Need Help on Game Concept
by Mark · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 03/04/2007 (12:08 pm) · 11 replies
I have been asked to come up with a video game concept based on Heidi From MTV the Hills that relates to the hills show can anyone help me write a concept or give me an good game ideas? I know its gay but I get paid a shitty salary to come up with these ideas and am out of resources on how to go about it.
#2
It all depends on who wants the idea?
Im going to assume it's MTV. Im also going to assume its a webgame. As such i would use the concept of Mall Dash. Dash to the right stores and buy the right clothes before the mall closes. All those type of programs involve girls who like clothes.
It would fit in with MTV's commercialistic identity (atleast it is over here).
Quick and dirty concept I know, but webgames don't really handle much else. If its a fully fledged game your looking for I can think some more. Hope I got the program right? .. got any media for me to reference? Heidi's photo.. program clip?
03/04/2007 (4:29 pm)
Is the hills one of those rich girl documentaries. Somewhat similar to a b-list paris hilton type thing.It all depends on who wants the idea?
Im going to assume it's MTV. Im also going to assume its a webgame. As such i would use the concept of Mall Dash. Dash to the right stores and buy the right clothes before the mall closes. All those type of programs involve girls who like clothes.
It would fit in with MTV's commercialistic identity (atleast it is over here).
Quick and dirty concept I know, but webgames don't really handle much else. If its a fully fledged game your looking for I can think some more. Hope I got the program right? .. got any media for me to reference? Heidi's photo.. program clip?
#3
any help would be awsome!
Below is a link of The Hills Trailer to know who they are.
http://www.vidilife.com/video_play_934017_MTV_The_Hills_Season_2_%E2%80%
93_Trailer.htm
Thanks,
Mark
03/05/2007 (11:13 am)
I was thinking more on the lines of a SIM game check out the trailer to the show basically a game based on that show. I just need someone to help me out write up i.e short concept on the game here's my msn messenger ferrari394@hotmail.com and AIM thematrix2099@aim.com any help would be awsome!
Below is a link of The Hills Trailer to know who they are.
http://www.vidilife.com/video_play_934017_MTV_The_Hills_Season_2_%E2%80%
93_Trailer.htm
Thanks,
Mark
#4
The sims game uses fuzzy logic as opposed to traditional logic.
Traditional logic means a value can be "0" for false or "1" for true.
Fuzzy logic allows for values between 0-1 meaning that things can be somewhat true and somewhat false.
i.e Does Sim character Jason like TV = 0.75 ..which means he mostly likes it ..
As for a hills specific version. All I really got at the moment are keywords.
Fashion
Drama
Relationships
Work
Money
backstabbing
travel
Designers
Restaurants
shopping
bitchy
Gossip
Reminiscing
Middle-upper class
Aversion to technical speak
I added you on Msn. Maybe you can give me more details there so I can fluff the idea out more.
03/05/2007 (5:12 pm)
I have never played the sims game though i did research it a little for college.The sims game uses fuzzy logic as opposed to traditional logic.
Traditional logic means a value can be "0" for false or "1" for true.
Fuzzy logic allows for values between 0-1 meaning that things can be somewhat true and somewhat false.
i.e Does Sim character Jason like TV = 0.75 ..which means he mostly likes it ..
As for a hills specific version. All I really got at the moment are keywords.
Fashion
Drama
Relationships
Work
Money
backstabbing
travel
Designers
Restaurants
shopping
bitchy
Gossip
Reminiscing
Middle-upper class
Aversion to technical speak
I added you on Msn. Maybe you can give me more details there so I can fluff the idea out more.
#5
Noooo, don't try to explain fuzzy logic like that! You make it sound so "fuzzy" when it isn't. Fuzzy logic is used to control loops, you can't do it justice without describing the full loop:
1. Car is going 45 MPH when it should be going 50 MPH. This gives you an error of 5 MPH.
2. The error is fuzzified into linguistic terms. In this case it could be called a "LITTLE SLOW".
3. This term is used to map the resultant boolean style logic into an output map to say a gas pedal: "LOT LESS", "LITTLE LESS", "NO CHANGE", "LITTLE MORE", "LOT MORE". So lets say in this case the output maps to a "LITTLE MORE".
