My first reaction? I get to make a game for this thing! Yes!
Though my team lacks an artist, I have a fantastic group of programmers that are excited about this opportunity. After taking a trip to the treadport itself and seeing it in action, we began brainstorming. Our first session was great and consisted of many ideas but none that we felt was a fresh experience, a game, and do-able in 4 weeks time. Throwing out ideas to the point of exhaustion, we decided to think more in the coming hours on our own and pitch new designs later that evening.
During my own think-tank session, I decided I wanted the player to feel like he or she was "fixing" something as they played my game. I thought the feeling of making things anew would instill a motivation into the player because thats exactly what therapy is - a process to help return to the norm. My main concern with this, however, was how I could make them feel this in my game without being obvious and in their face about it. I didn't want the patient to feel as though our game was too sensitive or in their face with this theme. Still befuddled, I went to the drawing board.
Thus the idea for Evenbloom was born.
Around 11 PM, after raking my brain with different ideas and settings, I thought about using the main input of the treadport (walking) as the weapon or tool of the game. Building upon this, I outlined a procedure of gameplay that incorporated walking as a means to change the game world. How cool would it be to walk in a dark world and watch it come to life around you? Pretty sweet, I thought. Which is why Evenbloom's first mechanic is painting the world as you walk. The player is surrounded by a colorful aura that paints the environment to life they walk.
But what about the challenge of the game? The opposition? The client asked that we address all the perturbations that they simulate within therapy so we needed a reason to give them a jolt to the system. My solution? Mean ol' giants that want to keep the world dark and bland so they can sleep. If they awaken because of your world-changing actions - they chase you and try to undo all of the work you've done so far.
By the time I was done writing my pitch to the team, it was 2 AM. Needless to say, they all liked it and now we are working towards a basic prototype on Monday that includes our painting mechanic.
What are my duties from here on out? Level design, this time in 3D...with Maya. Which I've only touched a few times now. Challenging, but awesome at the same time. I'll post my progress of the level and some samples as I go along.
Until next time, folk!
-DJ Master Andrew
