Autumn Rangers: Game Based on Novel/Screenplay
by RangerWest · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 02/19/2005 (10:48 am) · 3 replies
Hello! I have a Ph.D. in physics and I've written a couple novels/screenplays. I've done some 3D modeling of electrons in semiconductors, and I realized that I could combine story/3d modeling/programming in a video game (not that it'll be easy!).
After surfing around for a few weeks, I kept coming across the Torque game engine as the best way to render the novel/screenplay as a video game.
I know the project could take awhile, but that's cool. The screenplay/novel have already taken a few years, and are nearing completion. Autumn Rangers is a labor of love.
If anyone has any hints or suggestions about the quickest way to get something up and running using the Torque Game Engine, that'd rock! Thanks!
TITLE: AUTUMN RANGERS
Based on an action-adventure novel and screenplay, Autumn Rangers delivers a high-octane, cross-country driving/fighting/shooting game with rockin' art, architecture, music, history, and classical storytelling.
THE GAME:
Ranger McCoy must rescue APRIL, an AI computer he invented at MIT which was stolen by Silicon Virtue Inc. and taken to Doom Mountain, Death Valley to create WMDs. Tucker Johnson, a Harvard MBA and CEO of Silicon Virtue, has turned APRIL against Ranger. APRIL sends ever-more-advanced RoboClones and RoboDrones to hunt Ranger down, as Ranger wears the ring that can unlock APRIL's higher morality, turn the tide, and save her from the dark side. She can yet serve the higher ideals instead of SV's bottom line. But time's running out, as APRIL grows more evil by the moment, and SV leases her to terrorists who're building nuclear bombs to detonate in America.
Early on Ranger meets Autumn Westa beautiful folksinger with special powers. She helps him battle SF agents and shows him how to defeat RoboClones. Together they must make it across America in her '69 Stingray Corvette, on Harleys, and on horseback, eluding SF agents, battling RoboClones, and making a living from Autumn's performances in coffee shops and bars.
Before APRIL was corrupted, she created Autumn, uploaded her virgin soul, and sent Autumn to help Ranger. In order to save APRIL's soul, Ranger must get to Doom Mountain with both Autumn and his ring. APRIL is a mile deep in the mountaina heavily-fortified, cold-war weapons facility, guarded by an army of advanced RoboClones. Autumn and Ranger have no chance going it alone. They must get help...
3D Entertainment Inc., a Hollywood company, is using APRIL to manufacture Roboclone Models for the entertainment industry. In order to penetrate Doom Mountain's defenses, Ranger's only hope is to lead an underdog army of 3DE's RoboClone Models in a battle against APRIL's RoboClone Warriors.
And time's running short. APRIL is getting more and more powerful, and Silicon Virtue has unwittingly leased her to a terrorist network that's building nuclear bombs to smuggle onto NY and LA bound tankers.
After surfing around for a few weeks, I kept coming across the Torque game engine as the best way to render the novel/screenplay as a video game.
I know the project could take awhile, but that's cool. The screenplay/novel have already taken a few years, and are nearing completion. Autumn Rangers is a labor of love.
If anyone has any hints or suggestions about the quickest way to get something up and running using the Torque Game Engine, that'd rock! Thanks!
TITLE: AUTUMN RANGERS
Based on an action-adventure novel and screenplay, Autumn Rangers delivers a high-octane, cross-country driving/fighting/shooting game with rockin' art, architecture, music, history, and classical storytelling.
THE GAME:
Ranger McCoy must rescue APRIL, an AI computer he invented at MIT which was stolen by Silicon Virtue Inc. and taken to Doom Mountain, Death Valley to create WMDs. Tucker Johnson, a Harvard MBA and CEO of Silicon Virtue, has turned APRIL against Ranger. APRIL sends ever-more-advanced RoboClones and RoboDrones to hunt Ranger down, as Ranger wears the ring that can unlock APRIL's higher morality, turn the tide, and save her from the dark side. She can yet serve the higher ideals instead of SV's bottom line. But time's running out, as APRIL grows more evil by the moment, and SV leases her to terrorists who're building nuclear bombs to detonate in America.
Early on Ranger meets Autumn Westa beautiful folksinger with special powers. She helps him battle SF agents and shows him how to defeat RoboClones. Together they must make it across America in her '69 Stingray Corvette, on Harleys, and on horseback, eluding SF agents, battling RoboClones, and making a living from Autumn's performances in coffee shops and bars.
