Q's about Story Development.

#1 You make a lot of sense. A common problem with game design (especially for artistic types) is that the designer often knows where a 'level' begins and where it should end, but all the ideas in the middle become a bit of a mess; usually because the process of game design is an evolutionary one.

One way to tackle this issue is to create a written logic outline. Create little statements that describe what you want to happen. How does the level begin? How does it end? And then you create logic to connect the two statements. How do you get from here to there (kill ten bad guys, collect a dozen golden orbs, ect.)? Now you have a level! A pretty simple level, but we have to start somewhere!!!

As your game evolves, add statements to your outline; making sure to connect the statements with additional logic. For example... to kill that tenth bad guy, you have to cross a bridge; but to do that you have to find and activate the drawbridge switch.

Each new idea becomes a statement; and you create game logic to ensure that you aren't placing the player in a cul de sac; from which there is no way to finish the level. Some ideas won't work; because you can't justify the tortuous logic required to connect it with existing statements. But that's okay, because you can fall back on your general outline and move forward; rather than getting caught up in one little part of it. This is also a good way to think up all sorts of interesting things, without having to go through the work of creating models and scripts (or modifying Torque itself) until you have assured yourself that the statements in question have a game logic associated with them that actually works.

I use a great big mirror, lots of post-it notes; and colored magic marker lines. Some people prefer a white board, but I think a mirror is handy; since it is good to see if I've got huge black circles under my eyes, my clothing is too lived-in, or other signs that I've spent way too much time at my computer!!!

#2 That's an interesting idea. I'd like to have that functionality built into some sorta program.

#3 Just wanted to say....

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

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A common problem with game design (especially for artistic types) is that the designer often knows where a 'level' begins and where it should end, but all the ideas in the middle become a bit of a mess; usually because the process of game design is an evolutionary one.

Well I'm totally the artistic type you've described... and this post not only helps in game design, but in creativity in general!
Might sound simple, but your advice just saved me months of work and discouragment!

Thanks :)