I've wanted to make my own games for a long time now and got Stencyl to fulfill that dream, but something soon became apparent; My ideas where way to ambitious and complicated for a beginner. I tried to just simply give up on this and stick to drawing, but no matter how hard I tried, I always kept coming back to wanting to make a game. So, I contemplated about ideas that I can begin with, fit the theme I wanted and even be fun. Eventually, I came up with a few possible solutions.
(I did already try my previous idea of doing it “Lost Vikings” style, but this was not just too complicated(though doable) for me, but also for the computer as it resulted in a lot of lag/poor frame rate.)
The first solution I came up with was to split the two parts of the game apart; adventure and fighting. I would start with a simple platform adventure, consisting of adventure-style puzzles and challenges. The fights, in order to avoid having to come up with complex A.I., would be done up in single room/screen, classic style boss fights. Splitting game play would lessen the load on both me and the computer, while keeping game play simpler for the player.
However, the theme I want to have is still causing me the most problems: team work. The first, simplest solution is to just have a different character chosen at the beginning. In story mode, this would be automatically decided upon the story. In (non-story mode – custom? Practice?) I would take advantage of the tutorials about character selection. That would be the first part, but what about adding continued team work throughout the game? Story mode would be easy, as the other characters would be simply set up as interactive N.P.C.'s and in some challenges, have the game cycle though the characters, like in a relay run. After completing the puzzle/challenge, the player would move on to a fight.
Implementing single-player team play in the fighting part would be the most difficult, but I did come up with a few possible solutions to choose from. One, I could simply use a R.P.G./Worms style with taking turns using each character, but in an action/real-time game play. The problem with this choice is how the characters would be cycled within an action game – would it be based on timed intervals, the amount of actions taken, an energy bar, or the state of the enemy? Two, I could keep the character cycling, but let the player choose when to cycle through them. This would be done right on the spot the character is at, kind of like cycling through weapons. Problem with this is having a challenge to it. Does each character have limited energy that depletes when they are selected, but regenerates when not, or do I simply have them act as a separate “life”, with each having only a small amount of “hit points”? Maybe I could use the previous weapon example by having limited ammo for each character, with them needing to be deselected and given time to restock on ammo? These ideas would allow the player to play as each character within one level.
Next idea would have the other characters, the ones not currently being played, act more like “power-ups”. Even though the team mates are preoccupied, they will still provide assistance, such as sending a first aid kit, provide a shield, drop bombs on the enemy, slow the enemy, etc.. However, since they are busy, they cannot do this continuously. Therefore, a “power meter” will charge and when full, the player can choose any one of the characters to provide assistance from. Then, the meter will empty, flowed by it slowly recharging. I seem to be liking this idea the most.
The final idea I have is to do it “tower defense/strategy game” style. The characters the player is not currently controlling would be placed at strategic, stationary locations. They would provide assistance by either when the player comes in contact with them(such as healing or ammo resupply) or continuously and automatically, such as providing a shield for cover or shooting at the enemy. I might not be able to use the single screen idea for this, though. Would be nice if the player could choose where to place them, but I would assume that would be too difficult for a beginner to implement.
With all that said, what do you all think would be the easiest for a beginner to create, while still making for a fun game? Or, do you have a better suggestion?
