Office Chair Racing!
by Niko Loeffelholz · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 07/07/2004 (1:15 pm) · 60 replies
I'm working on a game called Office Chair Racing:
A unique racing game where you race office chairs down the office halls, eventually working your way up to CEO where you get the big executive chair. Includes special occupations such as a plumber, who rides a toilet.
Thanks to Will Harrison, Lee Garner, George "Creator" Goldstien, and my friend who wishes to remain anonomous for making some of the 3D models in the game, and to Dave Heil, who has offered to help with some of the more advanced programming.
So far I have implemented:
TGELobby
Timer
Countdown clock at beginning of race
I have tested it with 3 people so far.
Expect a demo soon. Technical Difficulties - I don't like Milkshape!
A unique racing game where you race office chairs down the office halls, eventually working your way up to CEO where you get the big executive chair. Includes special occupations such as a plumber, who rides a toilet.
Thanks to Will Harrison, Lee Garner, George "Creator" Goldstien, and my friend who wishes to remain anonomous for making some of the 3D models in the game, and to Dave Heil, who has offered to help with some of the more advanced programming.
So far I have implemented:
TGELobby
Timer
Countdown clock at beginning of race
I have tested it with 3 people so far.
Expect a demo soon. Technical Difficulties - I don't like Milkshape!
About the author
#22
some weapon ideas:
computer keyboard - charcater, holding the cord, swings it around overhead...acts like a shield in this manner...pressing fire, the character throws it to hit other racers.
computer monitor - dramaticly slows the character down once picked up. pressing fire, the character throws it (not very far) and it can either hit other racers or act as a course obstical.
Mop - can swing it at other racers, but automaticly the buisness end drags behind the character wetting the floor makeing it super slick
Mail - basic weapon, can be flicked at other racers...can pick up more then one at a time.
Fax machine - slows the character down like the computer monitor, but acts as a unlimited supply of mail weapon ammo
Caution "wet floor" signs and garbage cans - not really a weapon that can be picked up. characters can kick them when rideing by, knocking them into other racers...once the sign/can has stopped moveing (after bounceing off other racers,walls, etc..), it can be "kicked" again.
Basicly how this could work is pretty simple. basic controls could be done with a mouse giveing direction, a "kick" button that controls forward movement (double tap the button for a super speed burst...in a way this is sorta like Asteroids with "kick" replaceing "thrust") and a "fire" button for the weapons...
If the character is hit by a weapon from another racer, they get knocked off thier chair (short little animation ala Excite Bike as they rush to get back on)...if the character is holding a weapon when hit by another racer, the character looses the weapon (sorta like Sonic the Hedgehog and his rings).
There can be special "boss" characters too (once beaten they can be playable)...for example the janitor (mop bucket), Mail room clerk (mail cart), etc..
Just some ideas, aiming more for a fast arcadish twitch type racer then anything realisitic :P
07/25/2004 (10:55 am)
This is a pretty neat idea :)some weapon ideas:
computer keyboard - charcater, holding the cord, swings it around overhead...acts like a shield in this manner...pressing fire, the character throws it to hit other racers.
computer monitor - dramaticly slows the character down once picked up. pressing fire, the character throws it (not very far) and it can either hit other racers or act as a course obstical.
Mop - can swing it at other racers, but automaticly the buisness end drags behind the character wetting the floor makeing it super slick
Mail - basic weapon, can be flicked at other racers...can pick up more then one at a time.
Fax machine - slows the character down like the computer monitor, but acts as a unlimited supply of mail weapon ammo
Caution "wet floor" signs and garbage cans - not really a weapon that can be picked up. characters can kick them when rideing by, knocking them into other racers...once the sign/can has stopped moveing (after bounceing off other racers,walls, etc..), it can be "kicked" again.
Basicly how this could work is pretty simple. basic controls could be done with a mouse giveing direction, a "kick" button that controls forward movement (double tap the button for a super speed burst...in a way this is sorta like Asteroids with "kick" replaceing "thrust") and a "fire" button for the weapons...
