Hell/heaven themed game
by Ben "Djaggernaut" Chavigner · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 12/30/2005 (10:29 am) · 7 replies
Someone said in GG blogs that lot of people are mistaking theme and gameplay, wich I think is totally true. But sometime a theme can inspire many gameplay ideas.
Ok now, please stop breathing for a few minutes.
Good. Now that we're all dead, welcome in Hell (yes you are a naughty game developer) for this research in underworld thread!
Isn't Hell a fascinating place? Kinda hot, full of sins and temptation...
And Heaven is quite peaceful and nice, the best place to bring some chaos...
What game would you make in such place?
There can be many types of hell. I mean we have all different cultures, education and fear. So Hell could be the mirror of a fear (but spread on an eternal time period).
So here comes a first game idea:
--------
First step is to create a character, by answering some questions like: "Could you go through a very thin tunnel underwater? -Yes -No" or "Would you like a spider pet? -Yes -No " It needs more discreet question to evaluate the fear of the player or at least of the character he's creating.
The player doesn't know yet, but his answer will also determine wich physical and mental attributes will be increased/decreased.
You start in the quiet town of Sunnyville (<
You go east: a guy shot you with a gun (wanted your wallet). You die.
You go south: eek, heart attack! You die.
You go west: oh the sea... but eh the cliff's falling apart! You die.
You wake up.. in hell of course. And this is where the question are interesting. The game would take into account the fear of the player by for example switching textures or monster. Let's say you fear snakes and a bit spiders. On the map, the points "mobs-gruntType" there will be 70% of snakes and 30% of spider for example. (randomly chosen by computer). It would be a true success if the player think the game is totally the mirror of HIS/HER fear.
So what's the gameplay in the end? It's a duel puzzle game. A duel because you have to fight againt several phobia and puzzle because you'll need a bit of your head to do so ;)
When answering to the questions, for example you said you fear spiders (I do ;) ) Well, if you come close to this little beast in game (the size is something to work on, what will be the most scary, big or small spider?), the screen will become blurry, it will be hard to move and you'll be caught by the demon guards. If you fear water or thin space, control will be inverted underwater. Ok so you got some disadvantage.
But a phobia give you a force in an opposite way. Fearing small animal can bring a control skill over bigger animal. Or maybe some physical attributes like jumping higher, running faster, seeing in night (not the case for someone who fears dark).
The skills are some kind of hellish power anyone get at death. You get more of them after beating a phobia.
It can be flying (beat giddiness), reduce your size (beat rats), invisibility (beat agoraphobia), unlimited breath (beat water) etc..
Each power can be used alone or combined to beat a phobia. (accessing some place high or underwater, going close to the guards unseen)
You lose if you're caught by the demon guards. Then you are in a jail. But you can escape and get back to the last phobia throught a portal.
It's a big project for an indie team, but still doable, it would require quite a bit of models, but I don't think they would be hard to do, with few anims and lot of existing stuff in real life (quicker to create).
I think it can be transformed in a 2D game too, that would suit it nice, but we can forget about having the player REALLY afraid at some point.
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Ok now, please stop breathing for a few minutes.
Good. Now that we're all dead, welcome in Hell (yes you are a naughty game developer) for this research in underworld thread!
Isn't Hell a fascinating place? Kinda hot, full of sins and temptation...
And Heaven is quite peaceful and nice, the best place to bring some chaos...
What game would you make in such place?
There can be many types of hell. I mean we have all different cultures, education and fear. So Hell could be the mirror of a fear (but spread on an eternal time period).
So here comes a first game idea:
--------
First step is to create a character, by answering some questions like: "Could you go through a very thin tunnel underwater? -Yes -No" or "Would you like a spider pet? -Yes -No " It needs more discreet question to evaluate the fear of the player or at least of the character he's creating.
The player doesn't know yet, but his answer will also determine wich physical and mental attributes will be increased/decreased.
You start in the quiet town of Sunnyville (<
You go east: a guy shot you with a gun (wanted your wallet). You die.
You go south: eek, heart attack! You die.
You go west: oh the sea... but eh the cliff's falling apart! You die.
