- name
- game-design-goal-framing
- description
- Turn a vague feature idea or design direction into a clear game design goal with purpose, scope, fit, success criteria, and constraints. Use when a feature sounds promising but fuzzy, when a team cannot explain why something should exist, when success is unclear, or when a concept needs a stronger goal before ideation, evaluation, or prototyping.
Game Design Goal Framing
Define what the feature is actually for.
Use this skill to sharpen a game design idea into a clear goal statement. The aim is to prevent fuzzy concepts, circular design discussion, and features that exist without a real reason. Keep the framing practical and explicit.
Read references/family-conventions.md when you need the shared conventions for this GROW-derived skill family.
What to produce
Generate:
- Goal statement - what the feature is meant to achieve
- Purpose - why it should exist
- Fit - how it connects to the rest of the game
- Success criteria - player-facing and KPI-facing signals
- Constraints - quality, scope, time, and resource limits
Process
1. Clarify purpose
Ask:
- what problem does this solve
- what player behavior should change
- what player need or business need it serves
2. Check game fit
Ask:
- how it connects to existing loops and systems
- what player expectations it should meet
- what it must not break or dilute
3. Define success
Use a SMART-style lens:
- Specific - clear feature vision
- Measurable - success signals or KPIs
- Attainable - feasible with current constraints
- Relevant - connected to strategy and player value
- Time-boxed - aligned to a release or milestone
4. Write the framed goal
Use a compact format such as:
Goal statement We want to [player or business outcome] by introducing or changing [feature or system], measured by [signals], within [timeframe].
Response structure
Goal Statement
- ...
Purpose
- ...
Fit with the Game
- ...
Success Criteria
- ...
Constraints
- ...
Fast mode
- What is this feature for?
- How should it help the player or the game?
- What would success look like?
- What constraints matter most?
Working principle
A feature without a clear goal is just a vague wish wearing design clothes.