A game concept idea: a dark world
by Kyrah Abattoir · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 04/12/2009 (3:51 pm) · 4 replies
Okay this is an idea that i had a few feeks ago while playing a level on Garry's mod.
How do you guys think a world with no light could work as an online virtual world?
Let me precise, beside player mounted flashlights and some man made structures, the world would be basically plitch black.
I know it might sound like a lousy shortcut to trim down draw distance and get away with a lot of technical issues, but what struck me is how big an universe suddently seems to be when the only source of light is your flashlight. It of course felt quite opressing.
I feel this could be a good way to introduce a lot of light and sound based elements to a game, for example a team of players would probably prefer a set of armors that have mounted neon beacon lights on them that they can customize (the light color) so that they can move together without risking to lose tracks of eachothers.
In an interview, Valve/TurtleRock studio said they used light as a main design component in Left4dead because players naturally tend to go toward the light, this could lead to interesting results, making the safe places, cities, tradeplaces for the players be properly lit, while the further away they go into the wilderness, the less light they find.
Sound wise this can lead to interesting results, if the game environement is richly underlined by sound cues, what kind of fear can build inside a player when after walking alone for a while, back to his base camp, he hears ANOTHER set of footsteps that seems to be following him?
Feeel free to comment, i'm open to suggestions, ideas and critcism.
How do you guys think a world with no light could work as an online virtual world?
Let me precise, beside player mounted flashlights and some man made structures, the world would be basically plitch black.
I know it might sound like a lousy shortcut to trim down draw distance and get away with a lot of technical issues, but what struck me is how big an universe suddently seems to be when the only source of light is your flashlight. It of course felt quite opressing.
I feel this could be a good way to introduce a lot of light and sound based elements to a game, for example a team of players would probably prefer a set of armors that have mounted neon beacon lights on them that they can customize (the light color) so that they can move together without risking to lose tracks of eachothers.
In an interview, Valve/TurtleRock studio said they used light as a main design component in Left4dead because players naturally tend to go toward the light, this could lead to interesting results, making the safe places, cities, tradeplaces for the players be properly lit, while the further away they go into the wilderness, the less light they find.
Sound wise this can lead to interesting results, if the game environement is richly underlined by sound cues, what kind of fear can build inside a player when after walking alone for a while, back to his base camp, he hears ANOTHER set of footsteps that seems to be following him?
Feeel free to comment, i'm open to suggestions, ideas and critcism.
About the author
3D artist, programmer, game designer, jack of all trades, master of none.
#2
I guess it wouldn't be too hard to introduce a scenario that would explain why the players are stuck on the dark world in the first place.
What i see however is a breeding ground for all sorts of light and sound based gameplay elements:
-does the creatures sense light?
-are there creatures that can locate you by sound?
-how to orient yourself?
-how to keep contact with your player group?
-what weapons become the most effective with a limited line of sight?
-what is used to light up the settlements and power them if no solar energy is possible?
04/15/2009 (11:15 am)
Wich reminds me of the movie "Pitch black" for those who saw it it's on a planet where creatures come out at night, and the only time where there is an actual night is during an eclipse that happen every 22 years.I guess it wouldn't be too hard to introduce a scenario that would explain why the players are stuck on the dark world in the first place.
What i see however is a breeding ground for all sorts of light and sound based gameplay elements:
-does the creatures sense light?
-are there creatures that can locate you by sound?
-how to orient yourself?
-how to keep contact with your player group?
-what weapons become the most effective with a limited line of sight?
-what is used to light up the settlements and power them if no solar energy is possible?
#3
Having spent a winter on the Arctic Circle, here's another take on the idea, that came immediately to mind:
Rather than have constant darkness, it could be dark 22-23 hours out of the day, with only a 1-2 hour twilight in the middle of the day. It would probably be quite cold (without some sort of geothermal source), and the short period of light would have special status, i.e. since daylight is in such short supply, it's not something taken for granted.
Edit: Just remembered the game Arx Fatalis... The entire game world is underground because some cataclysmic event made it uninhabitable on the surface. It's not as dark as one might expect from being completely underground.... but check it out -- definitely a good reference for something like this.
04/16/2009 (4:07 pm)
I think it's a cool idea -- loved Pitch Black! =)Having spent a winter on the Arctic Circle, here's another take on the idea, that came immediately to mind:
Rather than have constant darkness, it could be dark 22-23 hours out of the day, with only a 1-2 hour twilight in the middle of the day. It would probably be quite cold (without some sort of geothermal source), and the short period of light would have special status, i.e. since daylight is in such short supply, it's not something taken for granted.
Edit: Just remembered the game Arx Fatalis... The entire game world is underground because some cataclysmic event made it uninhabitable on the surface. It's not as dark as one might expect from being completely underground.... but check it out -- definitely a good reference for something like this.
#4
i've been in iceland during summer, which is pretty neat. sunset for hours and hours, then sunrise for hours.
04/16/2009 (4:59 pm)
where were you in the arctic, Kevin ?i've been in iceland during summer, which is pretty neat. sunset for hours and hours, then sunrise for hours.
Nick Burnette
I used to play trombone in a symphony with a blind trombone player. He told me a story about a buddy who let him drive his car once. How about a blind racing game :)
I've mulled it over again and again. I can't find a format that would warrant more than a level at most. And the format I found is something underground, survival horror, where the flourescent lights flicker in and out but mostly out. Leave a player blind for a few seconds while they know something is in the room with them. Those seconds would feel like an eternity.