Game Design Documents
A game design document (GDD) is considered required for the creation of any game. It provides guidance to the whole team working on it and outlines the key points: the plot, characters, core concepts, game mechanics, and theme.
GameDesigning.org has an article for writing your own GDD.
Examples
- Diablo
- Grand Theft Auto
- Mass Flux
- This was a GDD provided as an example from Pirate Software’s develop.games site