
throughout.
Audience
Winter Carnival Whirlwindappeals to more casual gamers. The game
provides the simplest control scheme possible, with a player needing to use
a small number of easily remembered keys to successfully play the game.
Novice players can figure out how to play the game without reading the
manual or playing the tutorial, though a training mission will be provided.
Winter Carnival Whirlwindis of a relatively low overall difficulty, with the
player able to specify difficulty levels in the game. Even marginally skilled,
poor players will be able to play the game to completion on the easiest diffi-
culty level, given enough attempts.
Visuals
Winter Carnival Whirlwindfeatures a visually lush, high-contrast envi-
ronment. Despite being set in a somewhat monochromatic snow and ice
environment, specular effects will be used to clearly differentiate different84 Chapter 5: Focus