Week 5 - Getting the keywords and beginning development! - 23/2/15 & 24/2/15

In class today we received the keywords for the games we are to create as our assessment items in conjunction with our Programming class. The keywords we received are “Space” and “Medieval”. We are to make both games which include certain parameters by our programming class on week 10, just before the mid semester break. The first game, the one with a “Space” theme, is to be completed by week 7, and the “Medieval” game by week 10. So we can leave production of the 2^nd game until we finish the first game, so I will focus my attention on that.

Understanding the Project Brief:

We are required to make a web build of a game prototype with the theme of “Space”. We also have to make this game using Unity’s inbuilt physics engine. We will be creating the environment and ideas for this game in our Game Design 2 classes, and writing scripts and making the game in our Programming 2 class.

We also have restrictions we have to take into account when conceptualising and creating the game. The game prototype must not use a character controller or animator controller. We must use Translate/Rotate or AddForce methods when programming the movements for our players, enemies and objects in the game, and the camera is to stay in a fixed position. The game also has to be in 3D.

Conceptualising the game:

So the theme for the visual aspects is “Space”. So most games with a space theme are flying games, and this seems like the most logical choice to make, in both terms of simplicity and content yet also enjoyable for the player.

So with the main game to be a flying style game, I now need to decide what type of flying game it will be. It be either one of the following:

-          A survival style game, where the player has to fly for as long as they can while avoiding obstacles.

-          A shooting style game, where the player has to kill enemies in front of him that are returning fire trying to kill them.

-          Both of these ideas combined to make a survival – shooter game.

-          A racing style game, where a player has to complete a level by getting from point A to point B as fast as possible, passing checkpoints along the way and picking up boosts to increase their speed, or bumping obstacles which slows their progress.

This decision is an important one, as it will shape how the game is designed. The one that appeals to me the most is a survival type of game, where the player has to fly as far as they can avoiding obstacles. If they hit an obstacle then the player’s ship will explode and the game will end, prompting a restart if they want to try again.

Beginning Development:

To begin I need to start thinking about what will be in the game. The following items will need to be created for the game:

-          Player – The player will be a ship of some kind, to fly through the level.

-          Obstacles – The obstacles in the game will consist of asteroids and space debris. They will all be solid objects and the player will be instantly killed if they collide with them.

-          Objective(s) – The objective of the game will be to go as far as possible, whether it be via a timer or a distance measurement, and maybe to collect as many small valuable pickups which add to the distance/length of time that the player is alive.

-          Background – As the game will be set in space the game will need a space background. At this early stage it could be a skybox or a simple image.

Models will be needed for these most of these objects. Fortunately we are able to use assets from the Unity Asset Store.

We have been told to blog our progress throughout the weeks we are creating our games, updating you readers on my progress