::John Web::

Hello, I am currently in the process of making a flash online game called John Web. I have started with the design it and here is what I have so far: Name of the Game: John Web Genre: RPG Game Type: Single Player Estimated Time: 2-3 Months Story: This game is about a city teen named John Web around the age of 15 who has to move to Tennessee where his relatives live, because of a crime he committed. He then runs away from his Aunt and Uncles farm that night when their asleep. He travels through the woods and becomes blinded with this powerful light ahead of him. Knowing that he cannot turn back, he continues forward. Once it seems as if the light cannot get any brighter, it dims down to almost nothing, leaving just enough to light up an unusual sword in front of him. He becomes curious and when he decided to touch the sword, magically this beautiful young lady appeared next to it. She then stated her royalty of her world that she claimed was in danger. She explained how it is being destroyed by Master Black an evil wizard and then asks him if he will help her. When he agrees, they disappear into the same light she appeared from. John is then transported to her world and to where the game begins. Overview: You play as John Web in which you have to save the princess. You are given the sword found in the forest. Throughout the game you explore towns looking for magic gemstones that are either given to you as a gift in a job you did or from a person that asks you a favor. Once you collect the gemstones you learn a move based on the power of the stone. These moves are used in battle. When you collect all of them you are allowed to move on to Master Black’s castle in which you will have your final battle. Along the way you are faced with people that are trying to protect Master Black, so they attack you. Added Features: You will be allowed to compete in a game called Hover racing which is a race to the finish on a hoverboard. A hoverboard is like a skateboard but without wheels that hovers. You can go to the arcade and play classic mini-arcade games, that I made when learning how to code. Tell me what you think?

a flash RPG? Will it allow you to save the game?

An old school RPG. [grin] Cool. I've recently become very addicted to some flash games, particularly Motherload, which has strategic mining, leveling and a very addictive rewards cycle. You can build yourself up for days!

Since it is small and to the point you can focus on gameplay. I'd recommend soliciting feedback for some of the more nuts and bolts design elements since the overall concept sounds fine.

How freeform will the movement and travel be?

How large is the game world?

Is the perspective overhead or side view, or are you going for something else? (Top I think is more tactical, side more arcadey).

Details for combat? How many moves do you start with? Are there specific enemies that require specific moves? Can moves be chained in combos?

What reward resources are there besides the stones? Can you level up by bashing monsters? What do monsters/enemies give you?

Finally, since the game starts off somewhat funky and unusual in terms of your background, I suggest using that. I was intrigued that you start off having committed some crimes and running away. I then got bored when I heard "save the princess." You're not going to compete with a typical console/PC RPG, so why not be quirky, unusual and different-- thereby giving your players another reason to put down Morrowind or Neverwinter Nights and play something more unusual.

I also want to add that I have started to make this game previously and I have some screenshots so that you can see what it will look like. Check them out here:

http://swc.homestead.com/johnweb/screens.html

To answer a couple of questions I will start of with this:

Yes, I hope to place in a save button, because I hate it when I play a big game and then have to start over each time I want to quit and take a break.

The movement of the game is pretty free, you can go basically anywhere the road, and path leads you. The world is about medium sized as of right now but I hope in the future to extend it.

The view is like a skyview in which if you check out the screenshots above, you will realize you can see the paths ahead of you.

Some of the stuff you pointed out Wavinator were very usefull. I really never went that far into the design of combat, but I will get back to you on that. You also point out about the princess, and when I read it again it did sound a little boring. Like I have a troublemaker character but then he goes soft and wants to help. It just doesn't go.

What might you suggest instead as the reason for his quest? I need something that would suit him.

ok like i said before I would think over the battling and I did so here it is:

battling: when you battle the bosses for each level you may either recieve a gem for that level or a large ammount of money. The little creatures/monsters that are easy to defeat may leave a item, a doller or even a boost on your hit points.

combat moves: you start off the game with three simple moves:
1) Since you have your sword you can use it as an attack move(stab, slash etc.)
2)Jab
3)Kick

I have also provided below a visual of the battle style.

Please don't criticise my drawing, i just made it quickly to illustrate my ideas.

As you can see you have some sort of dropdown menu to choose your attack move. When you start recieving gems you can use the magic moves for that particular move. Once you have choosen your move you then hit the "attack" button and an animated version of that move is illustrated. Depending on the move, the ammount of hp is taken away from the character.