Hi guys, I'm making a game for my university project and would like to know whether you think you'd enjoy playing it.

It will be a 2d platform game for the iPhone (like the traditional Sonic or Mario games). You basically just have to run around and collect stuff before the timer runs out.

The main thing about the game is that it's a 2 player game and 2 player ONLY. It would be locally playable via 2 iOS devices using bluetooth. So basically you have to be in the same room/area whatever. This is to encourage communication between players as communicating is beneficial to the gameplay and will help you get a better time/score - though not essential. Teamwork, however, is required in order to progress.

The main thing I want to know from you guys is,

If this was a 2 player game ONLY, would you want to play the game? As it would ALWAYS require a friend/relative to play with and they would have to be in the same room/area (due to bluetooth connection). So would you be more likely to play it or less likely? And please give reasons why.

Also, just in general, do you think this type of game would work on the iPhone? And would you enjoy it?

The replies you give will help define my game!

Thanks a lot,
Jason.

2-player ONLY... I think you're not going to have a lot of customers. Well you would have more if it was 1 OR 2 player. And it would have to be a hell of a game to have 2 people, friends or not, compelled to play.

Quote:

Original post by Alpha_ProgDes 2-player ONLY... I think you're not going to have a lot of customers. Well you would have more if it was 1 OR 2 player. And it would have to be a hell of a game to have 2 people, friends or not, compelled to play.

Yea I see what you mean. The reason I was thinking of doing it only two player is that the two player element is the whole sort of idea for the game - they have to work through team work and communication etc.

One of my friends suggested having an AI character to play with when playing single player although I think this would detract from the gameplay and not be as enjoyable for the single player.

Do you have any suggestions for another possible route I could take to make single player aspect?

Cheers.

I was also thinking the second player being an AI. Actually, I'm about to drop an idea in the Game Design forum. Feel free to "steal" it [smile]

Re: JGee

You could design the game to be completable as a single-player game, but also allow two players to play at the same time. Just add another dimension of fun when there are two players, such as adding combos or adding some tactics that can't be executed by a single player. For example, a player can always throw an object, but when the object hits the ground it will break. But if you have two players, the other player could catch the object before it hits the ground.

Wai's post makes me think of the New Super Mario Bros for the Wii.

Quote:

Original post by Wai Re: JGee You could design the game to be completable as a single-player game, but also allow two players to play at the same time. Just add another dimension of fun when there are two players, such as adding combos or adding some tactics that can't be executed by a single player. For example, a player can always throw an object, but when the object hits the ground it will break. But if you have two players, the other player could catch the object before it hits the ground.

I had thought of this, although I still want the emphasis on the multiplayer aspect. Am I kidding myself if I think that I can make a decent iPhone game based mainly on this? I know there aren't many platform game co-ops out there for iPhone but maybe I can change that!

I think puzzle platformers are brilliant and playing cooperatively just makes the experience so much more fun, especially when the levels are designed well so users can have a balanced amount of gameplay and abilities etc. Take little big planet for example.

You make a 2-player co-op iphone game, but the game will have to give a different experience or provide more levels, enemies, options, game dynamics than the single player. I think that's where the sweet spot lies. Making the game experience different and more captivating than the single player experience.

I also agree that the emphasis should be on multiplayer. But still let the player play it with just one player. The reason is simply that your game has all the components to support single-player gameplay, if you don't have that feature but another game has it, then your game gets outdone.

Perhaps I didn't phrase it right in my last post. Take Goof Troop for example, it is an action puzzle game that is completable as single-player, but it is much more fun as two-player.


People remember Goof Troop not because it is an action puzzle game, but that it can be played co-op.

Would it matter if Goof Troop's level can only be completed by two players? I think it would matter, because if having two players is optional, then the players know that they are playing together not because the game requires it, but because they want to.

Alpha_ProgDes:
Awesome, yea that's a good idea. I'll have to make the single player elements worthy of playing themselves but then make the co-op even more exciting. Thanks a lot for the help.

Wai:
I see what you're saying now. That's completely true about users playing two player because they want to rather than need to. I'm sure it would be more enjoyable too.


You guys have really helped me out, thanks a lot for the input, much appreciated. I'll definitely be splitting my focus now on both single and multiplayer aspects, because like you say Wai, I already have the components to make it single player so why not. I'm sure I'll be back here soon to ask for some more pointers!