So I added a bunch of new power ups, I modded the AI so that it can be challenging, and I have the opponent ship seeking powerups.
I love that I kept this game very modular, because as I was playing it I realized that this game can be mutated to become anything. As it stands right now it is an asteroid game. However, it can be a game about killing zombies, it can be a game about exterminating bugs, it can be a game about killing runaway fugitives, the themes can go on and on. What Im starting to realize is that the core mechanics of a game can be its own entity. Although themes, art, and the players perception play a huge role in the game, the core gameplay is the game itself. Which is probably why most first person shooters seem very similar. They all have different themes and there are differences here and there but the core gameplay is the same. Its interesting how Half-Life2 broke the mold by adding one gun. The gravity gun. Once the gravity gun was added to the game, the core morphed. Now the player has an enormous amount of freedom and possibilities. It also allows more opportunities for variable play.
For the Asteroids game, Im exploring new possibilities, and I've realized that this second player/partner is the "gravity gun" for this game. I realize by having an AI counterpart the type of play can be changed. With this character you can interact with it cooperatively or competitively. There can be levels where your ability to shoot has been taken away and you have to rely on this partner. Compete with this player to get the most points. Or it can be a vs game set with obstacles in the way. I have a couple of more ideas but I'm not going to spill those yet. I'll be working on the third iteration and we'll see if I can find the most fulfilling core concept of this game.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Prototype 1 complete
So after about 3 hours of hard work, I've come out with a working playable prototype.
Check it out
So we have two players, I was playing as the green guy, and the red guy was the AI that I wrote. While I was playing with it I noticed that I have to tweak the difficulty. Moreover I'm somewhat satisfied with my success however the game still feels empty, it lacks objective, and it just needs more. It does however have a mesmerizing affect on the player. In addition, I think that I should maybe remove the lives constraint and add a timer. Also I will give the player the ability to affect the performance of the other ship and vice versa. I need the player to take more risks and I need my AI to be more aggressive. I can probably solve this by adding in powerups which can have negative or positive impacts on the ships. I currently have all the Asteroids moving at the same speed and that might need to change, the movement is too predictable.
So task list for tomorrow:
Tweak the AI
Add in powerups
Remove lives and add in a timer
Add variable speeds to the Asteroid
Imbue feelings of competition in the player
Check it out
So we have two players, I was playing as the green guy, and the red guy was the AI that I wrote. While I was playing with it I noticed that I have to tweak the difficulty. Moreover I'm somewhat satisfied with my success however the game still feels empty, it lacks objective, and it just needs more. It does however have a mesmerizing affect on the player. In addition, I think that I should maybe remove the lives constraint and add a timer. Also I will give the player the ability to affect the performance of the other ship and vice versa. I need the player to take more risks and I need my AI to be more aggressive. I can probably solve this by adding in powerups which can have negative or positive impacts on the ships. I currently have all the Asteroids moving at the same speed and that might need to change, the movement is too predictable.
So task list for tomorrow:
Tweak the AI
Add in powerups
Remove lives and add in a timer
Add variable speeds to the Asteroid
Imbue feelings of competition in the player
I want to make a game, Right now!
So tonight I will be making a game. I have a relatively simple idea and thanks to 2DBoy's rapid prototyping tool Im going to make it right now!
The game engine already comes with an Asteroids clone and Im going to modify it to fit my needs. Im going to approach this game with rapid prototyping in mind. I'll start with an initial idea and iterate on the gameplay until I have a solid game. I will also be accepting any suggestions to my design idea.
Super Spaceteroids
Asteroids is usually a solitary game, however I wondered how it would be like if it turned competitive. What if there was another player who was also competing for points. Maybe the competition can go deeper, maybe there is a story behind it. Maybe they arent even really shooting asteroids, it may just be an abstraction of a larger picture. Nonetheless, the base gameplay is to have two ships, a computer play and a human player competing for the number one spot.
Tasks:
Computer AI
Two ships on screen
Score for both players
Win/Lose Condition
The game engine already comes with an Asteroids clone and Im going to modify it to fit my needs. Im going to approach this game with rapid prototyping in mind. I'll start with an initial idea and iterate on the gameplay until I have a solid game. I will also be accepting any suggestions to my design idea.
