A good technical plan can go a long way in helping you attract developers and acquire funding. The following plan was a part of the development package for the game Genesis Seed that was submitted to Activision for their 2011 Independent Games Competition. The project was cancelled but we still have a lot of useful information and resources from it.

Note: The numbers in the work breakdown are not to create a game from scratch. This technical proposal gives details on how to finish the project.

Leave a comment if you would like more information.

For the Word Document Version of this plan: GenesisSEED-Technical Proposal and Execution Plan.doc

This is the technical plan for Genesis SEED and has been prepared for the Activision® 2011 Independent Games Competition.

1 Project Summary

Genesis SEED is a futuristic space mech/armored suit combat game which can be described in a single word -- "freedom." With battles that can take place in open space, players can move in all directions for a true 3D combat feel. The aim for Genesis SEED is not to become another typical space shooter, first person shooter or mech combat game, but a rich game with various forms of play and an intriguing story line.

2 Summary of Methodology

This project will use a custom 3D game engine, currently named Harmony, based on Direct X 9 using Visual C++. The 3D graphics portion of the engine that will be used in this game is about 90% complete.

2.1 Team Structure

The Genesis SEED team has two permanent members – Dominque Douglas (Lead Developer and Programmer) and Sung Shin (Creative Lead and 3D Modeling). We’ve tried to bring on other permanent members, but without development funds, it’s difficult to keep others motivated so we’ve decided to stick with a two man team. Both permanent members can hire contractors to perform task. When we have a budget, we plan to contract artist and modelers. We’d also like a programmer who can work on scripting and sound programming.

Team collaboration is done over e-mail, IM, and Skype.

2.2 Multiplayer Development

The multiplayer system in Genesis SEED is based on the document "Latency Compensating Methods in Client/Server In-game Protocol Design and Optimization" by Yahn W. Bernier and will have a similar client / server architecture. This client / server design was accounted for since the design phase of Harmony 2.0, the Genesis SEED game engine. Already, users and the entities that they control are in separate c++ classes. Users can not directly alter their entity. All users, including AI users, create a control packet (or message) that is sent to the server. This is followed even in single player games. Command and position histories as well as interpolation and extrapolation code has already been written.

Remaining multiplayer work that needs to be developed is working on making the actual connections and making sure games on the client computers are properly synchronized. Because of this, the number of scheduled work hours is relatively low. The multiplayer system doesn't need to be started from scratch. It just needs to be finished. To help mitigate some of our risk, the engine will use Raknet as our networking solution. Raknet has a good user base and good support

2.3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Development

Because of the differing unit types and the large number of active units, AI in Genesis SEED is being developed to be like a Real Time Strategy Game (RTS) style AI. During play, the players are divided into teams. Each team has a commander AI that coordinates the movements of all players. Human controlled players will be able to ignore the commander, but this will affect the player’s reputation and can cause his team to turn on him.

2.3.1 AI Script

A custom AI script has been developed to program instructions for performing various tasks. The AI script uses a BASIC-like syntax but has special flow controls. Each script command has built in success/fail conditions and the next command executed is based on the previous commands exit condition. This allows the script to quickly break off if conditions make it impossible for a task to be completed in the current iteration.

2.4 Physics

NVIDIA PhysX 3 is used for basic collision detection. Future versions will use PhysX for particle effects. Collision with stage characters (large ships that are both characters and a part of the level) and mag-lock are performed using a custom system.

2.5 Space Partitioning

Genesis SEED uses a dynamic self-balancing KD Tree for spatial partitioning and object searches. Tree balancing happens over multiple frames for speed and unused segments (nodes without any objects) and segments with few entities are rolled up or deleted. KD nodes store axis-aligned bounding boxes (AABBs) so objects that are no longer in the correct node can be quickly repositioned.

2.6 Development Tools

2.6.1 Custom Tools Developed

GUI Editor

A custom GUI editor has been made to simplify GUI development.

Model Builder

Models are created using the 3D modeling package Milkshape 3D, but are customized in this program. The model builder is used to convert to the proper 3D file format, for model preprocessing, and for model testing.

AI Script Compiler

Genesis SEED uses a custom AI script. This compiler converts the script into byte code that can be read by the engine.

FX Editor

The FX editor is used to configure the special effects used in the game.

2.6.2 Middleware and Tools Used

TinyXML

TinyXML is a simple, small, minimal, C++ XML parser that can be easily integrating into other programs. It reads XML and creates C++ objects representing the XML document. The objects can be manipulated, changed, and saved again as XML. (Copyright © 2000-2002 Lee Thomason (www.grinninglizard.com))

RakNet

RakNet is a cross platform, open source, C++ networking engine for game programmers. The game engine RakNet is used for as the networking layer for the engine. Currently the engine uses RakNet 3, but the engine will upgrade to RakNet 4 before release. (© Jenkins Software LLC)

AVL Tree

AVL Tree implementation provided by Brad Appleton. Used under a free license.

Angel Script

Angel Script is a C-styled scripting language from angelcode.com. Angel Script is currently not being used in the engine, but it is being considered as possible option. Used under zlib license.

