Meet 3: With A Vengeance

Jeremy Irons as Simon Gruber showed up to the third meeting of G-Dev and said we were all doing quite an excellent job.

This is what went down on the third meet:

MECHANICS

We decided that while a cell phone game would probably reach more people, we are going to go the tablet route because it offers better graphics and easier usability.

After great debate, and much example showing, we are going with a top down camera with a slight angle so that the 3D modelers can showcase their amazing skills.

The zombie horde that the user controls will have a max of 40 zombies and have the ability to break into 4 separate groups.  Each group will have a select button on the bottom of the screen so as to be able to grab each quickly.  The group button will also flash if that particular set is in danger.

The method of selecting zombies to break into groups will be to drag a finger lasso style around the zombies the user wishes to select and press a group button.  (If we port to cell phones after the game becomes a raging success  we talked about a tap and slider method)

To direct the groups of zombies the user will press a group button and drag a path along the screen for the zombies to follow.  When two groups come in contact with each other they will merge back into one large group.

The goal of the game will be to clear a level of humans or reach a certain goal object per level.  The strategy involved with the game is to select varying sizes of zombie groups and to utilize drawn paths to accomplish goals.  With a variety of zombies and troops we can vary puzzles.

Variety is the spice of life!

We have decided to keep it simple at first and have three different varieties of zombies and troops.
Zombies include:  Plain Vanilla, Zombie Hulk, and Rage Sprinter.
Troops include: Regular Rifleman, The Flamer, and Riot Guard with Shield.

Each unit has differing strengths and weakness that can be used for strategy.

Lets say you see a pack of survivors (who are faster than Vanilla Zombie), if you had a group of rage sprinters you could probably run them down, but you dont yet, too bad... The strategy to used would be to split your group in half, send one around the building to cut off the survivors escape and close in.  Boom!  One step closer to the Zombacolypse.

Or their is a flamer troop in the middle of the street.  This guy would be bad news for vanilla zombies.  Send in your zombie hulk to distract and soak up damage, and use your vanilla zombies to circle around the non inferno generating side of the flamer.  OVERWHELMED!

These are just a few examples of the puzzles and strategies we could devise to make the game entertaining.

We also discussed computer A.I.  We have talented programmers who know more than I about this subject than I do...just may have to have a guest post.

We covered a lot of the mechanics this meeting and we planned to tidy up that subject next meet and get into some concept work so bring your creative pants and we will rejoin at the same bat time, same bat place.  (Thursdays, 11:00 am, Room 901)

Happy Hunting G-Dev!

-Andrew Fuller, V.P.