Blobert's Austrian Adventure - A game that teaches economics!

#1 Just a small question, but since when has Austria been dominated by Iron-Fisted Communist ;)

But I like the idea, can't say it isn't original.

#2 Heh, Austrian economics doesn't actually have anything to do with Austria other than the fact that it's founders originated from there.

Didn't mean to imply that Austria was a communist country :) It used to be extremely far left socialist, but many of the more communistic policies have been rolled back, and now it has more of a mixed economy, with a democratic government.

#3 Actually, I would love to learn about Austrian Economics - I hope it isn't just for kids!! And I have done so much book learning in my life, I would love to do it in a relaxing gameplay setting.

To tell you the truth, I have had a few clients approach about things like this - not for economics education, per se, but things like it. And some of these companies are very large corporations. I think there is a HUGE potential here for using games to educate. Companies have a huge need for tools to educate - on topics like employee benefits and other topics for employee orientation (it can take days large corporations to convey all the necessary info and employees are left with packets of info to read at night), OJT (the latest technology, the newest stocks, the new laws coming into effect soon, etc. etc.), simulations, etc.

As far as the artwork is concerned, yes it seems you could make the game you mention without a lot of the difficult-to-make artwork. It would be over the top if you COULD create a game with all the art and sound of an alphabet game (AAA, etc.). I think it would make an unmatched medium for conveying information.

There is a good book I came across once, "How games teach" I think is the name of it, but there are several others on the topic. Might be worth checking out.

In particular, this economics game might be a good starting point for OJT material in the business world and after you finish the game, you might have something to show clients for obtaining future contracts.

Good Luck with this. I would like to hear if anything comes of it.

#4 ~~Story idea~~

Blobert's Austrian Adventure - Economics is the Key!

The blobs of Blobbleton were members of the most beautiful, peaceful, and free community in the world. In order to preserve this peace, the Blobbletonians decided to keep out all blobs who were not willing to learn Blobbleton economics. They did this by setting up many many seals on Blobbleton's many many doors which would not let any blobs pass unless they could answer economics questions.

Then one day, the Evil Wizard Blobellus the Gellous (a blob who ruled a country near the Blobbleton community with an iron fist), thought of a way to get rid of Blobbleton economics once and for all. He promised that he would peacefully allow all the Blobbletonians to teach their economics to the peoples in his country on the condition that they all came outside their community to meet with him in person. So all the people of Blobbleton came streaming out of their community, eager to help the other blobs of the world share in their great knowledge and prosperity. But just as the last one left the community gates, the Evil Wizard Blobbellus cast a horrible spell on them, erasing all of their economic knowledge! Robbed of the knowledge needed to reenter their community, the blobs of Blobbleton were stuck outside their great community, and worse yet, unable to teach anyone their forgotten economics!

With the threat of Blobbleton economics neutralized, the Evil Wizard laughed and rode away. The Blobbletons were left alone in dispair...

But, fortunately, there was one way, albeit a perilous way, for the Blobbletonians to recover their knowledge and get back into their community. There was a road through an old Blobbleton ghost city that had scraps of economic teachings scattered about it. If found, these writings could teach all that was needed to recover Blobbleton economics, and reopen the seals. This spooky ghost city used to be the where the Blobbletonians used to live, but of course, it was not so spooky back then. That is, before the Evil Wizard Blobbellus snuck in and cursed the whole town, causing many of Blobbletonian's household objects to becomes possessed by evil. The various objects had taken on a life of their own, and chased all the Blobbletonians out of the city. When the Blobbletonians set up a new city, they set up the barrier to keep anti-economic people like the Evil Wizard out.

So now, the strongest and bravest of blobs must come forward, form the fellowship of the Blob. Herein they must battle all the posessed houshold items in the ghost city, recover all pieces of economic knowledge, and reopen Blobbleton to the Blobbletonians!

~~End of story idea~~

The great thing about this game is that all the characters will be blobs, and all the enemies will be basically static and simple houshold items. These assets will be incredibly easy to create, texture, and animate. Since most of the game takes place in a ghost city, I can use Tim Aste's art assets to do most of the backgrounnd art in the game. As for the attack and spells cast by the blob characters, they'll pretty much just be some particle effects.

#5 Sounds like a very "economical" way to make game characters. :P


You will still have to animated the blobs though right? Perhaps you could "stretch and squash" animations in code by scaling on different axis... if they're just static blobs, I don't think kids could appreciate that.

Or how about using animated sprites instead of 3D models?

#6 HAHAHA, what a good story. Wish I had such a creative mind like you. Definatley a good idea, hope you can accomplish it.