Before APRIL was corrupted, she created Autumn, uploaded her virgin soul, and sent Autumn to help Ranger. In order to save APRIL's soul, Ranger must get to Doom Mountain with both Autumn and his ring. APRIL is a mile deep in the mountaina heavily-fortified, cold-war weapons facility, guarded by an army of advanced RoboClones. Autumn and Ranger have no chance going it alone. They must get help...
3D Entertainment Inc., a Hollywood company, is using APRIL to manufacture Roboclone Models for the entertainment industry. In order to penetrate Doom Mountain's defenses, Ranger's only hope is to lead an underdog army of 3DE's RoboClone Models in a battle against APRIL's RoboClone Warriors.
And time's running short. APRIL is getting more and more powerful, and Silicon Virtue has unwittingly leased her to a terrorist network that's building nuclear bombs to smuggle onto NY and LA bound tankers.
About the author
Recent Threads
#2
The Good:
Ranger McCoy: US Marine Fighter Pilot & Physicist who invents APRIL
Autumn West: folk singer RoboClone built by APRIL and sent to help Ranger before APRIL was corrupted by silicon virtue.
Beatrice: Beatrice is an angel. She was Ranger's first summer love who passed away on July fourth when she and Ranger were fourteen, when she came back to save Ranger after they where assaulted by men while riding horses. Throughout the game she visits in flashbacks and glimpses of the future, helping in mysterious ways, as long as Ranger's doing the right thing. When APRIL created Autumn, she based Autumn's spirit on Ranger's memories of Beatrice. Autumn is who Beatrice might have become, had she lived.
The Bad:
Tucker Johnson: Tucker is the pomo-hipster Harvard MBA and CEO of Silicon Virtue who stole APRIL to build weapons of mass destruction. Tucker leases her power to the highest bidders, including terrorists who're building a nuclear bomb they plan to place on a tanker.
RoboClones: APRIL engineers these part-human/part-machine warriors, and sends them after Ranger. At first they resemble Orcs, but as time goes on, the more lethal models resemble humans.
RoboDrones/RaptorDrones: These are genetically-engineered winged robo-beasts. At first they are hawk-like, but as time goes on they begin to resemble giant raptors, with complete weapons systems including lasers and missiles.
Kid Cowboy & Deputies: Kid Cowboy is one of the Marines Ranger saves at the beginning by completing his air-support mission. But back in the states, Kid Cowboy, the son of Sergeant Griffin, become is a bounty hunter. He and his Harley-riding deputies are always closing in on Autumn and Ranger. Kid Cowboy is a skilled martial artist, and although Ranger can easily defeat him at first, his skills increase as time goes on.
The Neutral:
APRIL: When Ranger designed APRIL at MIT, he left her with a moral operating system which always "turned the other cheek." Thus she's incapable of defending herself against Silicon Virtue's hacks which eventually compromise her soul. Ranger wears the ring that can activate her deeper operating system "Penelope" which would allow her to defend herself and serve the higher ideals instead of SV's bottom line.
Sergeant Griffin: Griffin was the platoon leader of the Marines Ranger must save during the air support missions, and returns the favor by helping Ranger escape Kuwait, bwhen the Pentagon is holding Ranger for Silicon Virtue, until Ranger gives up the codes. "Give up the codes," sergeant Griffin says, "and you'll go home a hero." Ranger can go home a hero, with money and mansions, but APRIL will become evil and terrorist will use her to build bombs and detonate them in America. If Ranger refuses to give up the codes, eventually Sergeant Griffin gives him a shiphand's ID for a tanker. Sergeant Griffin tells Ranger that he's ready to retire, and that he's going to work for DigiWar, a corporate security firm. Griffin becomes the chief of security, and DigiWar is hired by Silicon Virtue. Early on, Griffin is reluctant to pursue Ranger, but eventually Griffin is turned against him, and utimately Silicon Virtue replaces Griffin and his men with APRIL's RoboClones.
