Games GDD

The first article I read this week was https://learn.canvas.net/courses/3/pages/level-5-introduction-and-readings which talks about all about the beginning of designing a game and idea generation.
This article gave a structure to designing games and coming up with ideas. When tackling your initial design and your ideas you should start with thinking about the aesthetics, try thinking of your favourite game, why is it so enjoyable?What do you like about it? also thinking about what rules led to that experience. Rules or systems should be the next step you can take inspiration from everyday life looking into what daily systems could make a good game? for example service games such as cooking craze are inspired by real life service industry jobs.

You can also look at existing designs, games that you though had potential but didn't quite hit the mark. think about how this could have been improved, what didn't you like?
Narrative is also one of the most important parts of generating ideas, start with your story and then design your game rules to fit the story. Other idea generation starting points are: Market research, technologies, materials and combining some of these when beginning.

The reading also talks about how to overcome designers block. The strategies to help with designers block are playing lot's of games and thinking about what you think is good and what could be improved. Writing down all of your ideas, your narratives and mechanics even if they don't initially stand out as good ideas you can always come back and build on them. another useful strategy is thinking of something random and trying to find a way to integrate it into your game.

Creative block meme

This article also takes about how important prototyping is in the process of game design. When prototyping make it as simple and unattractive as possible completely focusing on the mechanics and rules. You can go back and constantly improve the design and touches after the gameplay is perfected! 

The second article http://www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/DesignConsiderations.shtml discusses design components and how important all the different components are to determining a players enjoyment.