Thoughts and ideas for a real-time action game

Christopher
14 Mar 2005, 04:42
I've been thinking of taking a break from my normal RPG/fantasy/puzzle style games to make a skim-reading, quick-typing sheer madness action-style shoot 'em up. The basic idea would be you and between 1 to 5 computers (teams would be allowed of course) run around a huge abadoned military complex with the only purpose being to kill everyone else not on your team. There would be various weaponry from handguns (point and shoot) to mines (next person to enter the room... BOOM) to knifes (no ammo problems, but weak). These, armour, ammo and a few misc items (first-aid kits, aiming sights for improved accuracy etc.) would be scattered randomly the 40 or so rooms. Of course there would be some special objects such security cameras, with screens in other rooms to view enemy locations (unless the camera got shot of course), old oil tankers that could explode and destroy the whole room, and probably everyone in it, walkways that could be shot at from a room below... you get the point. All this would of course be in real time with ammo-fire rates, vulnerable periods when fleeing a room and reload times.

Now this all fine in theory of course, but doing all this in Quest... would be difficult to say the least. The weapons, armour and shooting shouldn't be hard to do (I've done similiar things before, though not with guns of course). Creating the battle-ground would be easy. However there are some things I'm not too sure off. How, for example, would I manage to get the computer to move around, wear the best armour, shoot enemies etc. Sure, I can think of ways to do these, but all which involve large chunks of code that would cause Quest to hang for a second or two, which would ruin the action. Another problem is all the minor details that would be required: For example say the player has just entered an old oil storage from the north. An enemy is in there, and both he and the computer shoot. Not only would all the normal code for accuracy, weapon type, armour, damage, wounds... but you'd have to check when a bullet misses if it would hit the oil cans or not, plus where the player had come from so that the player couldn't flee further north past the computer without taking much longer...

Anyone got any ideas about this?

007bond
14 Mar 2005, 08:26
It sounds like a good idea, but it's not really suited to Quest. However, if you're prepared to do it, that's fine by you. One idea I just thought of: the security cameras should be hidden.

francisstokes
14 Mar 2005, 17:49
I think it sounds good,but if i was doing it,i would probably give up,after being confronted with huge problems.Good luck though.

METALGod32
14 Mar 2005, 22:22
I Think it's possible,

wont be simple but it'll be doable, it'll involve timers to move stuff around, i think it'd be a fun project :)

Christopher
16 Mar 2005, 00:46
Soooo... nobody has any good hints or tips then? Oh well. I’m sure I’ll think of something in the week or so it will take me just to create all the rooms and descriptions... Anyway I’m still working on a quick puzzle game Double-oh-Bob for the moment.
007bond: You’re right the cameras probably be hidden. Then you have another dilemma: waste valuable time searching for them, or just riddle the wall with valuable ammo?

francisstokes
16 Mar 2005, 11:13
id say the the second one.This promotes a challenge to the player.

TIP:If the players die,ten make a room where they get sent if they die,because you cant make them lose or win in a multiplayer game.

paul_one
16 Mar 2005, 22:14
Opinion: time-based games suck in text adventure.
Try typing "shoot tattiyannaforever_111212574_HAHAHAIRULE!!1!1" quickly!
Just a thought.

francisstokes
16 Mar 2005, 22:18
But,even mr cynical computer whizz,who pees on peoples ideas,you have to admit that it would be fun to play,just like goldeneye on the N64.Ahhh,that takes me back!

METALGod32
16 Mar 2005, 22:19
LOL, true...but why not simply make it simpler by making it so the player dont have to type anything?, like simply right click on target, examine"you'll shoot".

or something like that.

paul_one
16 Mar 2005, 22:32
Actually goldeneye on the N64 sucked. :P

I suppose you could change examine to "shoot".

007bond
17 Mar 2005, 05:43
Goldeneye 64, along with Zelda Ocarina of Time, were probably the two best games ever on the N64. It was a good console for it's time, but now it sucks.

Christopher
17 Mar 2005, 05:46
Just to clear something up: This isn't going to be a multiplayer game. It is going to be just you and 1 to 5 (hopefully) clever computer AIs. The reason for this is twofold: It would be harder to make it multiplayer, and even if it was I don't have any friends even remotely interested to play it with!

Oh yeah, and the game will now be called 'The complex', for two different reasons! I'll probably start doing it during my school holidays (3 weeks from now).

francisstokes
17 Mar 2005, 11:50
i bet that LOADS people in this forum would play it.

Cryophile
17 Mar 2005, 16:42
007bond wrote:Goldeneye 64, along with Zelda Ocarina of Time, were probably the two best games ever on the N64. It was a good console for it's time, but now it sucks.

Four words: Conker's Bad Fur Day

That game rules. I can't wait for Conker: Live and Reloaded (XBox) since they remade the original for xbox as well as a sequel.

007bond
18 Mar 2005, 20:36
I forgot about Conker's Bad Fur Day. That was a classic too, though I never owned it 9played it at a friend's house). Rare made some great games for the N64, but they've really disappeared since the end of Project 64. It'll be good to see Conker Live and Reloaded on the Xbox, as I've got one!