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GAME:
DAO

This is a group project that participated in Tencent's Next Idea independent game competition.

Game Design Document

Hexun Lin, Wenjie Lu
Peking University, Wuhan University

(Access the full Game Design Doc Link Here)

 

 

【Game Features】
DAO is a game designed based on traditional Chinese culture and the optimal path, which can improve the logical thinking of the player. It is easy to play and has no need for much game experience. The main idea of the game comes from the setting of Yin Yang (Dark and Light), the blackfish and whitefish symbolize Yin (Dark) and Yang (Light) respectively, players need to use various props to make fishes reach the end of the opposite color of their own, revealing the relationship of Yin Yang (Dark and Light) transformation and mutual inclusion. The prop "lotus leaf" can make the blackfish and whitefish change their colors, this mechanism is also designed to reflect this Yin Yang philosophy.


【Product Orientation】
1. Light-weight and short-lived casual game, which can meet the needs of users' fragmented content consumption;
2. Users use logical reasoning ability to solve the path in the game. Passing levels, containing many puzzle components;
3. Mainly Chinese style (ink, paper-cutting, Ying Yang) design, to attract traditional culture fans.


【User Analysis】
Main target users:
1. Lovers of puzzle games
2. Lovers of traditional Chinese culture

3. Workers who are busy and have little contact with games
User Profiles:
Age mainly between 15-35 years old, with fragmented entertainment time, simple game experience, and generally understanding of basic computer and cell phone operation.
User goals:
To relieve stress and relax, for leisure and entertainment; to train logical thinking; to experience traditional Chinese culture.
User's main using scenarios:
Play games on the computer or cell phone to relax after coming home; play games on the cell phone during the commute by transportation; play games to pass the time during the free time of dinner or meeting.


【One Sentence Gameplay Summary】
By placing the swimming fish and props position, let the swimming fish light up the same color lotus in the process of swimming and return to the end of the different color square.


【Core Operation Steps】
1. Place the fish in the corresponding color of the lotus leaf on the board.
2. Place the props to the appropriate position on the board, so that the fish will light up the lotus flower of the same color and return to the end of the square of the different color during the automatic movement.
3. Click the start button.
4. The fish will start to move automatically, if it meets the success condition, it will get the corresponding star reward, if it fails, it will start again.


【Game Rules and Constraints】
1. The initial color of the swimming fish is fixed, and the initial swimming direction is determined (up, down, left or right);
2. The initial position of the swimming fish (the same color lotus leaf) is fixed, and the termination position (different color square) is fixed;
3. The position of lotus and petals in the board is fixed;
4. The swimming fish must and can only light up the lotus flower of the same color;
5. The fish must return to the end of the square of the different color;
6. When and only when using lotus root props, you can change the swimming direction of the swimming fish;
7. When and only when using a pair of lotus seedpod props, the fish position can be teleported to the other side;
8. When and only when the fish pass through the lotus leaves of different colors, it can change the color of the fish itself;
9. In the process of moving fish, harvesting flower petals can increase the star reward, but it is not a necessary condition;
10. Props can be left over.


【Props Description】
Swimming Fish: black and white, the initial direction of swimming will be given;
Lotus: black and white, can be lit by the same color fish;
Lotus Leaf: black and white, can be used as the initial placement point of the same color swimming fish, can change the color of the different color swimming fish;
Square Grid: black and white, as the end point to accept fish of different colors;
Lotus Root: the swimming fish can turn according to its direction;
Lotus Seedpod: the same size as a pair, can be placed on the way of swimming fish, to transmit the location of swimming fish;
Petals: gain reward.


【Reward Description】
Successfully complete the level, there are basic rewards; get extra petals, there are bonus.


【Level Termination Status】
1. Success: All fish light up all the same color lotus and return to the end of the different color square.
2. Failure: 
a. Any one fish swims out of the board position; 
b. Any one fish does not swim to the end of the different color; 
c. Any one lotus is not lit before the fish swims to the end.
 

The DAO (means the “way” in Chinese) is a puzzle game for all-age players. The two-color swimming fish wanders around the board, lighting up the lotus flower, and eventually returns to the end of the different colors to become Yin Yang.

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