An Isometric Game Discussion? in Design Philosophy
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Isometric icons have been around for... what... a year? But I have yet to see a game that actually uses this isometric feature. Falacy keeps complaining about Flash not being in yet, well if no one used the previous game update of isometric map view, what are the odds that a lot of people are going to use Flash? ... Ok, personally I think the odds are very high since people actually want Flash. But that doesn't change the lack of an Isometric game, which I personally feel could be very desirable.
So I got to brainstorming about what kind of isometric map I could make. So I had to think, "What would be a benefit of an isometric map view?" My answer? Buildings. In fact, the appeal might be incredibly similar to that of MineCraft. Unless you play MineCraft to be hardcore, you probably build stuff in it.
I also thought... maybe just building wouldn't be a good idea. I mean, yeah... building is cool and all. But that's just another building game. That's no fun! Even MineCraft had enemies... So I propose we add in enemies that are constantly out to destroy your house. But this is going to be a multiplayer game, might as well add classes right?
So now I'm down to a game like this.
1. Open Map - Mobs can go anywhere and everywhere
2. Classes - For PvP and possibly some other kind of appeal. Maybe even add a story to the game.
3. Dungeons - You go into dungeons to collect materials to create your house.
4. Buildings/Maintenance - Zombie apocalypse is upon us! Every night zombies will claw at your door. The more people "living" in the house, the more zombies that spawn towards that house.
Which means now I need to come up with consequences for house destruction (or make it impossible). Perhaps when your house is destroyed, you have to seek out someone willing to let you stay with them? Perhaps a safe house for anyone without a house? Should you even start with a house?
Discuss.
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Perhaps rather than simply building things with blocks, there are additional shapes, and better than that you could have that be for people who want to be more creative; while others could construct preset buildings over time. Basically, anything you build, preset or not, should have a construction time and material cost.
The construction times should be minimal, of course, perhaps low amounts of time per piece. I.E: 10 seconds for a pillar, 30 seconds for a wood wall, etc. Times need work, but you get the idea.
Anyway. That's just to change up building. Another good way to separate it from Minecraft I believe would be to focus more on adventuring than building, which is the opposite of Minecraft. Adventuring is worked on a lot, but secondary there. Why not make dungeon size vary, and have some bosses for example? Heck, if the world isn't generated as you go, which I am doubting it would be, there could even be preset areas, cities, etc, but you can tear down things and modify things as you see fit.
Obviously, if you go tearing down a NPC's house, or similar, you might get in trouble or receive negative reactions, etc. These are just a few thoughts off the top of my head to get discussion started.
The main point is that the general idea is good, but too close to Minecraft, so lets expand on it, individualize it, and make this into a good and unique concept that could become a successful game.