Super Spaceteroids
Asteroids is usually a solitary game, however I wondered how it would be like if it turned competitive. What if there was another player who was also competing for points. Maybe the competition can go deeper, maybe there is a story behind it. Maybe they arent even really shooting asteroids, it may just be an abstraction of a larger picture. Nonetheless, the base gameplay is to have two ships, a computer play and a human player competing for the number one spot.
Tasks:
Computer AI
Two ships on screen
Score for both players
Win/Lose Condition
Game Design Prototype
Situation
All the letters in the world have been stolen by an infamous wizard called Contemno Verbumrus. An important letter is delivered to the main character which he cannot read because all the letters are missing. He realizes that all the words in the world are missing.
Character
Johnny a mute kid that can communicate through sign language and letters
Objective
Needs to collect all the letters in the alphabet to complete the letter.
Opponent
Contemno Verbumrus
Disaster
The world is left in chaos after all the letters disappear
Setting
Takes place in a cartoony world where plants and animals can talk, there are lush forests, thick cities, small towns, and of course your wilderness.
Type
3rd person platformer with a fixed camera
Game Play
Collecting Letters
Solving puzzles with the collected letters
Fighting Minions with tools created by letters
Solving game-wide issues with letters
Premise
The player must progress through the game by solving little puzzles that yield letters which the player can then use to solve more puzzles. Initially you would start off with the letters A, B, T. There will be special stations where you spell words with the letters and this will either trigger an event or give you an item. Right of the bat, the player can spell the word "Bat" which would be the player's initial weapon and tool. Once you attain the bat Verbumrus' minions show up and you're prompted to use the melee commands. After you defeat them, you would explore the area and find that the current town that you are in, has a lot of problems. In addition, you cannot leave the town because the bridge is out. So you speak to the town people and you notice that they can only gesture because all of their words have been stolen away. As you collect more letters, their words become clearer to you and you can attain hints from the dialogue. Throughout the town you need to collect the letters R, I, D, G, E. You find the letter G by being directed to a guitar and playing a the guitar mini game. You would find "I "hiding in the meat compartment as a block of Ice, in which you would help the butcher by helping him cut meat. There would be a lot of fun and creative ways to explore, collect, and fight.
X-Factor
The letters are actual characters with different personalities.
The NPCs (non player characters) play a charades mini game with the player which would lead them to clues.
The player creates their own destiny by creating their own items and solving problems their way.
All the letters in the world have been stolen by an infamous wizard called Contemno Verbumrus. An important letter is delivered to the main character which he cannot read because all the letters are missing. He realizes that all the words in the world are missing.
Character
Johnny a mute kid that can communicate through sign language and letters
Objective
Needs to collect all the letters in the alphabet to complete the letter.
Opponent
Contemno Verbumrus
Disaster
The world is left in chaos after all the letters disappear
Setting
Takes place in a cartoony world where plants and animals can talk, there are lush forests, thick cities, small towns, and of course your wilderness.
Type
3rd person platformer with a fixed camera
Game Play
Collecting Letters
Solving puzzles with the collected letters
Fighting Minions with tools created by letters
Solving game-wide issues with letters
Premise
The player must progress through the game by solving little puzzles that yield letters which the player can then use to solve more puzzles. Initially you would start off with the letters A, B, T. There will be special stations where you spell words with the letters and this will either trigger an event or give you an item. Right of the bat, the player can spell the word "Bat" which would be the player's initial weapon and tool. Once you attain the bat Verbumrus' minions show up and you're prompted to use the melee commands. After you defeat them, you would explore the area and find that the current town that you are in, has a lot of problems. In addition, you cannot leave the town because the bridge is out. So you speak to the town people and you notice that they can only gesture because all of their words have been stolen away. As you collect more letters, their words become clearer to you and you can attain hints from the dialogue. Throughout the town you need to collect the letters R, I, D, G, E. You find the letter G by being directed to a guitar and playing a the guitar mini game. You would find "I "hiding in the meat compartment as a block of Ice, in which you would help the butcher by helping him cut meat. There would be a lot of fun and creative ways to explore, collect, and fight.
X-Factor
The letters are actual characters with different personalities.
The NPCs (non player characters) play a charades mini game with the player which would lead them to clues.
The player creates their own destiny by creating their own items and solving problems their way.