Chapter 2. Creating Game Layout Charts

The game layout chart is the first step in defining the art that you will need for a game design. The chart works as a blueprint of the game, defining how it will work and what it will be. The chart should be a simple-to-follow diagram showing how the game interface will work, the characters or player-controlled elements, the areas or levels, and any other important information relating to the game.

The advantage of creating a game layout chart is that it forces the designer to fully explore how the game will work. Often as a designer and an artist work together on the chart, game elements will change because the designer and artist are getting a better picture of how the game will work. For this reason, it is important to create the chart in such a way that things can be moved around easily.