3DE Model RoboClones: 3D Entertainment Inc., a Hollywood company run by the sleazy Andrew Anderson, is using APRIL to manufacture Roboclone Models for the entertainment industry. It so happens that all the RoboClone models, which resemble Autumn, have super powers which Ranger's ring can unclock. In order to penetrate the heavily-fortified Doom Mountain, Autumn and Ranger's only hope is to lead an underdog army of RoboClone models in a battle against APRIL's RoboClone Warriors.
The Ugly:
The most formidable RoboClone guards APRIL in her lair. The Tucker Johnson RoboClone is willed remotely by Tucker Johnson, who sits in a reinforced room as the awesome RoboClone tears Ranger apart, as Ranger protects Autumn as her soul uploads.
02/19/2005 (10:54 am)
THE CHARACTERS:The Good:
Ranger McCoy: US Marine Fighter Pilot & Physicist who invents APRIL
Autumn West: folk singer RoboClone built by APRIL and sent to help Ranger before APRIL was corrupted by silicon virtue.
Beatrice: Beatrice is an angel. She was Ranger's first summer love who passed away on July fourth when she and Ranger were fourteen, when she came back to save Ranger after they where assaulted by men while riding horses. Throughout the game she visits in flashbacks and glimpses of the future, helping in mysterious ways, as long as Ranger's doing the right thing. When APRIL created Autumn, she based Autumn's spirit on Ranger's memories of Beatrice. Autumn is who Beatrice might have become, had she lived.
The Bad:
Tucker Johnson: Tucker is the pomo-hipster Harvard MBA and CEO of Silicon Virtue who stole APRIL to build weapons of mass destruction. Tucker leases her power to the highest bidders, including terrorists who're building a nuclear bomb they plan to place on a tanker.
RoboClones: APRIL engineers these part-human/part-machine warriors, and sends them after Ranger. At first they resemble Orcs, but as time goes on, the more lethal models resemble humans.
RoboDrones/RaptorDrones: These are genetically-engineered winged robo-beasts. At first they are hawk-like, but as time goes on they begin to resemble giant raptors, with complete weapons systems including lasers and missiles.
Kid Cowboy & Deputies: Kid Cowboy is one of the Marines Ranger saves at the beginning by completing his air-support mission. But back in the states, Kid Cowboy, the son of Sergeant Griffin, become is a bounty hunter. He and his Harley-riding deputies are always closing in on Autumn and Ranger. Kid Cowboy is a skilled martial artist, and although Ranger can easily defeat him at first, his skills increase as time goes on.
The Neutral:
APRIL: When Ranger designed APRIL at MIT, he left her with a moral operating system which always "turned the other cheek." Thus she's incapable of defending herself against Silicon Virtue's hacks which eventually compromise her soul. Ranger wears the ring that can activate her deeper operating system "Penelope" which would allow her to defend herself and serve the higher ideals instead of SV's bottom line.
Sergeant Griffin: Griffin was the platoon leader of the Marines Ranger must save during the air support missions, and returns the favor by helping Ranger escape Kuwait, bwhen the Pentagon is holding Ranger for Silicon Virtue, until Ranger gives up the codes. "Give up the codes," sergeant Griffin says, "and you'll go home a hero." Ranger can go home a hero, with money and mansions, but APRIL will become evil and terrorist will use her to build bombs and detonate them in America. If Ranger refuses to give up the codes, eventually Sergeant Griffin gives him a shiphand's ID for a tanker. Sergeant Griffin tells Ranger that he's ready to retire, and that he's going to work for DigiWar, a corporate security firm. Griffin becomes the chief of security, and DigiWar is hired by Silicon Virtue. Early on, Griffin is reluctant to pursue Ranger, but eventually Griffin is turned against him, and utimately Silicon Virtue replaces Griffin and his men with APRIL's RoboClones.
3DE Model RoboClones: 3D Entertainment Inc., a Hollywood company run by the sleazy Andrew Anderson, is using APRIL to manufacture Roboclone Models for the entertainment industry. It so happens that all the RoboClone models, which resemble Autumn, have super powers which Ranger's ring can unclock. In order to penetrate the heavily-fortified Doom Mountain, Autumn and Ranger's only hope is to lead an underdog army of RoboClone models in a battle against APRIL's RoboClone Warriors.
The Ugly:
The most formidable RoboClone guards APRIL in her lair. The Tucker Johnson RoboClone is willed remotely by Tucker Johnson, who sits in a reinforced room as the awesome RoboClone tears Ranger apart, as Ranger protects Autumn as her soul uploads.