If the character is hit by a weapon from another racer, they get knocked off thier chair (short little animation ala Excite Bike as they rush to get back on)...if the character is holding a weapon when hit by another racer, the character looses the weapon (sorta like Sonic the Hedgehog and his rings).
There can be special "boss" characters too (once beaten they can be playable)...for example the janitor (mop bucket), Mail room clerk (mail cart), etc..
Just some ideas, aiming more for a fast arcadish twitch type racer then anything realisitic :P
#24
Also laundry carts and those big trashcans on wheels would make good vehicles.
07/26/2004 (7:06 am)
I have this video clip where these 2 guys in suits are racing those razor scooters in an office. Then as they're going past the elevator, the door opens and the cleaning lady wheels her cart right in front of them. Stuff goes flying everywhere, its hilarious. It would make a good obstacle. Also laundry carts and those big trashcans on wheels would make good vehicles.
#25
Coffee - speed boost. Maybe have it make you go faster but have the control be more difficult. To make it different from the fire extinguisher.
Paper work- tons of memos and forms on the ground that create a sort of a sticky zone that is hard to get through. Could be built into the track or be an item. You could also use red tape.
07/26/2004 (7:12 am)
Some other ideas:Coffee - speed boost. Maybe have it make you go faster but have the control be more difficult. To make it different from the fire extinguisher.
Paper work- tons of memos and forms on the ground that create a sort of a sticky zone that is hard to get through. Could be built into the track or be an item. You could also use red tape.
#26
09/04/2004 (2:43 pm)
@ Eric Hartman: Thanks. Cleaning ladies, coffee, and paper work will be in the final game.
#28
As Bruno mentioned, there was Harry The Handsome Executive, but it was more of an office adventure game than a racer.
Based on my short tenure in cubical land, these are some things that people would rush to a location for:
- Free Donuts
- Free Snacks/Sandwiches (Bait used to con people into going to meetings.)
- Free Dinner (Used to reward those who work late.)
- Free food of unknown sources )left over from a meeting that you weren't invited to.)
- So basically, free food of any sort... :)
- Corporate schwag. (When the package full of logo adorned sweatshirts comes in.)
- Tech Demos in a coworker's cubicle.
09/04/2004 (3:45 pm)
I like it!As Bruno mentioned, there was Harry The Handsome Executive, but it was more of an office adventure game than a racer.
Based on my short tenure in cubical land, these are some things that people would rush to a location for:
- Free Donuts
- Free Snacks/Sandwiches (Bait used to con people into going to meetings.)
- Free Dinner (Used to reward those who work late.)
- Free food of unknown sources )left over from a meeting that you weren't invited to.)
- So basically, free food of any sort... :)
- Corporate schwag. (When the package full of logo adorned sweatshirts comes in.)
- Tech Demos in a coworker's cubicle.
#29
o you should be able to "pump" a chair up to increase its height to ridiculous sizes, to reach things on the ceiling (like maybe pencils stuck up there)
o once the chair is pumped up, you should be able to return the chair to its normal height, but from the TOP of the chair sucking the BOTTOM of the chair up; so for example, you're down, you go up, you see a ventilation shaft coming up as you continue to move forward, you return the chair to its original size but the chair remains at the TOP of the ceiling for a second before it falls, which gives you time to get into the shaft
o you can spin the top of the chair really fast in 360's making for a "tornado," which could either trip other chairs if you touch them or even suck them towards you as you go next to them
o you could stop your chair, stand up, spin the base of the chair, and hold it like a lawnmower to mow down enemies/break walls/things/etc. (like the use of the lawnmower in Dead Alive)
o don't forget a 2-wheeled chair ala a bicycle, a 1 wheeled chair, and of course, the coveted hover chair with rear-mounted lasers (stolen from the R&D lab)
o good chairs will let you lean back in them, but you should let players lean ALL the way back so they're horizontal to the ground like bobsledding -- would increase speed but lower maneuverability
To make the game more fun you could go through tons of Dilbert comics and watch Office Space and Clockwatchers a few dozen times to get you in the mood and get ideas.
