The Project
Memento is a conceptual top-down adventure game that pays homage to classic designers like Ron Gilbert, John Carmack, and Shinji Mikami. Each dungeon was meant to shift gameplay genres to match their design philosophies, from point-and-click puzzles to FPS combat to horror exploration.
What I Did
I created a full Game Design Document (GDD) detailing design pillars, gameplay loops, pacing, audience targeting, worldbuilding, aesthetics, and player motivation. I also included marketing and teaching sections to show a professional approach.
What I Learned
This was my first experience building a full design document from scratch, and it showed me how vital documentation is for focus and team alignment. I learned how to cut unnecessary ideas and keep a design coherent — a skill that directly improved how I scope later projects.
Why I did this project
I created this project to explore one of the biggest issues in game development: the lack of documentation and preservation. I wanted to write a design doc that honored the legacy of classic designers like Ron Gilbert and Shinji Mikami, while showing I understood how strong documentation supports both creativity and clarity.