4. Once you determine which boolean logic values are active you use a defuzzification method to turn it back into a real value that will go to a gas pedal.
So, if the difference in speed was more say 5 MPH vs 50 MPH the logic would have panned out to a "LOT MORE". What you notice here is that the logic is NOT frequency based, thus does not need to be re-tuned if run at a different or unpredictable sampling rate within limits.
The gist of it is, you can leverage the human thinking process into a continuous loop. This is hard to do with PID or other such equations as they rely on continuous, non-boolean, type of thinking (nerds and such). Most humans tend to be more of a threshold logical thinkers where stuff is not always black and white. That is why it makes a good fit for decision making especially in multi-variable systems such as a video game.
Also, you can make the case that boolean logic is actually a specialized subset of a fuzzy set with specific rules. It has also been around since the 60s so it is not exactly new. It just was not accepted because everyone was still teaching that there IS an ultimate equation that will describe everything and all its permutations. In some ways, fuzzy logic seems to go against that train of thought.
Oh, and Mark, if you are getting paid, then you should pay someone to help you do your work.
03/05/2007 (7:05 pm)
Barry, Noooo, don't try to explain fuzzy logic like that! You make it sound so "fuzzy" when it isn't. Fuzzy logic is used to control loops, you can't do it justice without describing the full loop:
1. Car is going 45 MPH when it should be going 50 MPH. This gives you an error of 5 MPH.
2. The error is fuzzified into linguistic terms. In this case it could be called a "LITTLE SLOW".
3. This term is used to map the resultant boolean style logic into an output map to say a gas pedal: "LOT LESS", "LITTLE LESS", "NO CHANGE", "LITTLE MORE", "LOT MORE". So lets say in this case the output maps to a "LITTLE MORE".
4. Once you determine which boolean logic values are active you use a defuzzification method to turn it back into a real value that will go to a gas pedal.
So, if the difference in speed was more say 5 MPH vs 50 MPH the logic would have panned out to a "LOT MORE". What you notice here is that the logic is NOT frequency based, thus does not need to be re-tuned if run at a different or unpredictable sampling rate within limits.
The gist of it is, you can leverage the human thinking process into a continuous loop. This is hard to do with PID or other such equations as they rely on continuous, non-boolean, type of thinking (nerds and such). Most humans tend to be more of a threshold logical thinkers where stuff is not always black and white. That is why it makes a good fit for decision making especially in multi-variable systems such as a video game.
Also, you can make the case that boolean logic is actually a specialized subset of a fuzzy set with specific rules. It has also been around since the 60s so it is not exactly new. It just was not accepted because everyone was still teaching that there IS an ultimate equation that will describe everything and all its permutations. In some ways, fuzzy logic seems to go against that train of thought.
Oh, and Mark, if you are getting paid, then you should pay someone to help you do your work.
#6
03/06/2007 (2:36 pm)
I just need someone to come up with ideas any would be great need 3-4 pleaseeeeeeeeeee depreate for ideas lol
#8
What I know - Hedi is a slut that has found a new man and is working the front door at a successful night club. Her friendship is breaking apart over a man and she wants her cake and eat it to.
Idea - Managing a night club is a tough job so people make a game out of it, in case we mess up we can restart it. The Player (Hedi) is responsible for setting prices, handling marketing/advertising, hiring/firing people, and managing special events. Just like all managers she has a social life (probably better than most) and because this is a game atmosphere, this should be managed by distractions at the club (friends stopping in, guys approaching her at the club and maybe a cat fight or two with her girlfriends), email and or text messaging would be an efficient way to convey a message or find out what is going on in the world around her (might be a nice plug for MTV cell phone service).
Objective - Manage a successful night club for a certain amount of time and earn back the trust of her friends and get the man she "loves".
