The “Independent AAA” game developer Ninja Theory is quite open about it’s game design methods. On their website you can find the game concepts for the unreleased game Razer, including design docs and concept art. Also the combat design document and Pre-vis trailer for the game Kung Fu Story is explained throughout.
Unreleased
Deus Ex Design document and Thief 4 Submission Document
User Defaultplayer001 has put up a very interesting link to the design document for the original Deus Ex game with annotations by Warren Spector. Also a link to the Thief 4 submission document is available. Have a look on the reddit page here
Pitch for a SpongeBob card game by TiNYTOUCHTALES
Arnold Rauers (TiNYTOUCHTALES) has released the pitch for a SpongeBob burger card game which was proposed to Nickelodeon. A prototype for the game can even be played from this webpage. This prototype later evolved into Miracle Merchant game.
Game design documents and pitches from designer Thomas Grové (Street Fighter IV: Flashback and more)
The designer Thomas Grové shares many really interesting game design documents, pitches and even visual prototypes on his personal website (scroll down to “Concept Documents” section). Files for the following games can be found there:
- Street Fighter IV: Flashback
- Tony Jaa’s Fighting Force
- Valkyrior
- Street Fighter: Power Battles
- Kung Fu Dream
- And some interesting design Tests
Game design documents from designer Richard Hill-Whittall
On his personal website the game development entrepreneur Richard Hill-Whittall uploaded many game design documents. Some of the games are released some of them were not. He shared the documents for the following games:
- Build’n Race
- Build’n Race Extreme (renamed to VTrax)
- Combat Tanks
- City Defender
- Monsters
- Pool Hall Pro
- Vertigo
The Insomniac game that never was: Monster Knight
On IGN there is a page dedicated to the canceled original concept for the game Monster Knight from Insomniac. The design bible can be found on the second page.
The Monster Island Pitch from Irrational Games
Irrational Games has a web page devoted to the unfinished The Monster Island game. A pitch document for this game was written by Ken Levine and it can be seen in the “From the Vaults” section.
Saints Row Undercover GDD and walkthrough
Deep Silver Volition has uploaded the Game Design Document and walkthrough for the unreleased Saints Row Undercover PSP game.