IMD4902A Design Studio 4 Educational Game - Design Document Chris Burt 100743309 Revision History # 0.0 1.

0 Title Initial draft Final Added course information learning objectives target audience market analysis gameplay example Changes Sign-off [C Burt] x x Sign off [Professor]

Table of Contents Game Outline Summary Course Information Learning Objectives Target Audience Market Analysis Gameplay Controls Actions User Interface Presentation Gameplay Example Features Characters Level Plan

Game Outline
Summary
Title: Fizzix Genre: Puzzle Platform: PC Goals & Rules Objectives are defined in stand-alone puzzles, and can be potentially any distinct event achievable in the puzzle. For instance: Pop a balloon with a laser, refracted through a series of lenses. Put a basketball through a hoop by supplying the correct amount of power to a catapult Puzzles begin with a set of parts initially set up. These parts are unmovable and serve as a framework for the rest of the puzzle. Parts may only interact after solving an appropriate equation. Equations must be chosen from a list, and filled in by filling in the variables with the correct properties of the parts involved. Challenges Players must determine an arrangement of the provided parts that will achieve the intended result. Interactions between parts are labelled automatically, such as reflection or spring action. Players must recall for themselves which equations apply to these concepts. Equations are dragged into the puzzle, similar to parts, and placed on the interactions to which they apply. Properties for a part become visible by clicking on it. These properties appear as symbols which can be clicked and dragged onto the empty variables of incomplete equations. Progression Puzzles are presented in a single campaign in order of difficulty. The user may complete levels in any order. Puzzles are filterable by course chapter, eg. a puzzle designated only to contain content for 2D Kinematics will not contain any content related to Optics.

Course Information
BIT1002 (aka PHYS 1004)

Physics for Information Technology An introductory course on energy, thermodynamics, sound and electromagnetic waves, optics, and modern physics. Practical skills are learned in the laboratory, which is a required part of the course.

Learning Objectives
The game will address a subset of the learning objectives for the course. Objective Newtons laws Related Game Content falling freefall arcing motion interaction of solid bodies forces speeds angles impacts transfer of energy rope tension spring action lenses mirrors lasers reflection refraction

2D Kinematics

Elasticity Optical instruments

Target Audience
The game directly targets students of BIT1002 (aka PHYS 1004), who will appreciate a new and fun way to study their course material. The puzzle-solving mechanics may also appear to those familiar with the learning material. However, the game is a study aid and not a complete course pack, so those uninitiated to the basic principles within the learning objectives may experience difficulties. The audience is expected to know the basics of playing computer games with a mouse.

Market Analysis
Peers of this game include: The Incredible Machine Angry Birds http://www.physicsgames.net/ There are many physics-based puzzle games, both commercial and free. Compared to Fizzix, some are more realistic physical simulations, and some may have superior presentation and assets. But, this does not diminish the overall quality of Fizzix, nor the uniqueness of its parameterized-formula puzzle mechanic, combined with its stand-out quality as a study aid.

Gameplay
Controls
The entire game is played with point, click, and drag mouse control. This includes Menu navigation Level selection Gameplay actions

Actions
During gameplay, the player has these actions available: scroll through puzzle parts menu place a part scroll through equations menu apply an equation apply a variable to an equation on a puzzle part: access variables move remove Set the puzzle in motion Reset the puzzle, before motion Retry the puzzle entirely

User Interface
During gameplay, the player uses three main UI items: The parts menu, used to place parts and build the puzzle The equations menu, used to associate mathematical formulas with the interactions between parts View Properties, which exposes variables potentially involved in a selected parts interactions as labels floating nearby.

Presentation
Visual Style Fizzix will be presented with simple, semi-realistic 2D animated graphics.

From the Incredible Machine, the primary inspiration of Fizzix Audio Style The game will feature cartoony sound effects that approximate or exaggerate the events involved. The intro theme and gameplay music will be simple, upbeat tunes.

Gameplay Example

1. The user is presented with a puzzle and an objective: Use the laser to pop the balloon!

2. The user places a mirror from the inventory into the scene.

3. The user hits the START button to commence the scene. When the laser interacts with the mirror, the scene pauses at the unresolved interaction. In this case, reflection.

4. The user looks for the missing variables by selecting the laser to access its available attributes.

5. The user drags the attribute onto the equation. Now complete, the interaction continues. The laser reaches its target and the puzzle is solved.

Features
Characters
Similar again to the Incredible Machine, the game will introduce many puzzles by relating them to the antics and activities of some amusing original characters. For instance, a level might be described as such: Dr. Fizzix wants to score a basket. Help him do it using the catapult! Dr. Fizzix: the main character, he is often striving for obscure goals in peculiar ways, playing up the humor of the game. Marie, the pet cat of Dr. Fizzix. She sometimes appears as an obstacle in the puzzles, adding a condition for success: ...and dont hit Marie the cat!

Level Plan
Interactions Name | Properties fall lift launch elastic tension reflect refract x x mass x x x x x x elastic constant potential energy x net force x x x refraction index velocity x

Parts Name | Properties Bowling ball Basket ball Balloon Catapult Spring Rope Lazer emitter Lens Mirror Levels Level | Parts Present 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Bowling ball Basket Balloon ball x x Ca tap ult x x x x x x x Spri ng Rop e Lazer Emitter Lens Mirror x mass x x x x x x x elastic constant potential energy x x net force x x x x refraction index velocity x x