Strategy Game Theme
by Jo · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 07/21/2005 (2:13 am) · 8 replies
Here is a little problem:
I made a game 4 years ago (that was finished but we had no time to clean it and add a tutorial), a strategy game.
I'm planning in making a new version of it but for selling it this time.
So, the features are good, i'll talke about it in few month if all get right, and the meat is about a system that is really verry strategic, and about mods and customisation.
But someone told me that the theme, the world where the game play, is not interresting....
The game plays in a fantastic net (meaning absolutely not realistic) where you and other players are hackers (making viruses, getting control of servers etc...).
When i've been told that the world of the game is not interresting, I have been really shocked. I did'nt think it was'nt.
So, the game is about really great strategy, but the game world is important. And I cannot change it beacause i cannot imagine another theme that fit with the system model (that makes the strategy really good).
Maybe a war of hackers is something only geeks will be interrested in? Maybe it will be a verry little market, hu?
I'me making this game, but i have doubts because of this advice....
What do you think about this game-world? Is it really not apealing?
I made a game 4 years ago (that was finished but we had no time to clean it and add a tutorial), a strategy game.
I'm planning in making a new version of it but for selling it this time.
So, the features are good, i'll talke about it in few month if all get right, and the meat is about a system that is really verry strategic, and about mods and customisation.
But someone told me that the theme, the world where the game play, is not interresting....
The game plays in a fantastic net (meaning absolutely not realistic) where you and other players are hackers (making viruses, getting control of servers etc...).
When i've been told that the world of the game is not interresting, I have been really shocked. I did'nt think it was'nt.
So, the game is about really great strategy, but the game world is important. And I cannot change it beacause i cannot imagine another theme that fit with the system model (that makes the strategy really good).
Maybe a war of hackers is something only geeks will be interrested in? Maybe it will be a verry little market, hu?
I'me making this game, but i have doubts because of this advice....
What do you think about this game-world? Is it really not apealing?
About the author
#2
Just concentrate on making it good and polished. :)
- Ronixus
07/21/2005 (5:55 am)
So what? Even if it is a small market, if your gameplay and content are on par to make it stand out as a good game, the market will grow with it.Just concentrate on making it good and polished. :)
- Ronixus
#4
If you find that alot of people dislike the world, find out why. Ask them what would make it more interesting, then armed with this information you can start to make informed decisions about your world. Its possible that the addition of a simple particle system may shut these people up, or it may be an inherent flaw in the world design. Only by getting a large sample will you know.
07/21/2005 (1:37 pm)
The best thing to do is have alot of people play it, and gauge their reactions. This one person may be the only one, or he may be indicative of a large group of people who are uninterested in the idea.If you find that alot of people dislike the world, find out why. Ask them what would make it more interesting, then armed with this information you can start to make informed decisions about your world. Its possible that the addition of a simple particle system may shut these people up, or it may be an inherent flaw in the world design. Only by getting a large sample will you know.
#5
http://www.sjgames.com/hacker/
Of course, SJG has some personal ties to making the game..
http://www.sjgames.com/SS/
Just keep the game and reality seperate - I think there was a game called "Virus" that confused people into thinking their computer was really at risk - silly yes, but they ended up shipping the game with an anti-virus prog...
07/21/2005 (11:09 pm)
A game about hackers didn't bother Steve Jackson...http://www.sjgames.com/hacker/
Of course, SJG has some personal ties to making the game..
http://www.sjgames.com/SS/
Just keep the game and reality seperate - I think there was a game called "Virus" that confused people into thinking their computer was really at risk - silly yes, but they ended up shipping the game with an anti-virus prog...
#6
Hopefully, my game don't look anything like the real thing, and is much funier than juste hack computer, it seem.
I use words like "Virus" or "Server" and "Computer" but it's not working like our real network, and viruses are like soldiers.....more about that in few month.
In the version i made a few years ago, i added a readme in wich i said that there was no real virus or anything dangerous in the game, and that if you find a virus, it's not my fault! :D
Thank you all, i'm reassured and will work hard! :)
07/22/2005 (1:18 am)
That's right, I know it's not a good thing to make something looks like the real world for this type of game-world. I don't need polemics or anything like that.Hopefully, my game don't look anything like the real thing, and is much funier than juste hack computer, it seem.
I use words like "Virus" or "Server" and "Computer" but it's not working like our real network, and viruses are like soldiers.....more about that in few month.
In the version i made a few years ago, i added a readme in wich i said that there was no real virus or anything dangerous in the game, and that if you find a virus, it's not my fault! :D
Thank you all, i'm reassured and will work hard! :)
#7
01/08/2006 (12:49 am)
Any progress yet? I just stumbled across this thread and the game sounds interesting =) 
Torque Owner John Coyne