A new FPS is still in design phase. It''s supposed to be unique in its style, not a clone of an exisitng game. I want to collect ideas about levels, place, story, mission, graphics, characters, ... everything that makes my game really stunning. I need your help guys. Thanks.

You''re not very fortunate that I''ve stumbled across this post. Already you are doing something unoriginal. You''re categorizing your game. That means you have certain rules to follow. How about instead of thinking what kind of category of game you want to make, you think of what would be fun. Not enough people seem to do this, and all we get are clones.

Sorry to tell you, but unique levels and guns don''t make a game unique. A unique game does.

--Vic--

*smirk*


[edited by - InnocuousFox on March 14, 2002 3:12:41 PM]

I''ve noticed a trend in here that people want to make games that other people find fun.

Well, call me an oddball, but I want to make games that I would find fun. I know that doesn''t make sense, but I think it''s like asking Mozart to compose pop ballads. Sure, they sell more than classical music, but I seriously doubt it would be something he would have wanted to do (even if he lived now). I think that game design is part artistic, part technical, and part marketing. To be blunt, I don''t even care about marketing. I know most people here do, and perhaps they should, but I''d rather be true to my artistic license and freedom than cater to what other people want.

If you really just want what people will buy, make Barbie games or Hunter series games. I think that if you do something you love, even if it fails commercially, at the very least you won''t waste your time

quote: Original post by Dauntless
I''ve noticed a trend in here that people want to make games that other people find fun.

I don''t think anyone was saying that his game idea (which he left out anyway) was odd... it was just pointed out that by classifying his game as an FPS, he was already pigeon-holing himself. Of course, I was amused at the use of the word "unique" and then asking for assistance from other people in what makes "his" game stunning. *shrug*

Also, Dauntless... you don''t know what my debut title is, do you? It is definately for a niche market and has sprung from MY desire to play the game. I think you get offended far too easily... even when it is other people you believe should be offended.



Dave Mark
President and Lead Designer
Intrinsic Algorithm Development
"Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"

Innocuous

Wasn't offended at all, actually I was just trying to give some advice. I realize my ideas are way off mainstream and probably only appeal to a small minority of people here, so I understand that oft times my advice should be taken with a huge grain of salt.

What I look for in a game probably doesn't jibe with 80-90% of what gamers look for in a game. I wouldn't be surprised at all if my game flopped sales-wise, but I don't think anyone can say that I didn't at least have some innovative ideas.

So do I get offended easily? Only if someone insults my integrity or honor. People march to strange drummers, and I don't expect them to always march to mine I just want to open people's eyes to a different way, that's all, not lead them by the hand to my vision. If they like it, great, if not...that's their choice, but at least hopefully they THINK about what I talk about.

Besides, gamemonkey said he wanted the STYLE to be unique, not necessarily the genre. Perhaps his game idea is a FPS, but in a setting no one has ever seen before or thought about, but still firmly rooted in the world of the First Person Shooter genre. A totally unique game is fine, but I'm not sure if that's exactly what gamemonkey has envisioned, since he said he wanted the style to be unique...and that seems to jibe with what he was saying since he wants unique levels, weapons, etc.

I'm just warning of the dangers of making games with which there is a perception that people want. In other words, I'm asking him to question his motives for why he wants a unique style of game. IS it because he thinks everyone else will want it (a good thing if you want a game to make money) or because it is something deep down he just wants to do (for personal creative reasons).


Well gamemonkey, here's a suggestion for you. Make a historical first person shooter set some time between the 1800-1920's. Other than Outlaw, no one's made a FPS set...say for example in the English Colonial wars. Maybe you can play the Boer (South African Afrikaaners) fighting against the English Commonwealth forces. Maybe you could make a Civil War FPS. Some players may object to the slow reload times of weapons, but I think it could make for interesting game play.

[edited by - Dauntless on March 14, 2002 7:14:27 PM]

quote: Original post by Dauntless
I''ve noticed a trend in here that people want to make games that other people find fun.

You talk as if that were something bad. I don´t know about you, but making games just for me seems like a horrible waste of resources...
and with big games (such as a FPS) you need big funding, which means that you need big sales, and that means that you need big number of people who will like your game.

Making a game which a lot of people will like is not equal to making a game which a lot of people will buy. Making games for a broader audience does not have to mean selling out your ideals to commercialism.

It''d be cool to get some kinda ''wish list'' forms up on some game review sites. I spend plenty of time just trying to think up fun new ideas for features, and I''m sure there are boatloads of players out there who have some very specific fantasies for features they''d like to see.

I like the niche games. I like the games that have depth, that are wacky and original, that aren''t simple clickfests. yeah, I appreciate the mega-genres too (well, some not as much as others, *cough* RPGs *cough*), but it''s the kind of off-the-wall, out-of-the-box thinking that I expect from indie developers like you guys that keeps drawing me back to this board. I read virtually every thread, even if I don''t post any replies.

So let''s strike a compromise. gamemonkey, your game''s an FPS eh? Tell us more about the things you want to put in that would make it unique. We''ll listen. And the rest of you fellas, let''s hear him out. Delay the critique until he actually posts something.

Okay, gamemonkey, the floor is yours. Use it wisely.

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Thanks to Kylotan for the idea!

My quote about making games for other people is supposed to highlight the difference between creative freedom and marketing. Look at pop boy bands. Apparently lots of people like them and they sell great, but I don''t really think they would be considered by most serious artists as well, artists. But to each their own...especially if YOU like that.

My point is, don''t worry so much about what you think other people want, because then you miss out on the chance of finding something that people didn''t know they would like. Look at surprise hit movies. They didn''t follow a formula, and were made "from the heart". I think that''s just a better path to follow because a) they tend to be more original and b) even if it''s not a commercial succes, you will have enjoyed and felt proud of what you did.

But if you''re just in it for the money, I can understand that too...as long as you put your passiona and artisitic side into something else that''s cool too. I just think that people that do it from the heart will reap greater rewards.