Gameplay Design, Franchise

For the design of a game’s premise, layout, character-environment relationships, planned pacing and/or development of the interactive experience within the game, and other creative ideas that are implemented through programming, with little emphasis on the form of the environment unless it has a direct and significant impact on game play.  From 2001 to 2009, the category was simply called “Game Design”.  For 2011 only, an additional category was added for “Game Design, Classic Revival,” won by Okamiden.