Shaun mentioned the idea of making a children's game to me once on the train. It might be an interesting challenge. It's niche and should set us apart from other groups. From the 3rd presentations I noticed the overwhelming presence of guns (which just made ever idea seem generic and boring).
I agree that I don't want to do a shooter, but I don't know how viable doing a kids game is going to be. we're not kids anymore and I at least don't know many kids that we can talk to about this. Its much easier to get people to look at and test our game from pretty much any older groups but not really kids.
ReplyDeleteAlso did you see the third year group who made a prototype video of a kids game? It was terrible. Everyone clapped because it was funny and cute, but as an actual game for kids it was one of the worst games of all the ones I saw. It was boring and repetivie and had barely any interaction. When I was a kid I liked playing more complex games than that.
I think it would be cool to explore something other than a shooter still though. I think we should definitely aim for something with a lot of art stuff since we are heavy on that sort of thing. We should brainstorm some interesting mechanics maybe?
That is where it should begin. An interesting mechanic would be a great backbone to start our game on.
ReplyDeleteAlso, keep in mind that I am basically a big kid and an old man in one.... I'm Benjamin Freaking Button.
But just because that group made a god awful kids game doesn't mean we will. Most of the games I've ever played were in my childhood. However, I strongly suspect that nostalgia has an awful lot to do with the fact that I like them.
Yeah im also a little unsure about us making a kids game. i think we also might loose interest in the project early on if we dont find it fun; and since were going to be working on this for a year i want to be at least semi passionate about it. I would like to do something that would work well with our heavy art direction, say an adventure game.
ReplyDeleteI don't really mind about a genre or game mechanic, I care most about the art style/direction. It could be a pumpkin farm simulator for all I care, just as long as it looks cool.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd like a pumpkin simulation a lot XD.
ReplyDeleteBut anyway I was thinking about 'kids games' and what I liked when I was younger. I really liked point and click adventure games. Even if its not a kids game it might still be interesting to do an adult adventure point and click?
But if we're pretty much agreed on using Unity it might be better to aim for 3D. Chris when you say 'adventure game' are you thinking something more like an RPG? Or something more actiony like mirrors edge? I think it'd be cool to do something with detailed art and story like an RPG but I know in previous discussions there's been some desire to steer clear of a full blown RPG.
yeah a full blown rpg is probably a bad idea. unless we simpify it with the art direction and content. Just as long as we have a fun gameplay mechanic it will be good. meybe an open world?..... wow this is hard :S
ReplyDeletenah, its not hard itds fun! I was trying to think of some interesting mechanics that we could have. It's not new or inspired but it might be fun to make a game where the player can run around and fly. I was thinking this because I was playing super mario world for SNES where you can get a cape and then mario can fly whenever there is a good enough run up. This mechanic is really fun, and in mario there is skill to learning how to really 'fly' as well as a certain amount of effort required to get a cape. From what I have seen there are not so many games that feature flying as to make it really unviable and it would add some cool oppurtunities for level design.
ReplyDeleteI think open world makes it very hard to tell a coherent story, although we could make something more linear, but with larger explorable sections. In terms of art direction what is everyone thinking? I am kind of thinking a little bit cartoony but not over the top. Where are we with making a kids game? I'd really rather not make something so simplified. I agree with Chris in that it would likely get a bit boring and tedious.
I've always loved point and click adventure games, mainly because the best examples of the genre are usually humorous (Monkey Island, Grim Fandango etc.)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I was wondering if it would be okay if I focused on character design. It's something I really enjoy and one of the few things I'm good at. I understand that I'll need to alter my style to suit everyone's tastes, but If you'll have me I'd gladly do it. I don't mind what genre people would like to make just as long as it isn't a shooter. I was talking to Adam Nash and Jen today and they begged me to make sure that we don't make a shooter O_o.
Also, in terms of a cool art element (not saying be should steal it) Deathspank had a pretty cool looking environment using 2D objects and images.
ReplyDeleteALSO, before I forget, I was working on and finished a cartoony fire object in unity back when Shaun and I were making a game (we didn't in the end). I'll post it here later just so the effort doesn't go to waste.
I like the look of deth spank and would also like to do a game that plays similar but am also down with a point and click adventure game. I think we could have a lot of fun with this kind of thing
ReplyDeleteAlex do you know anywhere I can get Grim Fandango, preferably for free? I am interested in playing it
ReplyDeleteGOG should have it.
ReplyDeleteOr not :S
ReplyDeleteI had a copy ages ago, but got rid of it because it wouldn't run.
ReplyDeleteGot me all excited for nothing
ReplyDeleteHmmm as far as art direction etc id love to try the cartoony end of the spectrum, and i love the idea of a kids game but maybe we can try and tread the line between what kids and adults find etertaining (kind of like how i can happily sit next to my young cousins and laugh hysterically at spongebob dispite the massive age difference) or maybe even a darker kds tale, like a series of unfortunate events or a nightmare before christmas :-) also sorry if the typing of this is terrible, typing on my tablet is annoying!
ReplyDeleteAlso, think original grim brothers stuff... for kids but seriously some if the weirdest stuff ive read! And dont get me started on that latest kids show "in the night garden" pretty sure it was created by someone on a bad acid trip and i would happily make a game that enabled me to kill such weird creatures....
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you said that Sarah :D
ReplyDeleteI like to blur the lines between what kids and adults enjoy. Too many kids games and films etc talk down to kids with pink bows and frilly doilies. People don't give kids enough credit.