Concepts to Consider: Additional Details

Possible Additions to the Game's Concept Drafts
by Proponent Dustin Hyrel Lim

As of now, the game is still in it's early stages of conceptualization. Details that set it apart from other existing games are still very rough. To further our progress, a few additional details will be listed in this post for a quick reference of possible additions to the concepts of the game, and possibly, the finalization of the concept into a proposal.

Possible Details to Consider:

 The Media: Whether we use a framework or start building the game from scratch. I leave this open for discussion with my partners.

      List of possible media:

• Flash(Actionscript)
• Python 3
• UDK
• Unity
• LUA
• Havok
• RPG Maker

 The setting: The concept's setting is not thoroughly discussed yet. The proposed setting which the character will be navigating through is an environment in which the latter is free to roam around unlocking new areas once a goal is achieved. For this setting, there are two possible types to consider: Persistent and Instanced.

• Persistent -This form of environment, which mostly takes form of a town or settlement in most games, is a permanent map and exist solely as a rally point for characters to gather, interact with NPC's, manage their items, and do other necessary changes to enhance a character. These areas are normally  where the plot develops and stand as the save point of the game.  Reference: Persistent Maps

• Instanced - This type  of environment is a special area which is created or generated by a player. This space, where the gameplay or most of it happens, is exclusively created for the player to accomplish a goal and once that goal is accomplished, the instanced area is destroyed and the character is returned to a persistent area. These areas serve as "mission" areas.
  Reference: Instanced Maps

 The Perspective:  The game, as decided form our initial discussions, will be in 2D. How this is viewed or how the character sees or can be seen is now the question. A few things that might be taken into consideration are the following:

• Third Person(Bird's-Eye View): This is a familiar perspective for most people who have played on handheld platforms such as the gameboy with rpg games like Pokemon(c) and the The Legend of Zelda(c). The display shows an overlooking view at the top of the setting with the character at the center.

3rd Person(Bird's-Eye View Perspective) from Pokemon Black

• Third Person(Front): This is also another familiar view to gamers who've played platform games such as Mario. The display shows the front of the scene and the character just navigates forward and progresses through the stage until the goal is met.

Third Person(Front Perspective) from Super Mario World

 The Plot: While the initial purpose for this game was to promote health and exercise through a storyline of how a character progresses from being limp to being fit, we found it a bit ironic to promote healthy living by playing a game that requires you to sit for extended periods of time, when in reality, such time can be used to do actual workouts. So we are subjecting that to change with some other alternative plots.

My partners each have different plots with heavy differences but we found it best to develop each of our own concepts as reserves should one proposal be rejected. Here's mine:

Intro

With the advancements of technology today,  just about anyone can create special effects through the usage of various graphic and animation applications. The outcome makes it hard for just about anyone to decipher which is real and which is illusion. But one thing is for certain: You know that none of it is real.

Anyone can see a horror movie and feel scared all throughout the flick but in the end, you'll find that nothing's scary about an epileptic ghost girl walking  crawling out of a television set and bent on eating your face.

Point is, movies today have erased the magic of the many mysteries that surround our culture. We live in a day where we are afraid of power outs because we wouldn't be able to charge our gadgets and not because the dark assailants of the night might swing by to feed on your intestines.

Our character is one such person whose belief in the supernatural has wavered due to the technological advancements that have taken place in our city. Removing the perception of the rich and majestic stories from which most of our cultural literature is based on.

However, things take a turn for what maybe a life changing experience when our character takes a vacation in the province, where things are not what they seem to be. Will  our character be the same person or will he change the way he thinks about what lurks beyond our understanding?

Overview

 
            Folk beliefs, otherwise known as "superstitious beliefs", form part of a people's value system and culture. They basically reflect the customs, traditions, and mores of a group, which may be based on religious beliefs, opinions, old or popular practices.  They also tell of how a people view the unknown and the means to appease the gods that control the future.                                                  
                                                                                                                                                           

     The concept of this game is to reintroduce the old and dying beliefs of the Filipino culture that are now being slowly replaced by western influence. Content involves old superstitions, beliefs, mythical creatures and the character will have to learn customs in dealing with many of the wonders of the unknown in Filipino culture.

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