[project1dev] Re: [Design Brainstorm] Basic storyline of the game (aka how do we not get sued)
- From: Alan Wolfe <alan.wolfe@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: project1dev@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:43:34 -0700
Heya Gabriel
Thanks for the feedback!
I know about the UDK but when you use that, you dont have access to the
source code at all so basically there's nothing for a coder to do :P
There are other engines but I have lots of stuff i wanna program and some
ideas i've taken from unreal and the fear engine that i either want to
re-implement or improve on.
I think you are right about it being safe to make an act raiser clone, I
just kind of worry if our main character was a cherub and our storyline was
the same that it might get kind of dicey legally hehe.
I wasnt even thinking of bio shock, thanks for that! Maybe there is some
hope for that idea yet hehe
On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 9:18 PM, Gabriel Taylor <aidyn66@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I know I've just been ghosting for a long while now, but I have a few
> thoughts I'd like to add, if you're okay with that. If not, tell me to
> shove off, it's all right.
>
> First off, I think the current-tech Actraiser clone idea is great for a
> number of reasons. One being that I think a clone-type project is a better
> way for the team to start off, providing a clearer sense of direction while
> finding out the strengths and weaknesses of the team overall. Also, while
> setting and story will need to be original, I don't think there's any fear
> of lawsuits, after all, Chair has had no problems regarding their creation
> of Shadow Complex, which not only has made a tremendous profit for them, but
> has been fully acknowledged by them through all stages of development as an
> unabashed Super Metroid clone. In the same way that they said "You know
> what we love? Super Metroid. Let's make our own version.", there should be
> no reason why you can't say the same, replacing Metroid with Actraiser.
> (Though, Squeenix being a bit more protective, who knows what they'd have to
> say of it.) Cloning gameplay styles shouldn't be a problem, though, it's
> not like there's a whole lot of originality inside of any given genre,
> anyway. (An FPS is still an FPS, regardless of the team behind it and their
> unique bells and whistles.) A current-gen top-down Actraiser-esque game
> would be lots of fun, and I'm certain there's a market for it.
>
> Second, I know Alan and others have put a lot of work into the engine, and
> have done a fantastic job building it from scratch, and I mean no offense
> with this comment, just trying to throw out options. At least for a first
> project, to get everyone's feet wet and to enable maximum potential
> distribution from the get-go, why not use the UDK? (UDK<http://www.udk.com/>)
> It is completely free to use now, and while there'd be eventual costs for
> using it, they wouldn't be terribly great, and it would allow a bevy of
> tools and options, as well as output to PC, X360, and PS3 formats right away
> for digital distribution of anything made.
>
> As far as magic-type attacks in an FPS, as others have said, there are
> countless examples of it working. One that was looked over and I'd like to
> add, though, is Bioshock - I know, those games don't have magic so much as
> psionic and other mental-based attacks, but it's essentially the same thing
> with a different color paint. So, magic in an FPS - completely doable.
>
> Also, and this is more of a digression, regarding League of Legends, it's
> actually made by the people who created DotA. They eventually felt too
> limited by what they could and couldn't do in the WC3 engine and multiplayer
> modes, so they spun off their own creation, which is essentially DotA
> distilled and optimized. It's pretty sweet, if you're in to that sort of
> thing.
>
> All right, I'm going now...pardon my surprise commentary. I like the new
> direction, though. And keeping Pirate Dice as it's own entity is a very
> good idea. A lot of the minigame ideas you guys came up with would be a lot
> of fun as stand alone titles anyway.
>
> Anyway, there's m'thoughts. Enjoy. Or not.
>
> ~gabriel
>
>
>
> On 4/26/2010 2:56 PM, Kent Petersen wrote:
>
> I bet SC2 will be. I am excited for it. I hope my comp is good enough to
> run it
>
> Well, basically it's like DotA but your account can gain levels. When you
> account gains levels you can get really minor bonuses. Such as +0.1% evade
> per level. Then there is a little tech tree similar to Diablo 2 or WoW so if
> I were to put 5 points into evade I would get +.5% on my character and I
> would be able to unlock defense which is worth 1 armor. So, it's a
> customizable tech tree that will give you the edge but it wont change the
> game.
