ASSIGNMENT 04: Early Arcade game review & My 1st Arcade Game Concept

1- Research earlier video games of 70's Find a similar game online. Play it & write a

review and with video of your game play and screen caps.

Space Invaders is a video game that was made during the 1970s that I will write my review on.  In 1978 Space Invaders came out and did very well as far as sales go.  My gaming experience was an average one.  The graphics were on par for their time but the fun factor and gameplay were great in my opinion.  The monotonous sound was as expected and somewhat annoying.  The increasing pace of the game makes for action packed gameplay.  Regardless of how the game looks it is still challenging to play which is saying something for how easy many of the games were at the time.  I can definitely see how this game was addictive for so many people.  This game has great level design and the enemy variety keeps things enjoyable as well as spontaneous because some of the enemies come out at random times.  This game has a healthy balance between being challenging yet not overly difficult for some of the newer players.  The presentation of the game is also great.  I feel that they could have done some more with the graphics and possibly added some more objects in the setting.  Overall I enjoyed playing this game and would recommend it to anyone to kill some time.  However it isn’t the type of game I would spend weeks playing.

I was not able to use Fraps on this game so I did the next best thing and copy and pasted a youtube link to the game as well as a site to play it.

YouTube link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=437Ld_rKM2s

Link to play Space Invaders:  http://www.freespaceinvaders.org/

2- Research & come up with a concept for an early  2D arcade type game

 (but with much better graphics of course)

Include Concept art with the written description on your game.

We will be using Illustrator to create the actual artwork which could potentially be used later

on to create the actual game.

TITLE: Paco the Programmer

Players:  2 player

Platform:  2D Unity

Genre:  Sidescrolling Platformer

Gameplay:   

Main character – Paco (player) will navigate through PC Paradise in order to save it from the dreaded computer bugs. 

Main Objective -- To maneuver through PC Paradise, survive the main enemy (Mama Bug), and save PC Paradise from doom. 

Player Movement --The player moves from the left side of the screen to the right side in order to get to Mama Bug at the end of the level. 

Powerups --The game world has Computer Screwdrivers placed throughout the world for Paco to get.  After Paco collects 50 Screwdrivers, he will receive an extra life.  Also there are special boxes that Paco can hit which may drop the following items: Computer Screwdrivers, Bug Spray or a Bug Swatter. 

Weapons --Paco can use the Bug Spray or the Bug Swatter to kill the bugs.  The Bug Spray is a projectile weapon and the Bug Swatter is a melee type weapon. 

Player Lives --Paco will start the game with three lives and loses energy each time a bug touches him.  He will also lose energy if he touches a Computer Short and getting shocked.  After being touched 3 times, Paco will die and have to restart the level.  Paco will die instantly if he falls into a hole or if time runs out. 

Level Layout --The game consists of one level in which Paco must defeat the bugs until he reaches Mama Bug. Mama Bug (Big Boss Fight) is hatching bugs that Paco must fight as he attempts to defeat her. Mama bug uses a long stinger to attack Paco with.  After Paco kills Mama Bug, PC Paradise is saved.

Input Mechanic: Keyboard/mouse

Overview of Character Story/Animation: 

Paco the Programmer (player) --Paco the Programmer is a video game programmer superhero that saves computer cities that are under attack by computer bugs. 

Mama Bug--Mama Bug is the main antagonist.   She is a host bug that has infected PC Paradise and is using her army of bugs that she hatches to help in her evil goal.  She has already destroyed numerous computer cities and PC Paradise is the next city to be destroyed unless Paco can save it. Mama Bug is a large hairy bug with spots and she uses a stinger to shoot out mini stingers.

Animation--The animation will be 2D. 

Background animation--Computer parts in the background would include a CPU, fans, heat sink, GPU, and a chip set. 

Bug types--The bugs come in three different colors and each kind of bug flies around at different speeds.  

Background effects--There are sparks that come out from the ground through various parts of the world which protrude from the background.

Current Competition:  Prince of Persia, Mirror’s Edge, Super Mario Brothers.

Production Outline:       

As far as programming goes the animation must be dropped into the game.  Colliders would include blocks, enemies, and walls. 

Paco Energy Gauge:  Keeps track of Paco’s energy levels. If time runs out he will die.

Mama Bug Energy Gauge: Keeps track of the amount of energy that Mama Bug has remaining. 

The programmer will have to create a timer which will keep track of the amount of time that Paco has to get through the game. 

Player controls include moving Paco left and right; pushing a separate button to engage the Bug Spray or Bug Swatter; pause, restart, play, and end game. 

Optional:  Another button might be created as a turbo button to make Paco run faster when it’s pressed. 

Time:  This game will take two quarters to create.

Roles Needed:

1 Art director

1 Producer

1 Character Designer

1 Director

1 Asset Designer

1 Animator

1 Programmer

1 Background and Layout Artist

1 Game Designer

1 Storyboard Artist

1 Sound Engineer