Choosing a Major Project Idea
Hey all!
Yup I am back again… It has been a while since I last put something on here, but that is because I have a job now… A miracle I know, however it only lasts the summer. It would be nice however to continue throughout next year with a day here and there to help with University funding…
Anyway enough about that, the real reason I am writing this post is that I am wanting to type out an initial idea I have for my major project for my third and final year at uni. So below I have typed out all the ideas that I have jotted down on paper. I will then be going around and asking people for their opinion on whether it would be a good route to go down. If I get a large amount of positive feedback, then I shall develop this idea further… If not, then I shall continue on and hunt for another idea to present to the masses.
So without much further ado, below is my idea, let me know what you think in the comments/on twitter/etc
Unity 3D Game
Title Ideas:
- - Mine Millions
- - Million Miner
- - Power Miner
Inspiration Sources:
- - Mine a Million Board Game
(aka The Business Game)
Owned by Waddingtons - - Transport Tycoon
Owned by Chris Sawyer + MicroProse
Idea:
To create a 3D business simulation game based loosely on Mine a Million and Transport Tycoon. A player will start with a single mine and they have to transport ore to a number of locations, using vehicles and boats, which is then sold to make money. As the game progresses, more transport options will be available, and more locations in which to sell ore. The game will continuously change and provide challenges which the player has to overcome.
Aim:
To make £1 million in the quickest time
Possible Features to Include:
- - Can sell the ore at the mine cheaply as a means of quick money (useful for when people have little money to pay for transport)
- - Start off with one location to sell at, and others will become available over time
- - Ore Prices will rise and fall over time at each location (requires strategic skills)
- - The amount of ore produced at mine fluctuates over time
- - Player starts off with access to one vehicle (truck) and more will become available to buy over time (trains/barges/container ships)
- - Upgrades to vehicles can be purchased (increase speed/capacity/efficiency)
- - Transports and locations can be subject to events that change value and outcomes (fire/flood/breakdowns/stolen goods etc) – adds an element of chance
- - Other method of increasing mine production can be awarded/purchased (second mine head/more workers etc)
Other Possibilities
- - Make the game multiplayer capable, so people can race to make the money first
- - Feature cut-scenes and live video which highlights certain events
- - The game can be connected to a website and server, to allow score submission and assets storage
- - Create an online shop which allows people to purchase addons/extras
So there you have it. Its just one idea (the only one at the moment) I have for my major project next year. As I have said, I would love to know what you think. Whether its simply saying you would or wouldn’t play a game like this or you write an essay providing lots of other cool ideas and possibilities to add, I don’t mind.
The game would be made using the Unity 3D engine, so I have a number of formats I could produce this on. Would you like it as a downloadable program for win and mac, a web based game (like those flash games on various websites) or even possibly an iPhone game. Let me know what platform you would prefer.
Thanks all! I look forward to your comments
Tags: BAIMP, ideas, IMP, major project, million, mine, unity 3d, University, year 3
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4 Responses to “Choosing a Major Project Idea”
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Hi Matt,
If you can really pull of the sheer balance required in strategy games – it’s a sure thing, really. There are lots of elements for the player to turn his/her attention to that you mention.
If it was something you were really going to go along with, I’d invest time in the multiplayer options you mention as well – playing with and against others is just standard/almost expected now in gaming!
As for the core idea, I like it – I’m a fan of Transport Tycoon and similar games (Rollercoaster Tycoon of course) so I think it’s cool!
Plus it is a game that suits the PC setup (point & click through any other system – nightmare of course). You also have a nice, simple aim, but a number of different paths to reach that aim, which is necessary
Think of another way or 2 and how you might jeopardize players’ chances without changing the speed of the game too much (you mention natural disasters, bit like Sim City).
Good stuff!
Thanks Tom, some great feedback there, I appreciate it. There are lots of things I could add to the game, its just really depends on my ability to implement everything within the timeframe we are given. It also largely depends on my ability to code.
Hi Matt, this sounds like a fairly well fleshed out idea. I’d say definitely worth going for it but consider a number of questions -
- What is the replayability factor? if a player finds a winning strategy, will the game become dull if they could just stick to it? this comes back to Tom’s point about mixing it up a bit by challenging them further.
- Will a lot of time be spent trading and using GUIs or is a lot of the gameplay point and click based – like settlers, setting up organisation of the workflow visually, how will you maintain interest?
- if the game is as it sounds – a desktop based standalone game – rather than web based – what kind of market is it for? who would play it – whether you like it or not, you need to know your audience.
- if I’m wrong and the game is web based, can you tie it in with facebook via portals such as DimeRocker and monetize it / gather an audience that way?
Just a few things to think on there. However, If I were you I would, for the sake of having done so – come up with at least two more ideas before you sell yourself on this one, just to make sure there’s no other ideas you might like more knocking about in your brain.
Good luck, let me know how you get on.
Cheers
Will
Thanks a lot Will, thats very useful feedback which has made me think a little more.
Being an initial concept idea on whether it would be a good direction, there are still lots of things that need to be fleshed out.
I will have to come up with other ideas like you say, but if that is well within realm of possibility then I will not dismiss it.
Thanks again, your time is much appreciated.