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Ch 09 Game Design Doc

Original Game Idea


General Idea: A game about becoming a new species of plant with branching paths to either take over the world and rid it of humans completely, or grow alongside the humans and work to help them better their society. You can even upgrade yourself to become humanoid if you desire to, though you can also take on several other forms. It will most likely be a strategy/survival game with mixes of stealth.


Story: You were a newly created species of plant, bred from several different hybrid plants, in an attempt to make a permanent food resource for humans in a time of a serious shortage. However, when they suspect that you may not work properly, or when you start showing signs of unnatural sentient behavior, they throw you away out of fear. You're left completely homeless with the brain capabilities of a newborn, and it's your job to learn how to survive. Will you choose to take revenge, or will you help them as you were designed to?


Rules/Mechanics:

  • Main mechanic is to watch your meters to make sure you don't get over-watered/sun scorched/frost scorched/starved
  • Later in the game, produce berries and seeds to make smaller versions of yourself to help maintain your growth
  • Certain berry types can also help you befriend animals (helps find shelter) or you can produce poisonous berries to protect yourself
    • Once berry type is chosen, it's unchangeable (you will be warned)
  • Upgrade yourself as the days progress, see what helps you progress
  • Some feedback from actions:
    • If using a controller, it will vibrate softly during rain showers if not under cover
    • Controller will also vibrate whenever dangerous creatures nearby, also comes with noises to determine what danger it is (animal growls, machinery, etc.)
  • Win by reaching your final upgrade, then your win condition is decided by how you chose to play your game
  • Lose by ignoring your meters or getting destroyed by other creatures

Player Character: 

  • Plant that is customizable at the start (color and structure wise)
    • Start by crawling, which allows you to climb through windows and over short walls
  • You can grab objects and pull them closer for clearing paths/eating
  • You can call for "tamed" animals for assistance
  • Can choose to either root down for a few days or eat animals to gain nutrients
  • Can mutate new traits to help with survival
    • Multiple layers of shielding can be mutated for extra protection (like armor)
    • Berries can be given specific attributes to make them better suit your desired path (more poison, higher chance of taming animals, etc)
    • Mutate new methods of movement (necessity, happens naturally after a certain level of experience is gained, multiple options)

NPCs: 

  • Enemies range anywhere from rabbits to humans, with mid sized enemies between them
    • Rabbits will attempt to eat you in earlier phases, hiding in later phases inside bushes
    • Humans will try to purposefully destroy you and can potentially reset small amounts of progress (not too far back, maybe three shell upgrades at most)
    • Foxes will try to claw away pieces of you to use as nests, can either be fought off or can be tamed
    • Foxes will provide homing during rainy days, whether dead or alive
    • Various other animals with different interactions/reactions to the player
  • All the creatures are hostile until befriended, with the exception of bugs
    • Bugs will accelerate your flower/berry growing speed, you attract them with colorful flowers
    • Bugs can also be eaten for small amounts of hunger restoring


Level Design: 

  • Mostly outside levels, 2D levels with 3D models for depth
  • Semi realistic graphics

  • Music is calm at the start, changes slowly depending on what path you're taking
    • Harsher tones when evil
    • Softer and sweeter when good

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