I''ve got an idea for a new type of racing sim: aircraft racing. I am basically proposing a game in which you race around a course. To get points, you must fly through gates and perform stunts. Also, you must shoot target drones for bonus points, though if you shoot down another aircraft then you lose[points]. It''s sort of like a combination between an jet-fighter sim, a racing sim, and Tony Hawk pro Skateboarding. It is called Stunt Flyer, and I would appreciate some feedback, and once I get the design fleshed out, I''ll begin development. Any who wants to help may contact me at thegrogen@hotmail.com. There is a reason for everything. my site Founder of Oberon Studios

Ever heard of F-Zero, F-Zero: Maximum Velocity or F-Zero GX?

There''s a problem with racing planes: they''re difficult to control. The learning curve to keep planes level, much less to turn and twist them at arbitrary angles with any degree of accuracy is extremely steep. F-Zero solves this by giving you a road to fly one (basically, you''re driving on race tracks high above the city), simplifying control and presentation markedly.

All of the preceding is just to highlight the most complex issue you''ll face: control. If you can provide a scheme that retains some sort of flying ambience and is at the same time readily accessible, you may be on to something.

I thought of a game like this. Doesn't matter if similar ones have been done already.

Part of what would make this game fun is the environments. Imagine a course where you are flying through a canyon above a raging river. And the course takes a sharp turn down along the surface of a waterfall, the steam cloud of the water below getting more intense as your get closer to the bottom. Then the course goes out in to the ocean a ways, around a rock spire jutting out of the water. The course then heads back towards the waterfall, through it, and into a tunnel that winds its way through the mountain, possibly through large caverns with rock columns.

Don't forget alternate routes for shortcuts and bonus powerups for replayability!

I figured the HUD would direct the player to the next gate, AND tell them where the gate after that is so they can plan the direction of their flight path.

Do everything you can to make knowing the primary course easy for the player, and give them some challenging maneuvers and cool things to look at.


[edited by - Waverider on March 9, 2004 10:57:47 PM]

Its called Diddy Kong Racing.

The original poster is talking about flying not driving or (F-Zero) hovering inches off the floor. The game dynamic in flying is very different.

However the idea isn't new at all. There have been at least two or three games of this type over the years and I think Disney's stunt island might also fall into the same category (although I don't think it is actually focused on racing).

Aerowings from Crave certainly matches this idea.
Aerowings is a simulation that allows you to fly as a member of a jet aerobatics team. Aerowings contains a variety of jet-powered aircraft that you can fly in several game modes.

* Blue Impulse Mission: Learn 20 aerobatic maneuvers and become a member of the elite Blue Impulse team. You will learn loops, rolls, and more while flying both solo and in formation.
* Sky Mission Attack: Fly through a series of targets suspended in mid-air before time runs out.
* Free Flight: Fly around and freely explore the landscape.
* Multi Play: Up to 4 players can perform in formation simultaneously.


Dan Marchant
Obscure Productions (www.obscure.co.uk)
Game Development & Design consultant

[edited by - obscure on March 10, 2004 6:24:21 AM]

I second Diddy Kong Racing. It was a pain in the butt to learn, but once you get the hang of it it''s pretty neat. Okay, it''s not terrific, and if you hit something in the plane you stall and fall to the ground, which seriously sucks, but if you get good, it''s perfectly playable, and having your opponents withing punchinig distance is why no LAN game will ever be as much fun as an N64.

O im so stupid, I didn''t know about those games. Just goes 2 show how much of a newb I am.

Here is a list of the environments and what kind of things you can do in them:

City:
- flying through tunnels
- between buildings
- shoot at civilians
- do stunts between buildings

Moon/Planet:
- Canyons
- fog
- stunts through rock formations

Underground:
- Small tunnels with room for only one ship
- Nuclear reactors(you can destroy worlds by crashing into these
- Control centers


There is a reason for everything.

my site

Founder of Oberon Studios

^^^ Wow. That dumb little waste of time has been going around for decades...

The aircraft racing game sounds cool, though. Good luck with that

stunt island was awesome, i wish i had some of my old movies...

Sounds an awefull lot like PilotWings (SNES, Nintendo64)