[Timothy Cain](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohHLUKj3NTk) creates new IPs in this order: - setting - defines the space in which the game will be - condensed in to a 1-2 sentence elevator pitch - "here's a thing that's very easy to explain but, oh, there's a twist" - the twist informs how the setting is unique in comparison to similar IPs - Fallout: a post apocalyptic game but set inspired by the 50s - Arcanum: what if a standard fantasy setting had an industrial revolution where tech kept going and started conflicting with magic? - [Thomas Brush](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yWvB79On10) recommends covering three things in your hook: story, mechanical, and visual. - lots of player agency and things they can do - story - high level description of what every player will experience going through it - helps define the main story quest - make sure that the story makes sense within the setting - encourage exploration and self expression - system - mechanics support the setting and the story, not the other way around - needs to support the setting's tone - every mechanic should have a goal / set of goals which could be high level or specific - justify the importance of the mechanic  Describe these like a pitch, don't give all the answers or details, make it exciting. - setting - what happened? - what's going on? - who are you? - story - break it down into acts - system - how does it relate to the setting and story? ### Setting  - is it easy to describe the setting in a way that people can understand and imagine it? - can you tell an interesting story in that setting? - is the setting reactive? do people, places, and situations change based on actions? - "if you and I read the same book, we both got the same story" - can you come up with interesting quests to in the world? - do you have interesting characters/NPCs in the world? - is your setting evocative? would I actually want to play it? - how mainstream is your idea? what kind of players do you want to play this? - how will you keep track of changes and comments?  - what iconic symbol or thing represents your world? it needs to be distinct but doesn't have to be unique (Fallout: vaultboy, vault door gear shape. Star Wars: lightsaber, x wing) - write down a simple list of things that do and do not appear in your IP (e.g. impact of adding supernatural elements to Fallout) - keep the IP simple and distinct and try not to dilute it in sequels / DLCs -