Justin Pozzebon - 6103289014 - Game Design: Week 3 - Creating a game concept

Chapter 2 - Conceptualizing a game idea.

In this chapter, we were asked to begin developing a concept for a game that we would like to create. These questions were given to us to help begin and develop this concept.

Question 1: Using some of the techniques discussed in this chapter, begin developing a concept for an original game idea. Discuss the central theme of your idea, and the methods you used to bring your idea into existence.

The game concept I wish to develop has the central theme of science – fiction, good-overcomes-evil style game, involving the main setting of the moon. It will be an RPG/first-person shooter game in which the character has to follow the storyline and complete missions and levels to complete an overall goal, either that be to kill a powerful antagonist or achieve an ultimate goal. It will be set in a future civilisation that has been established on the Earth’s moon, with small parts on the uninhabitable Earth.

When thinking about developing an original game idea, one must use some inspiration to gather the initial ideas to form the game concept. Usually game creators want to make a game that is based on themes and ideas that they find interesting, activities that they like to do, objects and theories that they find appealing to them or a topic they know well. Once topic is decided upon then the details about what type of game, setting, characters, details and levels can be started to be developed.

Question 2: Create a backstory, environment, and three character descriptions associated with your original game idea. How are these elements integrated and linked through a central theme?

Backstory – The year is 2245 AD. 26 year old Sergeant Jackson Velibor, a member of the Royal Reconnaissance Army (RRA) had been stationed on the Royal Palace, Moon City for 3 years. The Purge of the Earth had ended 50 years ago, and was now uninhabitable. Those who were fortunate and wealthy enough were able to escape to the nearby Moon, established and built into the last society of Humans from Earth. Since the end of the Purge, the Moon’s inhabitants had been ruled by tyrant Maximillion Crayne, and the Moons’ citizens’ were suffering from it. Using his training from the RRA, will Jackson be able to make a difference and bring the Moon to harmony?

Environment – As the game will be set in the year 2245 AD, the setting for the game is primarily the moon of planet Earth, with some parts to be set on a destroyed planet Earth. As time as passed, along with the advancement of technology, the humans of Earth had inhabited the Moon, and developed it into a futuristic city for the last humans who survived the purge of the Earth to live in harmony upon its surface. The Earth, however, is a barren, toxic, apocalyptic wasteland. The air is polluted and lethal and the land is constantly ablaze with fire and lava.

Character Descriptions:

· Character 1: Jackson Velibor (Main Protagonist) – Jackson Velibor is 26 years old male sergeant in the Royal Reconnaissance Army (RRA), serving as a guard in the Royal Palace. He is 6 foot 1 inch tall, short brown hair, brown eyes and well built. He is a determined, strong hearted person who has an undying loyalty to his family and friends – a typical hero character.

· Character 2: Maximillion Crayne (Main Antagonist) – Maximillion Crayne is the 51 year old tyrant dictator of the Moon City, the last city where humans are now living. A tall, average built man with long black hair and dark grey eyes, he had been in charge for 12 years, and ruled over the city with an iron fist, living in luxury while the citizens under his suffer in hardship. He is cold hearted and very intelligent, with no remorse for his subjects.

· Character 3: Malcolm Cannari (Minor character) – Malcolm Cannari is the leader of the secret group that is plotting to kill Maximillion Crayne and overthrow the Royal Reconnaissance Army. He is a seasoned former soldier, tall and strong, sporting many scars from battles, most significantly the straight scar running across his face. He voice carries a strong authority with it, and is not worried about the consequences to get a job done.

All these elements, the backstory, environment and characters, are linked to the central theme of a futuristic, science-fiction world where good overcomes evil. The characters are created so that they have a fixed hero that the player will grow to love, the antagonist will have the attitude and characteristics that will make the player loathe him– this giving the player a drive to complete the game.

Question 3: Document your concept with reference material and original sketches. How did you capture your reference images? Create thumbnails and silhouettes. Compile these images into an art “bible” to help guide your vision.

Most of the reference images were gathered via the internet, with the hand drawn images done via paper scanned onto the computer and those drawn via tablet and Photoshop saved regularly. All images gathered from the internet have their URL attached.