Which of one these game ideas seems the most interesting?

Pippen · June 18, 2016, 02:14:25 PM

As I am trying to go ahead and go into Level/Game Design. I will be trying to make my own game over the next year or two to test what I am capable of. I have a couple different ideas and I want opinions.

1: This is the newest idea I have, the game would be me trying to mix the combat of Dark Souls with the level design of The Binding of Isaac. A procedurally generated dungeon clearing style game where you have to fight off difficult enemies and bosses, with traps and platforming as well. But there will be many different powerups, items and abilities to gain to help you along the way. Like getting a set of heavy armor with a large Mace mixed with some lightning bolt power.
I would probably try to create this on the Unity Engine, as it would work the best and be capable of working on my toaster.

2: This is the HUGE idea, which would take infinitely more time and need a whole new friggin PC to even test.
Instead of a dungeon crawler, it would be more a survival stealth game. Where you get trapped in another world where you only have one ally in your ear helping you along the way. Not exactly "horror" but definitely thriller.
This would be done on Unreal Engine 4, which would break my current toaster and take infinitely more time than the previous idea.

So what do you guys think is more interesting? Not gonna make this a poll, just asking for opinions.

And yes, I am only doing 3D games because they are what I want to get better at for the time being. These projects will take friggin forever but could help me down the road a LOT.

Tyger · June 18, 2016, 02:15:08 PM

Idea 1 is like every indie game ever

Pippen · June 18, 2016, 02:15:28 PM

Quote from: Tyger on June 18, 2016, 02:15:08 PM

Idea 1 is like every indie game ever

Sssshh

Tyger · June 18, 2016, 02:16:17 PM

Like the game necropolis sounds exactly like what you described and it's been tried dozens of other times as well

Pippen · June 18, 2016, 02:17:16 PM

Quote from: Tyger on June 18, 2016, 02:16:17 PM

Like the game necropolis sounds exactly like what you described and it's been tried dozens of other times as well

I've never heard of this game and now i'm pissed.

Verbatim · June 18, 2016, 02:19:23 PM

how about instead of combining the aspects of two pre-existing games, you try to come up with something original

everyone and their mother wants to make a game with dark souls combat, but too often do they fail to grasp exactly what makes dark souls challenging in the first place

i suggest you lower your ambitions

Pippen · June 18, 2016, 02:21:23 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on June 18, 2016, 02:19:23 PM

i suggest you lower your ambitions

Boring

Verbatim · June 18, 2016, 02:22:06 PM

personally, if i were to make a game, my first game would be story-driven with less of an emphasis on gameplay

this would give me a chance to dip my toes into game-making, while still having a compelling reason to play it

Deleted · June 18, 2016, 02:41:16 PM

Quote from: ❗️Pip❗️ on June 18, 2016, 02:14:25 PM

1: This is the newest idea I have, the game would be me trying to mix the combat of Dark Souls with the level design of The Binding of Isaac. A procedurally generated dungeon clearing style game where you have to fight off difficult enemies and bosses, with traps and platforming as well. But there will be many different powerups, items and abilities to gain to help you along the way. Like getting a set of heavy armor with a large Mace mixed with some lightning bolt power.
I would probably try to create this on the Unity Engine, as it would work the best and be capable of working on my toaster.

>Procedural generated
>Dark Souls

YouTube

Aether · June 18, 2016, 02:43:08 PM

I've always loved the idea of making a adventure-rpg style game full of secrets. I mean FULL of secrets. Secrets within secrets within secrets. And not just like easter eggs, but full blown side stories and immersive lore based secrets that reward the player for finding them. So many secrets, in fact, that at least 50% of the content in the game is hidden and has to be uncovered.

Of course it would still have your core main story/questlines etc. but the idea of stumbling upon some door that has to be unlocked or some hardly noticeable pathway, only to have it lead to an entirely new gigantic playable area which has even more locked doors and hidden paths within, new npcs, special items etc. makes me all giddy inside.