>
> On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 2:40 PM, Alan Wolfe <alan.wolfe@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> nope i havent, whats it like?
>>
>> man i wonder if sc2 is going to be the new wc3 for these kinda games
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 2:31 PM, Kent Petersen <kentkmp@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>> I agree, I was thinking something small.
>>>
>>> Have you played League of Legends the DotA clone? It's like HoN but
>>> different
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 2:23 PM, Alan Wolfe <alan.wolfe@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>>>
>>>> that sounds good... it sounds fun but shouldn't explode the
>>>> possibilities too much and make it a big insurmountable thing (:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 2:18 PM, Kent Petersen <kentkmp@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I think some form of a tech tree would be a good idea. Plus additional
>>>>> side skills given as bonuses and rewards
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 1:23 PM, Alan Wolfe <alan.wolfe@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> yeah we can do some crazy stuff with the spells if we want to. We'll
>>>>>> have to play around with different ideas and see how we like them
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hopefully weapons can be controlled by script so it's easy and quick
>>>>>> to prototype stuff! (:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Good question on how you get the spells
>>>>>>
>>>>>> i like your options, and another option would be to have a skill tree
>>>>>> that the player could put points in to get diff spells.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> That could add some re-playability maybe :P
>>>>>>
>>>>>> We could also make some of the levels a little platformy, like have
>>>>>> moving platforms, and you have to use magic to solve puzzles and stuff
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 1:16 PM, Kent Petersen <kentkmp@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Just trying to shape my ideas.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I could see defensive spells working great as well. Armor, healing,
>>>>>>> etc
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If you were going to just duplicate common weapons and do it that way
>>>>>>> that would be fine. That's probably the best way to do it. I could even
>>>>>>> see
>>>>>>> massive nuking like spells work like the BFG 9000 or something similar.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I could also see minor support spells. Perhaps a spell like levitate
>>>>>>> where you could float off the ground for a moment.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> How would you earn these spells? Start with em? Unlock em? Get them
>>>>>>> as gifts?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 1:12 PM, Alan Wolfe <alan.wolfe@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I was thinking the basic spells would be weaponlike, like a typical
>>>>>>>> FPS game (like quake or doom etc!)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> but if you have some ideas for going beyond that or a different
>>>>>>>> route to go im all ears (:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 1:10 PM, Kent Petersen
>>>>>>>> <kentkmp@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> If we are sticking with fantasy I like the Dragon Ride idea myself.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Alan, what kind of spells did you want to try to recreate in first
>>>>>>>>> person mode?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Sun, Apr 25, 2010 at 4:17 PM, eric drewes <figarus@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> i think there are a ton of story ideas that could work with your
>>>>>>>>>> plan for the game in the fantasy genre
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On Sun, Apr 25, 2010 at 7:11 PM, Alan Wolfe <alan.wolfe@xxxxxxxxx
>>>>>>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> That sounds pretty awesome too.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I am really gun shy about opening this game up too much and
>>>>>>>>>>> making it another impossible task so i'm thinking for the most part
>>>>>>>>>>> keep it
>>>>>>>>>>> linear, but have a couple choices the player can make off the
>>>>>>>>>>> beaten path
>>>>>>>>>>> like the original act raiser.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Like letting them choose where they want to go to next and maybe
>>>>>>>>>>> a map or 2 that take a little work to find, but other than that,
>>>>>>>>>>> it'd be the
>>>>>>>>>>> same game every time.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Its weird... even though act raiser is the same game every time,
>>>>>>>>>>> something about it makes me want to replay it every now and then.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Anyways, multiple races would make for an awesome game but im
>>>>>>>>>>> thinkin that may be too big of scope to start out with.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On Sun, Apr 25, 2010 at 4:07 PM, eric drewes
>>>>>>>>>>> <figarus@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> or hey if you were going to make this a replayable skermish type
>>>>>>>>>>>> game maybe its a world where there's 3 different types, so its
>>>>>>>>>>>> like a tech
>>>>>>>>>>>> based civ vs. a magic based civ vs steam punk, with different
>>>>>>>>>>>> strengths and
>>>>>>>>>>>> weaknesses for each ot balance em out (like starcraft)
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> i dunno if you're thinking of doing a linear campaign like
>>>>>>>>>>>> actraiser or if you wanted to do a scenario based game... i dunno
