Pitch Bible/Design Document

Hi Part-timers,

Here is the information I would have shared at group crit this week but couldn't.

The document you will produce is the tip of the iceberg regarding the work you've done so far. Remember the iceberg tip is all that shows of the huge mass below. It demonstrates its presence. Your document is the method with which you show the pre-production work you've done.

It is a concise document that pitches your proposed project to an audience defined by yourself. It takes us through your project from idea to schedule. It gives the reader enough information to understand your project. It must feature information on market, audience and intellectual property for your project.

It is a visually focused document. Text is supported by images showing your research, concepts and time-management.

Overall it should sell your idea to potential decision-makers (in this case your assessors).

I've re-posted some ideas I posted back in October you may have forgotten about. Use them as inspirations. None of them will be exactly the format you will use. Look over them again and see how each takes you through aspects of different projects. Think how each takes you on a journey through the pre-production work.

Your document will do something similar, but for your project work. There is no one definitive way of doing this.

In the document you will be assessed on the following:

• Conceptualize a creative project for a specific audience from the proposal stage
• Communication of your final concept
• Demonstrate your working methodology
• Demonstrate deadlines and work schedule
• Visual presentation

Your hand in for the entire module should be on a disc as follows:

A research folder
A pitch bible document
Rationale
Gantt Chart

Make everything clear to the assessors. Don't just lump everything together, structure the disc using folders.

Grades can be maximized with thought on how you present the course work.

I will be available for individual tutorials on request. Unfortunately I have to be off site next Wednesday. But next week's group crit can still go ahead without me. Dean will stand in. So 9:30 in C431.

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Pitching Schedule example

Source: Dave Wood - New Media Bazaar

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3D Modellers Design Document example

(link to pdf to be added)

Source: Dave Wood - biennialFreerunner

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Animation Pitch Bible with Episode Guide example

Pitch Bible [PDF]
Full Concept Bible [PDF]

Source: Cake Entertainment

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Pitch Bible Blogs & Info

Cartoon Creation Blog

The Pitch Bible: Just The Essentials

FINAL Final Part-time Group Crit - this is for your diary!

Hi all Part-timers,

It looks like not everyone can make next Friday for a group crit, therefore we'll have to do the final group crit on the following Wednesday.

That's Wednesday 29th April at 9:30 in C431.

Use next week to really wrap up the concepts and planning. Contact Dean to see if he is free for a Wednesday tutorial while I'm away. I'll be free for tutorials on Friday of next week for those who need it.

Ignore any previous posts. This is the final date to add to your diary.

Final Part-time Group Crit

Hi Part-timers

Will all part-timers be OK if I move the next group crit to a Friday? Let me know if this is a problem.

Part-time Group Crit = Friday 24th April
Focusing on pitch-bible preparation

Ignore any previous posts that say Wednesday or Thursday.

Deadline Dates - REMINDER

Hi to both Full- and Part-Timers

A reminder of the deadlines:

Dissertation deadline = Monday 27th April

Full-time Production deadline = Wednesday 29th April
You should have planned for this deadline already

Part-time Pre-production deadline = Wednesday 29th April
You should have planned for this deadline already

Part-time Pre-production presentation = Wednesday 6th May
This is the pitch presentation

Official hand-in of all practical work = Friday 8th May
This deadline is the final deadline for both groups. It gives you time to finalise paperwork and ensure you are handing in all the evidence needed for assessment.

All work to be handed into C324 Admin Office. Ensure you get a receipt.

Individual tutorials can be arranged on request. Email tutor to book. Click on name below:

Dave Wood
Stas Krakiewicz
Dean Betton
Kate O'Leary

Error! Group Crit is this Wednesday 11th

Thanks Ste for spotting that error with my previous post.

The group crit is the 11th not the 18th, that is this Wednesday!

In my earlier post of Friday, 13 February 2009 "Deadline Dates - READ CAREFULLY and adjust your schedules" the date was correct.

To reiterate that the group crit is this Wednesday at 9:30am in C431.

See all part-timers then.

Next Group Crit - Part-Time Students

Hi part-timers,

On Wednesday 18th the penultimate group crit will be held for Pre-production with myself and Dean Betton. The same format as before 10 minute plus questions.

The focus of this group crit will be on pre-production progress. Show what work you've done since the last time you discussed your work. The emphasis is on gauging direction and progress. You can show concepts, schedules, new research, prototypes, software tutorials, sketches etc. whatever you have. This is an important milestone as the next group crit in April will be the last, and that will focus on collating your work into the pitch bible/design document.

We'll begin at 9:30 in C431.

Part-timers Group Crit

Hi Part-timers,

The next group crit is next Wednesday at 9:30 in C431 focusing on the rationale. Everyone will discuss their rationale to get feedback - @10 mins each. Look at Tony's post "Rational work: am I on the right path?". It is a good example. Check my comments back to him as it explains how he can improve it.

Post your drafts to the blog before the crit and I'll advise ASAP.

After the crit I'll happily see everyone individually to support Pre-production planning, rationale writing and dissertation support. Hopefully starting individual tutorials about 11:00 I will see you on first-come-first-served basis. Hit comment below to request a slot. I'll see you in order of requests.

