Game Design Methods

Game design method implies an approach to a problem which is likely to lead to a successful solution. It is backed by a certain amount of imagination, creativity and intuition, and a more or less systematic investigation of the problem with the help of techniques, 'best practices', or 'tricks of the trade'.
A Brainstorming Toolbox (David Perry)
Creativity/ Innovation (Yolanda Verhage)
Jumpstarting Your Creativity (Brad Meyer)
Visualizing the Creative Process (Daniel Cook) 


CONCEPT FRAMEWORKS
From the Vault – The BioShock Pitch
How To Pitch Your Game
Game Concepts
How To Pitch Your Project To Publishers
What a Pitch!


DOCUMENTATION for GAME DESIGN
Format for Game Design Specifications (Tom Sloper)
Game Concept & Design Document Template (Micah Hrehovcsik)
Game Design Document Outline  (Mark Baldwin)
Game Design Document Template ( Chris Taylor)
How to Write Great Design Documents (Damion Schubert)
Outline for a Game Design (Tom Sloper)
The Anatomy of a Design Document (Chris Charabaruk) Note: based on Tim Ryan's Gamasutra article
Video Game Design Document Template  
The Two C's of Video Game Design 


HEURISTICS for GAME DESIGN 
[Board Game Design] Andrew Looney's Eleven Principles of Game Design
[Board Game Design] Design Considerations (Greg Aleknevicus)
[Level Design] Capture the Flag Level Tips
10 Game Design Process Pitfalls (Ian Fisch)
Game Design Tips (Jesse Schell)
Game Tuning And Design Tips Iphone Apps (Taisuke Odaijima)
Pitfalls of the Working Game Designer
Rules for Game-Based Systems
Seven Creative Tips for Amateur Video Game Makers
Sid’s Rules (Sid Meier)
The 10 most common game design mistakes
The 400 Project (Noah Falstein)
The 7 Commandments All Video Games Should Obey
Three Game-Design Evils (Peter Molyneux, Jonathan Smith and Simon Byron)
The Designer's Notebook: (Ernest Adams)
Are Games Missing Joy? 
Simplification
Tolkien, Beethoven, Vision
Bad Game Designer, No Twinkie! XI
Bad Game Designer, No Twinkie! X 
Bad Game Designer, No Twinkie! IX 


FLOWCHART
Model-Driven Game Development
The Chemistry Of Game Design (Daniel Cook)
Computer Game-Flow Design 
Design Diagrams
Diagrams for puzzle design
Considerations on flowcharts, dialogues and Design Documents  (Cindy Dalfovo) 
Settlers of catan Flowchart


PARADIGMS for GAME DESIGN

300 Hundred Mechanics 
20 Underused Game Mechanics
Formal Abstract Design Tools (Doug Church) 
The Case For Game Design Patterns (Bernd Kreimeier) 
Patterns and Computer Game Design Innovation (Kevin McGee) 
SCVNGER's Playdeck w/ Gravity 7s Comments 
20 Underused Game Mechanics
5 Creepy Ways Video Games Are Trying to Get You Addicted
Game Theory Dictionary
SCVNGR’s Playdeck
Shinji Mikami On Mechanics
Strategic Synergy's: Game Mechanics
Top 10 Research Findings 2008, 2007, 2006
How to Use Game Mechanics to Improve Your SEO


PLAY-TESTING
The Usability Methods Toolbox
Design Testing: The use of addiction metrics to force rapid evolution of innovative game designs



GAME DESIGN PROCESSES
How to Prototype a Game in Under 7 Days
Prototyping
Building a prototype
Game Prototyping: How the Skunkworks Work
How to Prototype a Game in Under 7 Days
Prototyping: You’re (Probably) Doing It Wrong
Prototyping Techniques (Daniel Cook)
Prototype Patterns (Micah Hrehovcsik)


VISUALIZATIONS for GAME DESIGN
Designing with Gameplay Modes and Flowboards