You can have different characters have different reactions to in-game characters. For example, if you're in sales, you get spitballs spit at you when you pass the tech support department; if you're a tech support person, you have salesmen chase you down for help when you pass their department. If you're in R&D, you can trick your chair out with cool gizmos. If you progress in the game and become a manager/boss, you see people chatting/screwing off on the horizon, but as you approach them they suddenly pretend to be busy/on the phone/etc.
It could be a really fun game (but I doubt commercially viable). That's wacky that someone's already made a similar game. Suddenly office chair racing is a genre!
09/06/2004 (2:25 pm)
Obviously, this game will work only as a semi-cartoony to full-cartoony game, and not ultra-realism. So here's some ideas for play mechanics available to the chairs themselves:o you should be able to "pump" a chair up to increase its height to ridiculous sizes, to reach things on the ceiling (like maybe pencils stuck up there)
o once the chair is pumped up, you should be able to return the chair to its normal height, but from the TOP of the chair sucking the BOTTOM of the chair up; so for example, you're down, you go up, you see a ventilation shaft coming up as you continue to move forward, you return the chair to its original size but the chair remains at the TOP of the ceiling for a second before it falls, which gives you time to get into the shaft
o you can spin the top of the chair really fast in 360's making for a "tornado," which could either trip other chairs if you touch them or even suck them towards you as you go next to them
o you could stop your chair, stand up, spin the base of the chair, and hold it like a lawnmower to mow down enemies/break walls/things/etc. (like the use of the lawnmower in Dead Alive)
o don't forget a 2-wheeled chair ala a bicycle, a 1 wheeled chair, and of course, the coveted hover chair with rear-mounted lasers (stolen from the R&D lab)
o good chairs will let you lean back in them, but you should let players lean ALL the way back so they're horizontal to the ground like bobsledding -- would increase speed but lower maneuverability
To make the game more fun you could go through tons of Dilbert comics and watch Office Space and Clockwatchers a few dozen times to get you in the mood and get ideas.
You can have different characters have different reactions to in-game characters. For example, if you're in sales, you get spitballs spit at you when you pass the tech support department; if you're a tech support person, you have salesmen chase you down for help when you pass their department. If you're in R&D, you can trick your chair out with cool gizmos. If you progress in the game and become a manager/boss, you see people chatting/screwing off on the horizon, but as you approach them they suddenly pretend to be busy/on the phone/etc.
It could be a really fun game (but I doubt commercially viable). That's wacky that someone's already made a similar game. Suddenly office chair racing is a genre!
#30
- Use chairs to deliver things under time constraints.
- Demolition derby.
- As you climb the corporate ladder you could gain income for purchasing better options and better chairs.
- Weapons would be extremely important. Of course office/building based.
- You could have event racing at real world locations such as the Gugenheim. It may have much more attraction if you use building people have actually been in.
- Of course you should be able to destroy things as you go buy including your chair. Like knocking over the water cooler causing a slick for other players behind you.
This could be very fun if done right.
09/18/2004 (3:06 pm)
You could have other modes of play:- Use chairs to deliver things under time constraints.
- Demolition derby.
- As you climb the corporate ladder you could gain income for purchasing better options and better chairs.
- Weapons would be extremely important. Of course office/building based.
- You could have event racing at real world locations such as the Gugenheim. It may have much more attraction if you use building people have actually been in.
- Of course you should be able to destroy things as you go buy including your chair. Like knocking over the water cooler causing a slick for other players behind you.
This could be very fun if done right.
#31
11/17/2004 (4:03 pm)
That is the funnies game idea i've ever come across! I've never laughed harder! I support you :-D
#32
Two weapon ideas that quickly came to mind are:
Stapler: shoot staples at other players
Garbage can: drop it behind you as an obstical.