>>>>>>>>>>>> if you've
>>>>>>>>>>>> played it but peter and i have been playing this game called
>>>>>>>>>>>> "Demigods"
>>>>>>>>>>>> which is a really sweet game, you should check it out, but
>>>>>>>>>>>> basically there's
>>>>>>>>>>>> 5 demigod assassins and 5 demigod generals and you pick one and
>>>>>>>>>>>> you can set
>>>>>>>>>>>> up allies and enemies you face against and then its a lot like
>>>>>>>>>>>> tower D and
>>>>>>>>>>>> there's 5-6 different "boards" you can play on but its like a
>>>>>>>>>>>> sport where
>>>>>>>>>>>> even though the basic rules and layout of the maps are the same,
>>>>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>>>>> execution is different every time so its always fresh.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> On Sun, Apr 25, 2010 at 7:02 PM, eric drewes <figarus@xxxxxxxxx
>>>>>>>>>>>> > wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> well, i would say you have a ton of options as far as designing
>>>>>>>>>>>>> a completely different game while using the same gameplay style
>>>>>>>>>>>>> as act
>>>>>>>>>>>>> raiser...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> some examples:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> you can be an intergalactic version of Genghis Kahn where
>>>>>>>>>>>>> your mech army or whatnot is taking over a planet, the cherub
>>>>>>>>>>>>> could be some
>>>>>>>>>>>>> sort of upgradeable flying unit that you can purchase new
>>>>>>>>>>>>> weapons/armor/propulsion for... and maybe you don't "level up" by
>>>>>>>>>>>>> population
>>>>>>>>>>>>> directly, but rather as your population grows, you make more
>>>>>>>>>>>>> money via taxes
>>>>>>>>>>>>> from supporters of your leadership, and then you buy
>>>>>>>>>>>>> upgrades/levels with
>>>>>>>>>>>>> the gold. This would work in the first person view also because
>>>>>>>>>>>>> it'd make
>>>>>>>>>>>>> sense you had guns, etc. also magic spells could just be
>>>>>>>>>>>>> supertech or like
>>>>>>>>>>>>> magitech :)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> keeping along the steam punk theme the cherub could be
>>>>>>>>>>>>> a dirigible type thing and yeah, the "magic" could be tesla style
>>>>>>>>>>>>> super
>>>>>>>>>>>>> weapons like a tesla coil, tesla's earth quake machine, etc.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> if you wanted to keep magic/fantasy as the main theme, you
>>>>>>>>>>>>> could just make the main character a powerful sorcerer, the
>>>>>>>>>>>>> cherub could be
>>>>>>>>>>>>> a dragon rider or something....
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> just some thoughts :)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On Sun, Apr 25, 2010 at 6:54 PM, Alan Wolfe <
>>>>>>>>>>>>> alan.wolfe@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> So in the original act raiser game, you the player were
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> basically the christian god (more or less)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You controlled a cherub to do your will when in the overworld
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> map.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> When going down to fight the bosses, your soul would descend
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> from the heavens into a statue that would animate into a fleshy
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> warrior and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> you would kick some ass with your own hands.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You leveled up from increased population supposedly due to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> their increased faith in you.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It all kind of fit together and made sense and the people
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> worshiped you.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> So how do we make a game like this where we aren't too much
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> like the original.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The original game was made by Enix, so basically if we screw
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> this up we'll get squashed by the squeenix monster!!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Some things i've been thinkin about...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> #1 - if we change it from being a cherub to something else,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> does that something else fly or walk? If they walk, it kinda
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> changes the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> gameplay cause you get stopped by barriers and rivers and stuff
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> like that.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> While that might make a good game, it kinda diverges from the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> origional game
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> quite a bit and may not be enough like the original game play.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> #2 - if we change you from being a god to something else, why
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> does population cause you to level up? Why do you have magic
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> spells? etc.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> So... brainstorm time! what do you guys think, what's your
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> thoughts?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
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