Plane game prototype

Posted by Moikle on April 12, 2015, 3:11 p.m.

So I think everyone should try to prototype a game idea for the com-Unity game. As spike suggested. Like Nopycon said, whoever has the most appealing idea wins an army of workers.

If you can't make a simple prototype then write up the core aspects of your idea and try to sell it. Why do you think it would be a good game to make and what ideas for mechanics have you had?

The favorite idea I came up with was a multiplayer dogfighting/plane racing game, set in an alternate universe steampunk infused world war setting (yes, I was watching Porco Rosso at the time). here are the notes I have been writing before and during I began work on my prototype

Mouse movement to aim camera, plane angle and position lags behind but NOT distance (maybe)

mouseX/leftstick X: Yaw

MouseY/leftstick Y: Pitch

A-D/rightstick X: roll

S-slow

W-fast

shift-turbo

stylised biplanes and steampunk infused ww1-2 fighter planes

gravity and stalling is a possibility, have the effect of gravity exponentially decrease the HIGHER the speed, lift is a possibility, with wings pushing plane up if aligned to gravity, exponentially decrease the LOWER the speed. Thrust provided by engines at varying levels of power.

Guns are hitscan mostly, aimed from camera at crosshair, but bullet particles come from plane guns to meet the location of the hit. Increasing acuracy of crosshair.

Dogfighting in both more open areas (turning battle) and narrow dodgy passageways and canyons etc (better steering skill needed)

different weapons that players can attach as well as different plane gear, each has advantages and disadvantages. Guns, engine, body and maybe wings can be changed.

race mode? Kind of like mario cart? Or M.A.C.H.?

Camera recording from ground you finish, shakes as planes fly past, faces your plane, and replays the last few seconds of a race. Would give an epic feel to wining a race and seeing your plane come round the corner followed by the others, you cross the finish line, and as you speed off, you see all the other planes whoosh past after you. Maybe could record some kills in dogfight.

Play from either cockpit or third person.

Customise your ship in a hangar, stuff going on in background

all kinds of crazy particle effects from engine exhaust when turbo-ing, flames smoke and sparks when damaged

water splashes and dust blows in wind just behind a plane when it flies fast at low altitude.

fireballs when shot down, bits constantly falling off and burning up, spining out of control.

backstory wise I like the idea of taking real world explorers/famous historical figures and places/groups and putting them in a alternate universe (or at least the names of them).

now, here is a link to the prototype itself, try to picture some of the things I wrote down in the notes being added to it, while flying around at the different speeds, and imagine shooting down/racing each other online, through ruins and cities and tunnels and caves as well as in the clouds and out at sea, dodging cliffs and rocks. could be fun :)

also I am thinking about including joystick/controller support

So go make some prototypes if you have an idea and then we can make a decision on which one to take further

Comments

spike1 9 years ago

Obviously I like my idea, but this one sounds pretty cool too :D. The controls of the prototype were much nicer than a few other flight games I've played, could be good :).

Anyway, for prototyping I made a simple plane model :). If you want it you should just be able to plug it in, although the materials might look a little off :).

Crappy Render:

File:

http://electronic-mind.org/RandomFiles/PlaneTest1_1LowPoly.blend

It's 12,000 tris but that can be lowered a ton just by removing a few sub-surfs in blender :).

Moikle 9 years ago

I don't have blender, could you give me an fbx?

colseed 9 years ago

Quote:
I don't have blender, could you give me an fbx?
bruh

Moikle 9 years ago

I know, but I have like no harddrive space, and I want to keep things a little tidy. 3ds max is where it's at

spike1 9 years ago

You should totally get Blender :D.

Here are the FBXs though, a few different poly counts for LOD or whatever :).

4200Tris - Low

7000Tris - Mid

12000Tris - High

Edit: Be sure to save link as, otherwise it opens as text :).