You wake up.. in hell of course. And this is where the question are interesting. The game would take into account the fear of the player by for example switching textures or monster. Let's say you fear snakes and a bit spiders. On the map, the points "mobs-gruntType" there will be 70% of snakes and 30% of spider for example. (randomly chosen by computer). It would be a true success if the player think the game is totally the mirror of HIS/HER fear.
So what's the gameplay in the end? It's a duel puzzle game. A duel because you have to fight againt several phobia and puzzle because you'll need a bit of your head to do so ;)
When answering to the questions, for example you said you fear spiders (I do ;) ) Well, if you come close to this little beast in game (the size is something to work on, what will be the most scary, big or small spider?), the screen will become blurry, it will be hard to move and you'll be caught by the demon guards. If you fear water or thin space, control will be inverted underwater. Ok so you got some disadvantage.
But a phobia give you a force in an opposite way. Fearing small animal can bring a control skill over bigger animal. Or maybe some physical attributes like jumping higher, running faster, seeing in night (not the case for someone who fears dark).
The skills are some kind of hellish power anyone get at death. You get more of them after beating a phobia.
It can be flying (beat giddiness), reduce your size (beat rats), invisibility (beat agoraphobia), unlimited breath (beat water) etc..
Each power can be used alone or combined to beat a phobia. (accessing some place high or underwater, going close to the guards unseen)
You lose if you're caught by the demon guards. Then you are in a jail. But you can escape and get back to the last phobia throught a portal.
It's a big project for an indie team, but still doable, it would require quite a bit of models, but I don't think they would be hard to do, with few anims and lot of existing stuff in real life (quicker to create).
I think it can be transformed in a 2D game too, that would suit it nice, but we can forget about having the player REALLY afraid at some point.
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#2
"Satan has bet a bottle of an excellent whisky with God that he would have more people in pain than God happy people.
As Satan, the player must extract as much pain of his "tenant" as possible. To do so he must build new torturing room and use the deepest fear of the people. "
Sounds like fun!
12/30/2005 (11:02 am)
Nice sketch!"Satan has bet a bottle of an excellent whisky with God that he would have more people in pain than God happy people.
As Satan, the player must extract as much pain of his "tenant" as possible. To do so he must build new torturing room and use the deepest fear of the people. "
Sounds like fun!
#3
12/30/2005 (11:45 am)
Note to self: Don't get on Ben's bad side
#4
12/30/2005 (1:23 pm)
I like the first game idea you posted just because it sounds like it could make a more interesting game. one thing that the game needs is a central conflict. how about the character must eventually escape hell by facing and conquering all his/her fears? it could be called "escape from hell". shit youd probably build interest just from the title alone. 
#5
okay now im even scared
03/22/2006 (3:17 am)
Haha a good torture is to make them spend the night with michael jackson!okay now im even scared
#6
I'd like a first person game where you are just some guy in Hell doing monotonous tasks for the Dark Lord. It'd be fun!
03/22/2006 (3:37 am)
There is an RTS based on the Heaven/Hell concept, I think its called Afterlife.I'd like a first person game where you are just some guy in Hell doing monotonous tasks for the Dark Lord. It'd be fun!
Torque Owner Ben "Djaggernaut" Chavigner
Don't know for you but I like a lot the stereotypical hell. You know the one with red demon (with little horns) burning stuff and many tortures.
Hmm... TORTURES! Imagine how hard it is for Satan to find new tortures! I mean, ok you can burn the feet, dismember, shock with electricity but hey, some of the people in hell are there since thousands of year! They are used to that.
So here comes the second game idea:
--------
Satan has bet a bottle of an excellent whisky with God that he would have more people in pain than God happy people.
As Satan, the player must extract as much pain of his "tenant" as possible. To do so he must build new torturing room and use the deepest fear of the people.
Of course he must manage progress, but also people escaping or people happy wich is the worst.He obviously have some minions to help and be sure they are whipped frequently.
I don't imagine that game in a blood way but more cartoon like with totally stupid tortures...
Globally, yes it's a tycoon game, but maybe with less ressources aspect.
Of course there will be special guest like Gandhi or Lady Di (yes I'm ready for flame, but don't forget it's a joke ;)).
This inspired me a quick sketch:
Well that's all for today, heaven later.
This is totally open. I won't use these ideas, so anyone can take one of them and make whatever they want with it.