Group Game Project

[Sonistar]

i will gladly help on any art/graphics/animated icons/things after my uni finishes on the 5th of march, pm me if your interested.

 

[NoidZ]

A Turn Based game like Advanced wars or that Metal Gear game for cough* P$P would be more original. And it's not that hard to create such a game...

You can even use simple 3D models in the game.

 

[scorpio]

Hope I'm not too late jumping in here, but one game that I really got into last year, and which I'd never known about before, is "Master Of Magic" on the Spectrum. I'd love to see a game like this on the GP2X, as it has some nice features: Exploration, Spells, Mad panic dashes, multi-level dungeons, line-of-sight auto-mapping, etc. I also like the fact that it doesn't bog you down with excessive player stats.

It's a lot like Rogue/Nethack (which I also love), but with more detailed graphics (people's opinions on this may vary.)

It's one of those games which, while not particularly flashy, has that certain quality that draws you in. Maybe this would be a good candidate for a starter game, as it is a pretty basic template, but has a lot of potential for being jazzed up on a more advanced platform.

 

[Julius]

Bump... this shouldn't die

My personal favorite would be a 3D racing/rally game... surly ambitious but possible I guess (maybe another open-source racing game could serve as a base?).
Add a community ghost challenge multiplayer option, and a relative easy way to make levels, and it would be the absolute killer app for the GP2X.

Check out this FordFocus model I did for a GP32 Rally game that never saw the light of the day: http://freegamearts.myexp.de/fga.php?filte...=ford&sort=name
It is a 128x64 pixel texture (90%complete) and a approx 120poly model (without wheels) --- all available under the GPL

 

[Dzz]

Thanks for bumping it and the suggestion. On Thursday I'll try to collect the various ideas into a single post for another brief round of discussion.

After that, how should we decide on a "winner". We could have a poll I suppose, but if the winner ends up being something no artists want to work on, we're kind of screwed. Thoughts?

 

[RiX0R]

Here's a totally different shot out of the blue: what about a pinball game?

I sure love those...

 

[TheMinder]

I'm currently in the middle of something else but i had this idea before the things i've started and it sort of won't go away.

Something based on the ZX Spectrum game Tranz Am but a Tranz GB. Full map of GB, differing background gfx depending on location.

I had thought about using a more shaded version of this image as the car (apologies for the magenta transparency being attached) but i was only doodling some ideas down at the time

 

[ingrin]

Here's a totally different shot out of the blue: what about a pinball game?

I sure love those...

I like it! A pinball game is simple, can be made graphically impressive, and will likely require minimal use of the stick.
Now, here comes a possibly unpopular suggestion... can we expand that idea out? Add elements that scream "hey, I'm using the basic idea of a classic pinball game, but taking advantage of the digital medium (and specific features and limitations of the console) we are using and doing things that can't be done on a physical pinball machine?"
I'm thinking Odama/LocoRoco etc... Simple idea with creative tweaks that enhance the gamplay and make us think "Wow, I would pay good money for this".

Is there any reason the GP2X can't stand toe-to-toe graphically with the PSP on a 2d game?

 

[Dzz]

Here's a totally different shot out of the blue: what about a pinball game?

I sure love those...

I like it! A pinball game is simple, can be made graphically impressive, and will likely require minimal use of the stick.
Now, here comes a possibly unpopular suggestion... can we expand that idea out? Add elements that scream "hey, I'm using the basic idea of a classic pinball game, but taking advantage of the digital medium (and specific features and limitations of the console) we are using and doing things that can't be done on a physical pinball machine?"
I'm thinking Odama/LocoRoco etc... Simple idea with creative tweaks that enhance the gamplay and make us think "Wow, I would pay good money for this".

Is there any reason the GP2X can't stand toe-to-toe graphically with the PSP on a 2d game?

I have resisted giving my opinions about the ideas presented so far, but I will say that this is by far my personal favorite suggestion. I'm not that familiar with pseudo-pinball concepts; one thing that does strike me is that it would be nice to use the whole screen but the screen is not shaped like a "normal" pinball playfield.

