Growth Prototype Devlopment Schedule

Important Dates:

Oct 8 - Preliminary Concept Pitch

Oct 15 - Final Concept / Pitch

Oct 29 - Interim Team Eval

Nov 11 - Final Design Doc

Nov 24 - Thanksgiving

Dec 1 - Final Project Presentation


This week:

We should meet Wednesday night or Thursday afternoon to discuss the preliminary pitch and hammer out some details.  I don't think we will need to show anything concrete this round, since we have a final pitch next week, but we should come to a concensus on some points and collaboratively start up the central design document.

We have 7 weeks (and a few days) after that to finish. <ominous>Duh duh DUH!</ominous>


Here's an initial schedule, though please take it with a grain of salt.  It's hard to tell how things will pan out, even a few weeks ahead, but it's good to have a general outline so we have a sense of where we're going and how much time we have.  Of course the devil's in the details, and none of this is set in stone:


1. Plant phase (Oct 11 - 17)

1.1 Design and prototype plant for final pitch due Thurs.
1.2 Decide on and list necessary graphic assets and prioritize.
1.3 Begin creating assets.
1.4 Final Pitch

2. Platform phase (Oct 18 - 24)

2.1 Complete necessary assets.
2.2 Add platforming elements to game (physics!)
2.3 Add avatar - decide on controls
2.4 Playtest & Evaluate

3. Level phase (Oct 25 - 31)

3.1 Create Preliminary Levels
3.2 Add switches & barriers
3.3 Add "weapons"
3.4 playtest & evaluate

4. Story phase (Nov 1 - 7) DESIGN DOC DUE THU 11/5

4.1 Finalize story
4.2 Cutscenes?
4.3 Experiment w/ new plants, story elments
4.4 Level design / playtest

5. Interface phase (Nov 8 - 14)

5.1 Design interface, opening screen, "scores" screen
5.2 Decide on transitions between screens (save/load?)
5.3 Hook in interface.
5.4 Continue level design / playtesting

6. Playtest phase (Nov 15 - 21)

6.1 Outside playtesting
6.2 Gather & evaluate feedback
6.3 Iterate

7. Thanksgiving phase (Nov 22 - 28)

7.1 Short week!  WOOO!
7.2 Finalize audio?
7.3 Music?
7.4 Eat a lot?

8. Final stretch (Nov 29 - Dec 1)

8.1 Final tweaks
8.2 Upload to final site (GO LIVE!)