I am really sorry that you got stuck with such a project and I wish you the best in finding a great idea and marketing it to the executives at MTV.
03/06/2007 (5:09 pm)
I would like to preference this game explanation by saying that I have never seen this show and never will, but in order to help you I made it through the trailer. You are targeting a very hard audience I would believe that the market would have to be 13 - 18 year old girls. With that being said I would suggest continuing your idea of the Sims but I would also consider the idea of making it a hybrid between the Sims and a simulator. What I know - Hedi is a slut that has found a new man and is working the front door at a successful night club. Her friendship is breaking apart over a man and she wants her cake and eat it to.
Idea - Managing a night club is a tough job so people make a game out of it, in case we mess up we can restart it. The Player (Hedi) is responsible for setting prices, handling marketing/advertising, hiring/firing people, and managing special events. Just like all managers she has a social life (probably better than most) and because this is a game atmosphere, this should be managed by distractions at the club (friends stopping in, guys approaching her at the club and maybe a cat fight or two with her girlfriends), email and or text messaging would be an efficient way to convey a message or find out what is going on in the world around her (might be a nice plug for MTV cell phone service).
Objective - Manage a successful night club for a certain amount of time and earn back the trust of her friends and get the man she "loves".
I am really sorry that you got stuck with such a project and I wish you the best in finding a great idea and marketing it to the executives at MTV.
#9
what about these ideas
concept 2 - Heidi Dance Dance Game
concept 3 - Heidi Trivia Game
concept 4 - Heidi Party Game
think anyone could come up with some ideas i will pay you through PAYPAL! for AWSOME IDEAS! need them ASAP
let me know EMAIL ME AT MARK@ULTRAGAMES101.COM WITH YOU INFO AND BEST TIME TO MEET ON MSN OR AIM MESSENGER AND TALK
MARK
03/09/2007 (4:32 am)
Hey Scott and Guys what about these ideas
concept 2 - Heidi Dance Dance Game
concept 3 - Heidi Trivia Game
concept 4 - Heidi Party Game
think anyone could come up with some ideas i will pay you through PAYPAL! for AWSOME IDEAS! need them ASAP
let me know EMAIL ME AT MARK@ULTRAGAMES101.COM WITH YOU INFO AND BEST TIME TO MEET ON MSN OR AIM MESSENGER AND TALK
MARK
#10
02/23/2008 (3:37 pm)
I just added you on msn. Lets chat. I might be able to find some young peeps that watch that stuff.
#11
Not to be sexist, but from what I've seen puzzle games are typically a big hit.
Also, rhythm based games.
My suggestion? Puzzle game.
Slap on some sort of cheesy story about her being broke, or grounded or something, and finding a way to earn money back.
Though honestly I doubt the character's motives matter much.
Either way, I would say puzzle all the way.
(Hey, maybe a puzzle rhythm game?)
02/25/2008 (4:19 am)
Well if its about the Hills, and its about a girl (right?) then I assume the target audience is likely casual gaming females.Not to be sexist, but from what I've seen puzzle games are typically a big hit.
Also, rhythm based games.
My suggestion? Puzzle game.
Slap on some sort of cheesy story about her being broke, or grounded or something, and finding a way to earn money back.
Though honestly I doubt the character's motives matter much.
Either way, I would say puzzle all the way.
(Hey, maybe a puzzle rhythm game?)
Torque Owner John Doppler Schiff
I don't know the first thing about the show -- I transitioned to the VH-1 crowd years ago, and I don't know nothin' bout what you young whippersnappers are watching on yer newfangled television interweb thingies.
What sort of game are you designing? Retail RPG? Web-based? Viral marketing? Casual gaming? That will have a big impact on the game modes available to you.
As for ideas, maybe you can take a plot element from one of the shows, and expand it into it's own game. Make it a "bridge" between two episodes, covering the time between. Even a minor event can be expanded into a full story, and the fans will love the added content.
Uh... The show does have fans, right?