Tyger · June 18, 2016, 03:04:17 PM

Wasn't it you who was super interested in level design specifically? Why not start off with a game with simple mechanics (generic character, one attack, movement and jumping) and just try out making some really cool intricate levels? If you like doing that expand it into a full game. Baby steps

Pippen · June 18, 2016, 03:36:20 PM

Quote from: BT-7274 on June 18, 2016, 02:41:16 PM

Quote from: ❗️Pip❗️ on June 18, 2016, 02:14:25 PM
1: This is the newest idea I have, the game would be me trying to mix the combat of Dark Souls with the level design of The Binding of Isaac. A procedurally generated dungeon clearing style game where you have to fight off difficult enemies and bosses, with traps and platforming as well. But there will be many different powerups, items and abilities to gain to help you along the way. Like getting a set of heavy armor with a large Mace mixed with some lightning bolt power.
I would probably try to create this on the Unity Engine, as it would work the best and be capable of working on my toaster.

>Procedural generated
>Dark Souls
YouTube

Try the Chalice Dungeons

big dog · June 18, 2016, 04:06:14 PM

try to start simple with your first game

im currently planning a game for gamemaker

Pippen · June 18, 2016, 04:34:58 PM

I think what you guys forgot is that THIS WILL BE A PROJECT I WILL BE WORKING ON FOR 1-2 YEARS.

I have prior experience with both Javascript and C++(which is what Unreal and Unity can use) and the end goal will be what I am describing in the OP.

There would probably be major changes in design as things go forward when i'm working. As I still have a bunch of things to work on as far as my skills go. But I will be pushing towards it.

Would it probably start with a simple guy with one attack and one enemy? Yes. But would it work up to what i'm thinking of? Yes.

Deleted · June 18, 2016, 04:51:42 PM

Quote from: ❗️Pip❗️ on June 18, 2016, 03:36:20 PM

Quote from: BT-7274 on June 18, 2016, 02:41:16 PM
Quote from: ❗️Pip❗️ on June 18, 2016, 02:14:25 PM
1: This is the newest idea I have, the game would be me trying to mix the combat of Dark Souls with the level design of The Binding of Isaac. A procedurally generated dungeon clearing style game where you have to fight off difficult enemies and bosses, with traps and platforming as well. But there will be many different powerups, items and abilities to gain to help you along the way. Like getting a set of heavy armor with a large Mace mixed with some lightning bolt power.
I would probably try to create this on the Unity Engine, as it would work the best and be capable of working on my toaster.

>Procedural generated
>Dark Souls
YouTube

Try the Chalice Dungeons

i'm already not enjoying the regular parts of Bloodborne

Coco · June 18, 2016, 10:36:07 PM

1) Unity uses C# and JavaScript, and Unreal 4 is this botched version of C++ that has a bunch of extra rules and restrictions (ex: no pure virtual functions allowed on UClasses). Unreal also has pretty bad documentation for anything that isn't blueprints (which run like 8x slower than C++), so keep that in mind.

2) Those ideas sound pretty out of scope, even for a 1-2 year project. You're completely on your own and will have to generate all code and assets. Not to deter you, but you should start small. Having to worry about good design, sound, art, etc... on top of figuring out things like 3D PCG and AI programming sounds pretty tough for one person. I suggest you start with mechanics, not detailed stories and premises.

snurch · June 18, 2016, 10:58:42 PM

i really hope you dont use javascript on unity

TB · June 18, 2016, 11:05:30 PM

Just do something new... Like try and make a new style of game rather than the set ideas.
Tyger and Verb have great points. Simple but new and interesting. Likely story based is the way to go.

Tyger · June 18, 2016, 11:08:02 PM

just make a game on project spark or little big planet its basically the same thing

nosejob · June 19, 2016, 12:12:02 AM

Quote from: Tyger on June 18, 2016, 11:08:02 PM

just make a game on project spark or little big planet its basically the same thing

If you're being serious I agree. It's a great way to practice and learn level design without having to dedicate tooooo much time.

Elai · June 19, 2016, 01:51:14 AM

I still want an open-world, third-person shooting crime thriller game set in 1980's Miami, but maybe that's just me.

TB · June 19, 2016, 01:59:27 AM

Quote from: Callus on June 19, 2016, 01:51:14 AM

I still want an open-world, third-person shooting crime thriller game set in 1980's Miami, but maybe that's just me.

This

snurch · June 19, 2016, 09:53:25 AM

for perspective, axiom verge took 5 years to develop by one guy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axiom_Verge

he did the entire game himself, assets, animation, everything

it turned out to be a pretty great game, but this is "just" a "2D side scroller"

here's the thing our course tutor told me (comp sci), it actually doesn't take much to make a good game

a simple idea is all you need