 

[Aninhumer]

How about sideways pinball?

 

[ingrin]

How about sideways pinball?

Thats a good idea, but it would be awkward if using the left and right shoulder buttons for the flipper, which is kind of the intuitive choice otherwise.

Layout issues aside, here is an idea that I hope isn't too 'out there' (it might have been done before, I dunno):

What about a basic pinball type environment, only you control a ball of ice that you hit with your flippers. Your ball of Ice can change states, and the game is over if it is in a liquid state and flows through a drain in the bottom middle of the screen. There are various pinball items throughout (bumpers, etc...) as well as fans(Blows steam quickly, water slowly, minimal effect on ice) and transmutors (IE chillers and heating elements). You perhaps have limited control of your state by using the buttons, but doing so drains a power bar that needs to build back up over time in order to use again. Otherwise, you are left to the transmutors on the table.

How hard is it to simulate liquid movement in 2d?

 

[satacoy]

There were some great pinball simulators on the Amiga. "Pinball Fantasies" comes to mind. If I recall correctly, they showed a portion of the entire pinball field, and scrolled vertically as the ball rolled around the table. They were insanely fun games, and simulated pinball quite well, right down to the ball physics. It seems like this would translate well to the GP2x.

 

[Julius]

I like that extended Pinnball idea... that Iceball one for example already sounds promising (could maybe extendet to all four elements... and some gravity manipulation would be nice as it could give you more control over the ball, and it would look cool too).
But such a game should really be 2D, and since I suck at 2D images I would be unable to help
But go ahead with that idea (if you find enough artists) since I would love to play such a game.

 

[Aninhumer]

Hang on I know there is a forth state (Plasma?), but how would it react with the environment?

 

[scorpio]

After that at how should we decide on a "winner". We could have a poll I suppose, but if the winner ends up being something no artists want to work on, we're kind of screwed. Thoughts?

Maybe a shortlist of candidates in different genres? Prospective developers can then look at that list and offer their relevant services for each one. Then, whichever entry gets the most comprehensive offers of help gets done first. That way, it would be the contributors that are giving the final vote, and it might be more likely to get done?

Once the decision is made, whoever isn't happy with the result can then feel reasonably free to do their own thing on their favourite project without necessarily having to worry if somebody else is going to be working on the same project.

I guess some forum topics could be started in the GP2X Developers forum for each candidate so everyone can keep in touch about what they're doing (although I think they will need to be moderated with a pretty heavy hand to keep things concise and relevant to the specific project.)

 

[scorpio]

Here's a totally different shot out of the blue: what about a pinball game?

I sure love those...

Like Pinball Dreams/Illusions/Fantasies on the Amiga? They are great games, and the GP2X could totally handle that!

The only thing is that the graphics and sound were a major part of those games, so we would really need to have some dedicated talent working on those aspects. Probably the best thing to do there would be to make it modular so that tables can be added. That way an initial release with an excellent table could be done, and additional quality tables could follow at a later date.

Something based on the ZX Spectrum game Tranz Am but a Tranz GB. Full map of GB, differing background gfx depending on location.

Sounds like a nice idea, and should be easy enough to do. I think it would work well on the GP2X.

 

[ingrin]

Here's a totally different shot out of the blue: what about a pinball game?

I sure love those...

Like Pinball Dreams/Illusions/Fantasies on the Amiga? They are great games, and the GP2X could totally handle that!

The only thing is that the graphics and sound were a major part of those games, so we would really need to have some dedicated talent working on those aspects. Probably the best thing to do there would be to make it modular so that tables can be added. That way an initial release with an excellent table could be done, and additional quality tables could follow at a later date.

Yes, or include a table construction set so users can add their own table mods.

 

[Julius]

Hang on I know there is a forth state (Plasma?), but how would it react with the environment?

Lol, ok that is not what I ment (I was talking about fire,water,earth and life), but maybe sticking to the four states would be a better idea as it would be more elegant (as in simple but elegant). Plasma would be pretty hot and burn though things of course

 

[tshroom]

OK. I am new to the scene, but I have been watching it. I don't have a GP2x yet, but now that all the bugs are worked out I am most likely ordering one on May 15th. I have read through the thread, and I can guess that the best idea would be the pinball game. I am just going to build on everything already said and layout my idea for this type of game.