#3
The Showdown:
After battling APRIL's fierce RoboClone army, and making it a mile deep into Doom Mountain. Ranger must load Autumn's soul into APRIL. As she lays in the soul-mapping chair, Ranger battles the super-fast, super-lethal Tucker RoboClone. There is no way for Ranger to win. All he can do is use his body to shield Autumn. Ranger will die protecting Autumn.
02/19/2005 (10:54 am)
AUTUMN RANGERS CONCLUSION: THE SHOWDOWNThe Showdown:
After battling APRIL's fierce RoboClone army, and making it a mile deep into Doom Mountain. Ranger must load Autumn's soul into APRIL. As she lays in the soul-mapping chair, Ranger battles the super-fast, super-lethal Tucker RoboClone. There is no way for Ranger to win. All he can do is use his body to shield Autumn. Ranger will die protecting Autumn.
RangerWest
THE SETTING:
The game opens when Ranger is called to fly air-support missions over Afghanistan in an F-22 Raptor. The terrorists are backing a platoon of US Marines into a cave. The terrorists have stealth SAMs built with Silicon Virtue technology, and Ranger's wingman is shot down. It is nearly certain that Ranger will also be shot down if he goes back. But he must, for only by going back to save the Special Forces Marines will the favor will be returned, as one of the Marines, Sergeant Griffin, will help Ranger escape the Kuwait military base, where Ranger is being held for the codes to APRIL, now that SV and the Pentagon are working together.
When Ranger is "doing the right thing," an angel named Beatrice helps him with hints and visions into the future. Beatrice passed away when she came back to save Ranger when they were assaulted while riding horses when they were fourteen. "Why'd you come back?" Ranger asks as she dies in his arms. "You gotta go back," she whispers.
After Ranger completes his air support mission, Sergeant Griffin helps him stow away on a Charleston-bound oil tanker. A hurricane and SF Agents descend on Charleston, South Carolina, searching for Ranger. While navigating the Georgian architecture and cobblestone streets, Ranger finds Autumn West performing in a café. There's plenty of temptation in the real-world simulation, and at any time Ranger can choose a life of surfing and grinding on hotties to 50 cent, but Autumn alone can help Ranger escape west in her '69 Stingray Corvette.
The game features America's rich history and landscape, and pastoral towns and strip malls, spanning the continent with views of historic monuments and breathtaking scenery. Every now and then they must visit Barnes & Noble and Borders, so Autumn can buy one of her favorite booksa classic. By playing to her romantic side, Ranger enhances Autumn's ability to battles RoboClones, for there is a parallel moral war being fought, manifested when Ranger beats the crap out of hipster deconstructionist poets who're polluting the bookstores with their readings.
Autumn's love of country and passion regarding the American Founding is continually on display, as she quotes the Founding Fathers and sings country/rock classics while traveling West. The game exalts the fantastic American Spirit, and songs from contemporary singer/songwriters Vaughn Penn and Tift Merritt are featured alongside Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Kid Rock, and 50 cent.
GAMEPLAY:
Autumn and Ranger risk being spotted by SF agents and RoboClones on major roads as they trek across America, but if they take too long on backroads, APRIL will be too powerful by the time they get to Doom Mountain.
They can risk stealing money and food, but the best way to make money is for Autumn to perform. In small towns Ranger can make posters for Autumn at Kinkos. The harder he promotes her, the bigger the crowd, and the more money they make. But around every corner lurks a drone, agent, or RoboClone, and they must continually keep moving.
FREE WILL/MORAL CHOICE:
Ranger can do as he pleases. He can drive around Charleston, visiting hiphop clubs, surfing, and grinding on hotties to 50 Cent, but eventually APRIL's RoboDrones will find him and kill him. If Ranger visits brothels or gives in to temptation as they pass through places like Nashville or Vegas, he will lose Autumn's respect, and ultimately APRIL, as he'll never make it to California alone. The happier he keeps Autumn, the better she can fight, and the more likely their success.
VEHICLES:
F-22 Raptor: An advanced tactical fighter with variable thrust, capable of near right-angle turns.
'69 StingRay Corvette: This is Autumn's ride. It is midnight blue, but they must repaint it different colors in order to hide as they drive cross country.
Horses:
Harleys:
Miscellaneous Cars: