Help Semaj Design a video Game...

[Turtle]

Are you making this 3d or 2d?

[Semaj]

I'm thinking 2-d Isometric.

[Turtle]

Can you try for 3D isometric, locked camera?  Use techniques just like if you were in 2d, like disapearing/see through walls and such.  Lock the camera so you can focus on useability, not forcing the player to adjust the view all the time.

[Crux]

There are two titles just begging to be made:

Strip Club Tycoon

Street Pimp Tycoon

[whiteboyskim]

There are two titles just begging to be made:

Strip Club Tycoon

Street Pimp Tycoon

Those exist and are referred to as "Grand Theft Auto IV".

[Semaj]

Paper prototype testing people have asked for more stats and less tough zombies.

It also revealed the need for scenarios and things for people to do, in at least paper testing.

More shall be done shortly...   But after replaying X-com I forgot how fricking lethal that was and how you basically had an unlimited amount of soldiers.  As such I'll probably have to tone down the danger level enough to make it survivable.  Hopefully I can get a few more lads together and run 6-10 scavengers and more zombies. 

Real debaes are on how much accuracy people have.  X-com was around 40-70% with modifiers for shooting.  I wanted to hit slightly less and have the zombies miss a lot so close combat didnt end in serious amounts of violence and dead people inside of 2-3 rounds. 

We've been hashing design ideas as well and we are working on thebrainstorming step, with the idea tree and whatnot.  Where we were last time I posted.

I also worked on designing the storyline for the first 24 missions.  I'd say the one thing I really liked in arguments over repetitiveness was bad humans to compete against you while you fight zombies.  It allows for more than just the same old thing and serious changes in strategy and scenario objectives.  Still, how many humans you find is going to be an argument as it should in a survival game.

I've picked up a few books.....   The 2-d vs 3-d seems like a issue for graphics for me.  2-d could use cheezy sprites, while 3-d will require actual graphical detail.

it's an argument for another day...

 

[Turtle]

If you lock the camera distance to a certain angle and distance, you can use a lot of shortcuts and use more stylization.

How about something besides the usual average zombie uprising?  Could be supernatural, weird science, or other.  This would allow you more leeway in enemy types.

[Semaj]

Yeah I debated it.  I never said the zombies were of human origin...  But the problem with going to apesheet on random monster design is you lose a bit of the zombie horror feel.

I mean at that rate we mine as well include all the major horror flick monster types....  Werewolves, Chainsaw wielding loonies, guys with red/black flanel shirts, blobs, body snatchers....

BUT....   As it stands now, I think I'm going to make people who live and kill lots level up a la rpg like...  As such, I now debate powerlevels of people who level up.  I think I am going to give people character points they can spend as they choose on an assortment of skills, some spicy, some not so spicy but lead to really spicy.

So you kinda root for people to level and coddle those who you want to live most.  But the downside of that is my fear that like in D&D people get way to ridiculously powered inside a few levels (10) and suddenly the game is much easier unless you just throw meaner monsters at them.  Maybe I should make leveling cool, but not awesome, like you have to save up points for something that makes you a close combat monster, but you never get any better in any other way (avoiding attacks, etc)... Or you can spend the points on the lower stuff and just be decent at everything... hrm..

Hopefully this week I can start work on the engine while we argue the end result of the leveling... Sunday I know for certain a bunch of my testers and helpers will all be in the same location and then I assume all sorts of hellzorz will break loose

[Eel Snave]

Hey, Semaj, what programming language are you using?  I'm looking for a good, dynamic, easy to use language that a n00b can get a start on.  I would also like a pony that makes rainbows.

[Graham]

Real debaes are on how much accuracy people have.  X-com was around 40-70% with modifiers for shooting.  I wanted to hit slightly less and have the zombies miss a lot so close combat didnt end in serious amounts of violence and dead people inside of 2-3 rounds. 

From what I've seen in games like HeroScape, StarCraft: The Board Game, and others, you might want to change your strategy.  Most games reward being agressive, and this also speeds up the game.  If you have both sides miss too much, you'll end up having a game that is boring and drags out.

That's my take anyway.

[Eel Snave]

One of my gripes about Baldur's Gate was always how often you miss.  Granted, that's true of D&D, but for someone who doesn't know it, it's just plain obnoxious.

[Semaj]

I understand the need for aggressive behavior.  But running into a building and trying to kill everything is asking for hot death with any kind of hit ratio on zombies.  It also means you work harder to keep guys alive and get your people buff.

Language?  Probably C#... I know a lot about C++ and Java and nothing says new and trendy like the hot new language.  Plus I can use microsoft for half my hard work.  I refuse to do a lot of the hard coding until we have a game in place.  I'm working for the dream curve

If you want a quick plug and play and go setup, look online for game makers.  There are quitrte a few out there, or if you want something more professional, look into software companies that have engines you can use.  Like you can get the  Torque Game Builder/engine and build decent games right out of the box.

http://www.makingindiegames.com/

It's a decent and easy way to jump right in.  I'm doing this as much for the portfolio and a game job than anything.