*UPDATE*
Tutorial Order: 1st=Ste Chabeaux, 2nd=Scott Tasker, 3rd=, 4th=, 5th=

Reminder to Part-timers - Wed Group Crit

A quick, hopefully not too late, reminder to Part-timers that their 1st group crit is tomorrow (Wed). The focus is on developing your rationale and catching everyone up with progress. We will also discuss the last stages of your first year too.

Room C431 - 9.30am. Be on time. We may not have a projector so we may get cosy round a table and monitor instead.

Be good to see you all.

Dissertation Group Crit - don't forget, and be on time!!!

Hi all, DON'T forget that Wed afternoon this week is a group crit/presentation to Kate. 10 minutes on where you currently are with your dissertation.

It is formative assessment so be there or we cannot gauge where you are work wise. I'll be there as 2nd line assessor AND if all goes to plan I will be able to introduce you all to our new staff member Dean Betton.

Dean has worked in the games industry at a senior art level for 20+ years in the UK and the USA. He has worked on AAA titles. He will only be meeting and greeting but I hope he can sit in on the crit as an interested observer as he hasn't been officially given a proper start date. He is eager to get started so he is visiting in his own time. That's dedication. :-)

Crit will begin at 2:00pm in C431. Please be punctual so we can all begin on time.

Dissertation group crit/presentation

Hi all,

Kate would like you to come for a group crit/presentation of your idea so far on Wednesday 10th December at 2:00pm in C431.

There will be presentations with FD Games year 2 in the morning in C431 so that MAY over run. So aim to get to the room by 1:30 to set up but be prepared to wait if needed.

Work in Progress

Hi all especially the full-timers,

A quick but important note to the full-timers who only have 4 weeks left on the Pre-production module. Remember that the Pre-production module is all about planning and preparing your idea for production. It is a time (assessable time) when you need to plan for the eventualities of producing your (mainly) levels. Ask yourselves the following questions:

Have I a clear idea of the ACTUAL tasks I need to do to complete the level?
Have I clearly planned my TIME to complete them?
Have I ENOUGH research to ensure that my level isn't just a re-hash of what has gone before?
Have I ASKED enough questions of the RIGHT people to ensure that my idea is of a professional standard?
Have I REALLY a clear idea who my actual AUDIENCE are?
Have I got a clear idea what MARKET exists for my idea?
Have I enough understanding of INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS and COPYRIGHT?
Have I really done enough DEVELOPMENT of my idea?

Remember you need to supply for assessment the following:

A rationale, gantt chart and research folder (20% of final module grade)
A design document (or equivalent) that summarizes ALL the pre-production work you've done since September (50% of final module grade)
A presentation where you will PITCH your idea at the panel audience - the aim is not to discuss but CONVINCE us that your idea is well conceived, well planned and achievable. (30% of final module grade)

Imagine the audience of the presentation have money to invest in your idea. A green light from them means you would be paid to produce your project. That is how you should think about your module work. Can I convince others that my idea will work. Be confident, be passionate but ensure you've thought of and covered as many angles as you can.

The next group crit will be on Wednesday 2nd December at 9:30am in C431.

Full-timers will have 10 minutes to demonstrate what they have planned to date and to discuss how they propose to document it into a design document (or equivalent).
IT IS CRUCIAL YOU BRING WORK TO SHOW. This includes gantt charts, visuals, roughs, sketches, thumbnails etc. At this stage you should be in the later stages of finalising your idea and locking the tasks down into your gantt chart to set yourself deadlines.

Part-timers at this last group crit before Christmas you will begin to discuss (with examples) how you're developing the project's rationale.

The Pre-production presentation for full-timers will be on Wednesday 17th December.

If in doubt book a tutorial to talk things over with me (some of you are already doing so). I can see full-timers on Thursdays and Fridays.

Group Crit next Wednesday morning

Hi all,

Good to see some movement on the rep front. This is a great moment in time that demonstrates the power of democracy and that extends to you guys. Let's see some consensus democracy at work in electing your reps (nice one Ste and Dave).

Anyway, back to the next group crit.

Room C431 Wednesday 12th November 9:30

10 minutes each person + questions

Full-timers you will present your rationale as to what and why you are doing your project (see below)

Part-timers you will present your idea so far from where your idea was 3 weeks ago based upon the feedback you received

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The Rationale - what, why, how, when, who

Your rationale is essentially the brief you are setting yourself with you justifying WHY and HOW you will do the project as well as WHAT you will do, WHEN you will do it, and WHO needs to be involved.

The rationale needs to discuss issues of audience, intellectual property rights and market. Look to your module handbook for this module, to the evidence requirements of what you need to submit for assessment and the learning outcomes that need to be met. The rationale should be between 250-500 words only, and should set in a metaphorical stone, what you've been planning since September.

From this rationale you will in December set your work schedule, which will show how you will manage your time up until May.

Use the blog to post drafts of your rationale and to see how each other interprets this structure. Overall the rationale is in your voice, explaining your project and justifying it based upon audience and market.