Basically it is a pinball style game, but the areas do not resemble a pinball machine. Each area will be themed. For example there will be a forest level, mountain, desert, etc. Each stage will be set up like the Mario pinball game where you see are inside an area until you solve a puzzle or beat certain enemies with your ball, which will unlock a passage or a door to the next area of the level. At the end of each level a theme boss will be in place and you must defeat it by slamming it or hitting certain traps, etc. Bosses will be in their own room and take up a majority of the screen because thats cool and intimidating. Examples of bosses could be like a Spider Wolf beast for the forest, a Red dragon for the mountain etc. Now, here is what sets it apart from normal pinball.. There is a meter that fills up when you score points or defeat enemies, etc. When it is full you can press a button to set your ball on fire or make your ball frozen for a limited amount of time. This will allow the player to interact with the environment of each level in different ways. If your in the forest you can fill up the meter and set your ball ablaze to burn down trees, in the mountain you could melt ice, etc. You could freeze your ball to ice over streams and ponds that normally block your way. The possibilities are endless. Another addition that could be implemented, but isn't neccesarry, would be items. Treasure chest could be placed throughout the levels, and could be opened by hitting them a certain amount of times, or fire chests could be opened with ice, and so on. One item could be held at a time and used when in need. I even have the buttons mapped.

L & R are bumpers obviously
X would drop your ball into play
A would activate your fire gauge
B would activate your Ice gauge
Y would use items

I could even write a story line for this game. I am normally not a big pinball fan, but with all these elements in play this game would be considered a pinball puzzle action rpg hybrid.

How I can contribute-
I can write out level designs and ideas in detail.
Submit concept art for bosses, areas, and enemies.
I can make rocking tunes for the soundtrack.

-peace

 

[Redeeman]

a pinball game does offer possibility for ALOT stuff. i have only seen one really really good pinball game in my life, that is Slam Tilt, it is truely original, offering 4 different overall styles, and small ingame games, which is truely fascinating, it is a game one by oneself could play hours each day, it had good graphics in all themes, excellent things.

i will describe slamtilt more in detail:
slamtilt had 4 destinctly different modes:
1: space
2: car-style
3: pirate
4: vampire

in mode 1:
in mode 1, the entire board was space-like, and at the top, at the score board, various things could be, so if you for example hit various combos on the board, it would activate a mode where you got into a small game on that screen, where you should fly a ship, avoid hitting walls, very entertaining. this small game, had exclusive control (meaning the pinball didnt actually move when you played it).
other small games in space, was for example that you should shoot asteroids, by hitting various things with the pinball, this is also extremely fun.

in mode 2:
in car style it was a complete car-styled board, where you could activate a small game so you should drive a dragstar, also one to drive a car around a lap, getting harder and harder.
other things was modes that could go along while playing, like for example you could replace tires and such by doing things, or explode the car

mode 3:
naturally, this was a pirate board, and here there were a minigame where you had been captured, and you had to hit various things on the board to cut the robe, so you get free, and one where you should shoot the cannon, and hit the other pirate ship, and if you shot right at the correct time, you hit.

mode 4:
this mode had a game, where you unleased a "mega mutant meatball", and you then had to run, to escape, this was done by hitting some places on the board, so you picked up speed. another mode was to shoot bats..

all of these modes had things you could do, which was extremely hard, to get enormous ammounts of points, and it was extremely fun. i feel that i have not fully explained this so its possible to understand how good a game this was, mostly, it was also fun to play two player, where one played a ball, and then the other, kindof like turnbased, and this would also be possible now that firmware 2.0 includes network, but single player was also extremely good, and gives many hours of fun..

http://amigareviews.classicgaming.gamespy.com/slamtilt.htm

i know it doesent feature too good pictures and such, but it gives an idea of what im talking about, if you have the possibility, i suggest you try slamtilt, it is available for windows too