Overhead 2D ST game I'm working on. Need ideas etc.

Zellix · Freshman Cadet Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

Hi.
I have been developing a star trek game but I need some ideas for it and I thought who better to ask than trek fans.
I have posted on several forums but got little responce so would appreciate ideas =)

The game is an overhead 2d game set soley in space with you in control of a space ship moving 360 degrees action / arcade game, single player will probably see you with ships escorting to fight the enemy (this has not yet been done) and multiplayer will see you fight against other people (simple torpedos and shields are working) but probably not against computer controlled AI whilst in multiplayer.
It is suposed to be mainly single player but I have no story line at all and I could use suggestions for story. I have set it up so far so a few people can play over the internet.

It could do with things like graphics and story (if you write a story for example and I use it you will be listed on the site as in the production team explaining the contribution and also in the game credits, but even if you only do a small contribution like graphics for a single ship which are used you will still get in the game credits.

It's not going to get a million downloads or something, but I would like to get some of the star trek community involved with it.
I could probably get a few people I go to on forums who design stuff for games like this to make stuff for the game, but I'd like for people to be able to make contributions who like star trek and see it in action afterwards. I'm sure you all have ideas of how star trek should look and feel, working with the community should make it more like that.

Also, I had a look around the forum earlier and saw their was some good talent in both star trek writing and star trek art.

A screenshot, doesn't really show much (I don't think a single SS of an early game can). But it shows me running three players on my computer for multiplayer, nebula colour effect on one of the players and some torpedos flying.
(for those of you wondering, the game is not just concept - the multiplayer works with four players thus far).

http://www.freewebs.com/xpertgamers/3player1.JPG

Captain.Dan V2 · **Sat Feb 25, 2006 2:04 pm**

I actually think this has been done before,
Or at least the game I am thinking of looks similar to yours.
You played Kirk stopping invading Klingons and you had do go all over killing them before your timer ran out.
Perhaps you shouldn't try and base it on a particular series.
Make the ship unique and your own.
Your own ship,
Your own plot,
Your own game series

.
Perhaps it could be space exploration,
Scan stars,
Get results.
Work it out properly and you'll know where you need to go and you could find a Romulan fleet building up and preparing to attack the Federation but not yet battle worthy, Fail and you will end up fighting off huge hordes of Romulan ships who are battle ready.

Zellix · Freshman Cadet Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

Yeah their are loads of ST games so I'm presuming their are ones where you play in a 360 degree shoot style.
But I'm not basing it on a particular series that is why I'm asking for ideas, it can be any era, maybe an era that hasn't even existed yet in a made up war or something, maybe even against a made up race.

The MP is going to be classical most likely though, CTF, DM and TDM but open for new ideas.

SP can be practically anything at all.
It isn't set on any particular series at all, but I used the sovereign ships because at the time of development they were the only ships I had available.
But I was thinking of the normal ships which are in star trek but you also get fan made ones as additional ones.

The SP is not going to be as linear as just going around to kill something before a timer goes out though lol =)

borgslayer · **Sun Feb 26, 2006 7:37 am**

I made one of these games before too. The link is somewhere in this site I believe. Same style shooter.

http://www.startrekvoyager.com/viewtopic.php?t=13224

http://www.geocities.com/punkcrasher/trek.html

My Star Trek Blaster Game just so you know.

Zellix · Freshman Cadet Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

Cool.
It's alright.
I see many 1945 edits on the GM forum lol.
Brings back memories.

The game I'm working on also is made in Game Maker but a lot more complex than 1945, although I did used to use them when I was new to GM which I'm sure most people did.
Currently has support for four people in multiplayer and I started a little work on the single player too.
I hope to have 6 people be able to play simultaniously across the internet, although that depends on internet speed and distance between the players.
You will most likely be able to login through mysql to a database and record how many kills and deaths you have in multiplayer.

I haven't posted this bit on other forums but what I am also thinking of doing is you also have away missions.
You board ships or planets with computer controlled AI, now to make it more dynamic the better training facilities you have the better skilled your crew are at their particular jobs.
You have a certain amount of crew on your ship but you only have a small number which you know by name and can pick depending on your ship size, these crewmen can accompany you and if one dies they need to be replaced.

Also, if anybody wants to make ships from the series or made up ones then feel free, if they're good enough I will put them in the game =)

Zellix · Freshman Cadet Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

Anybody good at making ships?
If you make a ship and I use it in the game I will put you in the credits.
I'm not the greatest artist lol.

http://www.freewebs.com/xpertgamers/dread.PNG

WeAz · **Sun Feb 26, 2006 6:22 pm**

I can draw ships really well, but Id need a scanner to put them into the PC. cant do them on the computer though.

borgslayer · **Sun Feb 26, 2006 6:41 pm**

You don't need to draw a ship unless you plan to make original ships just a take picture of a ship that is top view and clean it up with photoshop so it looks good. Then with black background on shrink it to an appropriate size.

Zellix · Freshman Cadet Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

Update:

I have gotten to the stage now where I have set up a test mission.
The mission involves starting out with several intrepid and ambassador class ships and you need to destroy a station
http://www.freewebs.com/xpertgamers/miss1.JPG

Taking them ships to engage two cardassian ships
http://www.freewebs.com/xpertgamers/miss2.JPG

Then finding the bulk of the cardassian ships with the cardasisan and destroying the station:
http://www.freewebs.com/xpertgamers/miss3.JPG

Zellix · Freshman Cadet Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 6

Update:
Starting work on a design document which will compile my current story line ideas among other aspects.
Main thing I need to get on paper is different multiplayer game types (and how they should work and play), single player missions to fit the story line.

Slight alteration now, the game will most likely have set missions leading from one to another such as- Escort a ship to an outpost, <next mission> proceed to a location of which a distess call was sent out.
I am thinking inbetween each mission you find yourself back near earth (or wherever) and you can go visit places like merchant shops and buy certain upgrades.
Whilst in this exploring mode and not directly involved in a mission random events can occur such as - you are purchasing new equipment when raiders attack the merchant shop you are visiting, you can flee or fight, if you stay and make sure no civilians get hurt you may get more 'prestige'.
I'm not too sure about how new ships will currently work, you will probably recieve new ships when you have collected a certain amount of 'prestige'.