Far Frontier

Sihan Ma’s Game Design Document

Word Ideas

Start with one word, then let it travel.

We began with broad associations rather than a game mechanic. The workshop maps move from a feeling such as joy into places, objects, actions and qualities: party, birthday, travel, coffee, comfort, sunny day and more.

Emotion and joy word-association mind map

Word-association maps developed with yellow sticky notes

A workshop wall covered with divergent-thinking word maps and colourful sticky notes — Workshop overview: several word maps are expanded with sticky notes, connections and questions before a direction is selected.

Give the maps a grammar.

We added word types to make the divergent thinking usable for design. A noun suggests a world or thing, a verb suggests player action, and an adjective suggests the feeling or rule that changes the action.

NOUNS / WORLDS & THINGS

party · birthday · festival · jeep · factory · army · travel · balloon · present

VERBS / PLAYER ACTIONS

run · manage · command · build · travel · swim · search · protect · explore

ADJECTIVES / FEELING & RULE

slow · efficient · strategic · colourful · sweet · comfortable · sunny · dangerous

Choose a noun, a verb and an adjective.

The next step used a simple worksheet: who is the player, what are they trying to do, where does it happen, what gets in the way, and what might happen as a result? The three selected combinations became three distinct game possibilities.

Week 1 handwritten worksheet developing Jeep exploration and efficient factory management game ideas — Week 1 worksheet — Jeep exploration and factory management

Week 1 handwritten worksheet developing the command, army and strategic game idea — Week 1 worksheet — Command, Army, Strategic