I am a senior in high school, and I am required to do a Senior Project on a topic of my choice. As part of the project, I have to create a product that I will present at an exhibition at the end of my senior year. I have had a passion for programming of all kinds since I first used a computer and I am interested in making a video game for my Senior Project. As of now, I am unsure of what kind of game I should create for my Project and I want to get some suggestions for what type of game I should create. I have had almost 4 years of programming experience including, several web technologies, several kinds of BASIC, C/C++, and Java (my specialty). In terms of programs, I have done simple applications for my AP Computer Science classes and simple games, such as, connect four, for class and on my leisure time. I would appreciate your suggestions for this game.

I had to do something similar for school, and I ended up doing a clone of the NES Tetris. It took me a solid week (and I mean solid) to get 80% of it done.

If you want something a bit more ambitious, you could move to a side scroller with some levels perhaps. Or maybe even a (simple) RPG. It depends alot on your time and interests.

Just keep it as simple as possible. It's okay to finish with lots of time left (you can always add features), but its never good to never finish and be stuck with a halfway made game.

When I'm looking for new ideas, I usually tinker around with old ideas.

I was asked to do an exhibition not much unlike your own, and I ended up (almost accidentially) making my own form of skifree. Except it was in 3D, set at night, and involved a tank. Whatever.

Don't feel constrained to remaking a game. Or, if you do, don't feel like you have to do it exactly how they did it. The best games (and most impressive) are original.

Oh, and I wouldn't suggest getting into a 3D API for this unless you really mean business. Because 3D APIs are mean business.

Good luck!

Keep in mind that being a programmer, and an artist, and a designer, and a composer is almost impossible. I would suggest going with something that uses very little 'content', as you probably won't have time to make it. A game like a side scroller or RPG would require lots and lots of artwork and design. I would say that a flashy puzzle game would be the best way to go, and you can still add loads of complexity(collision, shaders, particle effects, ect..)

I made a real time strategy game for my senior project. It had up to 4 player multiplayer and it was basically a starcraft clone. I did all the artwork for it too (so the art was kind of sucky) and it wasnt OOP which made it insanely hard. But I learned a lot about making a complete game, and greatly improved my programming skills. And it gives you extra motivation to actually finish the game, which is something I always have a lot of trouble with. I know I worked a lot harder than most other people did on their senior projects. A friend of mine made a much simpler single player RPG. and got an A on the project same as me. The only problem with my game is that it wasnt very fun (the units needed balancing badly and it didnt "flow" well).I should have given myself more time for multiplayer testing. But it was still very valuable learning experience even if its more work than necessary to get an A.

I recommend you make a game that doesn't require a lot of artwork(unless youre a great artist and can churn out art quickly), and is simple enough that it wont take you the entire semester to complete, so that once you're done you can go back and add polish where the game needs it as well as do extra testing. I also recommend you dont promise too much when your proposing the idea to your teacher(We had to do this but i dont know if its that way everywhere). Just be sure you know you can deliver anything you do promise.

I have some game titles and some details you can work out on. If you are truely interested please feel free to pm me, aim , or email about these details.Plus these game details are simple games and they are both puzzle games.not much art work to be done just some playability and learning how to win and learning how to get through the puzzles.

Plus I have my other porjects to work on and I dont have time to steal my own work back.I would like to present these ideas from one gamer to another free no hassle what so ever.