Threading

Threading support used under a free license by Walter E. Capers.

NVIDIA PhysX 3 (Copyright © 2011 NVIDIA Corporation)
Direct X 9
XACT

Cross-platform Audio Creation Toolkit by Microsoft®.

Milkshape

Low-polygon modeling program by Mete Ciragan and Chumbalum Soft.

Spacescape

Spacescape is a tool for creating space skyboxes with stars and nebulas.

For the latest info, see http://alexcpeterson.com/spacescape

GIMP

The GNU Image Manipulation Program

Adobe Photoshop

Image editing software by Adobe.

2.7 Change Control

Requirements changes will be tracked using an Excel spreadsheet. After the feature complete milestone, no new features will be added to this release. After the code complete milestone, no entirely new product source code will be added to this release. This project plan will be updated as needed throughout the project.

3 Work Breakdown Structure and Estimates

Task	Description	Estimate in hours	Difficulty
A.	Programming Task	547	MODERATE
A.1	Graphics Upgrades	24	Moderate
A.1.1	Update skins to allow for a third texture	4	Easy
A.1.2	Update rendering system to group and render meshes using the same material.	8	Moderate
A.1.3	Allow multiple materials per model.	4	Moderate
A.1.4	Add glow and transparencies	8	Moderate
A.2	AI Part 1	12	Moderate
A.2.1	Add transport ship unit type	4	Moderate
A.2.2	Add transport ship attack AI	8	Moderate
A.3	Prepare Enhanced Demo 1 Milestone	15	Moderate
A.4	Physics	48	Moderate
A.4.1	Remove PhysX controllers from stage entities	4	Easy
A.4.2	Add new collider information to stage entities and configure in the Model Builder	12	Moderate
A.4.3	Add stage entity collision code	20	Moderate
A.4.4	Add mag-lock controls	12	Moderate
A.5	Multiplayer	192	Moderate
A.5.1	Download latest Raknet release and upgrade Raknet in the engine.	16	Moderate
A.5.2	Basic Connection Test	32	Moderate
A.5.3	Build multiplayer game with one player acting as the host server	96	Difficult
A.5.4	Create server only system and connection server	48	Moderate
A.6	AI Part 2	64	Moderate
A.6.1	Aggression levels and base unit AI	8	Easy
A.6.2	Group Formations	8	Moderate
A.6.3	Task System / Custom AI script	16	Moderate
A.6.4	Commander AI	32	Difficult
A.7	Story System (maybe contracted out)	48	Moderate
A.7.1	Design story system	12	Easy
A.7.2	Implement story system	36	Moderate
A.8	HUD and Menu Redevelopment (maybe contracted out)	48	Moderate
A.8.1	Menu design	12	Easy
A.8.2	Menu and HUD implementation	36	Moderate
A.9	Sound System(maybe contracted out)	32	Moderate
A.9.1	Sound System design	8	Easy
A.9.2	Sound System Implementation	24	Moderate
A.10	Feature Complete Task	64	Moderate
A.10.1	Check Requirements and create new task list	16	Easy
A.10.2	Implement new task	48	Moderate

B.	Art Task	1124
B.1	Human Assets	440
B.1.2	Human Mechs Design and Concept	40
B.1.3	Human Mechs Creation using Milkshape 3D	120
B.1.4	Human Mech Weapons Design and Concept	20
B.1.5	Human Mech Weapons Creation using Milkshape 3D	40
B.1.6	Human Ships Design and Concept	40
B.1.7	Human Ships Creation using Milkshape 3D	120
B.1.8	Other Human Vehicles Design and Concept	20
B.1.9	Other Human Vehicles Creation using Milkshape 3D	40
B.2	Genome Assets	440
B.2.1	Genome Mechs Design and Concept	40
B.2.2	Genome Mechs Creation using Milkshape 3D	120
B.2.3	Genome Mech Weapons Design and Concept	20
B.2.4	Genome Mech Weapons Creation using Milkshape 3D	40
B.2.5	Genome Ships Design and Concept	40
B.2.6	Genome Ships Creation using Milkshape 3D	120
B.2.7	Other Genome Vehicles Design and Concept	20
B.2.8	Other Genome Vehicles Creation using Milkshape 3D	40
B.3	Menus	172
B.3.1	Base Menus Design and Concept	12
B.3.2	Base Menus Creation	24
B.3.3.1	Human Specific Menus Design and Concept	12
B.3.3.2	Human Specific Menus Creation	24
B.3.3.3	Human HUD Design and Concept	8
B.3.3.4	Human HUD Creation	24
B.3.4.1	Genome Specific Menus Design and Concept	12
B.3.4.2	Genome Specific Menus Creation	24
B.3.4.3	Genome HUD Design and Concept	8
B.3.4.4	Genome HUD Creation	24
B.4	Other Art Assets	72
B.4.1	Explosions	8
B.4.2	Weapons Effects	24
B.4.3	Items	20
B.4.4	Power-ups	20