You can all kinds of cool sound effects such as people yelling: "get back to work!" "Stupid interns!" "Last time I hire someone young!" Well you get the idea.
11/17/2004 (4:12 pm)
You are onto something big time here. Two weapon ideas that quickly came to mind are:
Stapler: shoot staples at other players
Garbage can: drop it behind you as an obstical.
You can all kinds of cool sound effects such as people yelling: "get back to work!" "Stupid interns!" "Last time I hire someone young!" Well you get the idea.
#33
trap: add a pit of plastic balls like they have a burger kings.
(this really has nothing to do with office chair racing,
but i pretty much feel that every game needs a pit of plastic balls)
trap: water from a clogged toilet or a leaking water cooler ?
(oh people already wrote that..)
trap: knock into the coffee pot, get burned ?
11/19/2004 (11:17 am)
Use your necktie to lasso other players and yank them back or out of their chairs or get a free ride or just have fun. could be a team mode - sort of like a three-legged race. you could also use it to anchor to things to get tight cornering.trap: add a pit of plastic balls like they have a burger kings.
(this really has nothing to do with office chair racing,
but i pretty much feel that every game needs a pit of plastic balls)
trap: water from a clogged toilet or a leaking water cooler ?
(oh people already wrote that..)
trap: knock into the coffee pot, get burned ?
#34
11/24/2004 (9:38 am)
Chairjacking ala GTA :)
#35
That might be a cool game type. I just need to think of how to do it.
@Everyone:
Would it be easier to use the FPS or Racing starter kit?
11/24/2004 (2:25 pm)
@Joshua:That might be a cool game type. I just need to think of how to do it.
@Everyone:
Would it be easier to use the FPS or Racing starter kit?
#36
11/29/2004 (2:57 pm)
I would say it would be easier to use the fps starter kit because it has support for animations and it will allso be easyer to make some weapons (fire extinguisher, paperclip and rubber band gun tingy etc.).
#37
I plan to have a demo, or at least some screenshots by Mid-January.
12/26/2004 (4:00 am)
I know I haven't released any screens or demos, and I'm sorry. I've been learning more about how to use Torque. I bought 3D Game Programming All In One and got my friend to make some of the graphics.I plan to have a demo, or at least some screenshots by Mid-January.
#38
01/03/2005 (3:42 pm)
Good News: I implemented TGELobby and changed the GUIs, added a countdown to the beggining of the race, made it so the player starts on a chair, and tested it with 3 people. Expect a demo soon.
#40
*QUOTE*"Thanks to my friend who wishes to remain anonomous for making some of the 3D models in the (Office Chair Racing) game" *END QUOTE*
This is interesting to me. Why? Is he/she ashamed? lol are you forcing this project on them?? I can see someone locked in a dark dungeon with a PC. "Ok ok! I'll model the office chairs for you! Just don't hurt my dog! AND YOU BETTER NOT TELL ANYONE I HELPED YOU ON THIS PROJECT!!! I'll never be able to show my face on GG again....."
Nah seriously though, good luck.
-Ajari-
01/05/2005 (9:18 am)
LoL you guys aren't seriously gonna make this game are you? What a bunch of retards! (I mean that in a joking way) Whatever, I guess I'll keep an eye out for the demo........retards! :p*QUOTE*"Thanks to my friend who wishes to remain anonomous for making some of the 3D models in the (Office Chair Racing) game" *END QUOTE*
This is interesting to me. Why? Is he/she ashamed? lol are you forcing this project on them?? I can see someone locked in a dark dungeon with a PC. "Ok ok! I'll model the office chairs for you! Just don't hurt my dog! AND YOU BETTER NOT TELL ANYONE I HELPED YOU ON THIS PROJECT!!! I'll never be able to show my face on GG again....."
Nah seriously though, good luck.
-Ajari-
Torque Owner Niko Loeffelholz