4 Milestones in this Release

Name	Description	Date
Enhanced Demo 1	This demo will be the Activision Independent Games Contest demo but will include: Glow Transport ships Enhanced AI In this demo, a large Pseudo-human transport ship will carry droids to the attack site.	Feb 29, 2012
Mag-lock Demo	This demo will add mag-lock, allowing mechs to lock onto large ships and walk on them. This demo will also include a special task that player will need to use mag-lock to complete.	Mar 31, 2012
Network Game Demo	This demo will be the first multiplayer demo. It will work over a LAN or over the internet using a connection server. A graphics-less server only version will also be created.	June 30, 2012
Enhanced AI Demo	This demo will include enhanced AI and the completed AI script.	July 31, 2012
Human / Genome Campaigns	In this milestone, the opening scenarios for both the Human and Genome campaigns will be built. This milestone will include some basic mech configurations and enhanced menus.	Aug 31, 2012
Feature Complete Demo	A completed beta version with all planned game features.	Oct 24, 2012

5 Programming Schedule for this Release

		February				March				April				May				June
Task	Description	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	Tot
A.1	Graphics Upgrade	12	12																			24
A.1.1	Update skins	4																				4
A.1.2	Update rendering	8																				8
A.1.3	Multiple materials		4																			4
A.1.4	Glow and Transpar.		8																			8
A.2	AI Part 1			12																		12
A.2.1	transport ship type			4																		4
A.2.2	Transport ship AI			8																		8
A.3	Enhanced Demo 1				15																	15
A.4	Physics					12	16	12	8													48
A.4.1	stage entity PhysX					4																4
A.4.2	Add collider info					8	4															12
A.4.3	Add stage entity coll						12	8														20
A.4.4	Add mag-lock ctrls							4	8													12
A.5	Multiplayer									16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	16	192
A.5.1	Update to Raknet									16												16
A.5.2	Basic Conn Test										16	16										32
A.5.3	multiplayer game												16	16	16	16	16	16				96
A.5.4	server only system																		16	16	16	48

		July				August				September				October
Task	Description	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	Total
A.6	AI Part 2	16	16	16	16													64
A.6.1	Base unit AI	8																8
A.6.2	Group Formations	8																8
A.6.3	Task System / AI script		16															16
A.6.4	Commander AI			16	16													32
A.7	Story System					12	12	12	12									48
A.7.1	Design story system					12												12
A.7.2	Implement story system						12	12	12									36
A.8	HUD and Menu Redev									12	12	12	12					48
A.8.1	Menu design									12								12
A.8.2	Menu and HUD Implem										12	12	12					36
A.9	Sound System					4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4					32
A.9.1	Sound System design					4	4											12
A.9.2	Sound System Implem							4	4	4	4	4	4					36
A.10	Feature Complete Task													16	16	16	16	64
A.10.1	Check Requirements													16				16
A.10.2	Implement new task														16	16	16	48

6 Art Schedule for this release

		February				March				April				May				June
Task	Description	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	Tot
B.1	Human Assets	20	20	20	20	40	40	20	40	40	40	40	40	40	20							440
B.1.2	H Mechs Design	20	20																			40
B.1.3	H Mechs Creation			20	20	40	40															120
B.1.4	H Mech Weapon Des							20														20
B.1.5	H Mech Weapon Cre								40													40
B.1.6	Human Ship Design									40												40
B.1.7	Human Ship Cre										40	40	40									120
B.1.8	Othr H Vehicles Des													20								20
B.1.9	Othr H Vehicle Cre													20	20							40
B.2	Genome Assets														40	40	40	60	40	40	40	300
B.2.1	G Mechs Design														40							40
B.2.2	G Mechs Creation															40	40	40				120
B.2.3	G Mech Weapon De																	20				20
B.2.4	G Mech Weapon Cre																		40			40
B.2.5	G Ship Design																			40		40
B.2.6	G Ship Cre																				40	40

		July				August				September				October
Task	Description	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	W1	W2	W3	W4	Total
B.2	Genome Assets	40	40	40	20													140
B.2.6	G Ship Cre	40	40															80
B.2.7	Othr G Vehicles Des			20														20
B.2.8	Othr G Vehicle Cre			20	20													40
B.3	Menus					36	40	40	40	12								172
B.3.1	Base Menus Design					12												12
B.3.2	Base Menus Creation					24												24
B.3.3.1	Human Menu Design						12											12
B.3.3.2	Human Menu Creation						24											24
B.3.3.3	Human HUD Design						4	4										8
B.3.3.4	Human HUD Creation							24										24
B.3.4.1	Genome Menus Design							12										12
B.3.4.2	Genome Menu Creation								24									24
B.3.4.3	Genome HUD Design								8									8
B.3.4.4	Genome HUD Creation								12	12								24
B.4	Other Art Assets									172	172	172	172					72
B.4.1	Explosions									8								8
B.4.2	Weapons Effects									12	12							24
B.4.3	Items											20						20
B.4.4	Power-ups												20					20

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Thursday, April 3, 2014

Sample Video Game Technical Proposal and Execution Plan