Game Design - One-Pager for Strategy Game

Here's the one-pager for one of my game design ideas. Still a WIP, as I'm not a fan of the title. Does anyone else find that titles are just about the hardest thing to come up with, no matter what you're writing? A more detailed ten-page design document sample will follow at some point soon, where I will no doubt get to see all the initial problems with my grand idea and need to find ways to fix them.

Trader Scum! – Concept Overview

Platform: PC/Online

Target Age: 18-30

Rating: PEGI 16 (for potential suggestive scenarios and drug use)

Game Summary: 

After investment company ‘Lars N.E.’ start struggling, their ambitious new trader is made redundant. With £1,000 in their pocket and a cardboard box full of stolen office stationery, this trader vows to start their own investment company and obliterate ‘Lars N.E.’. They build a rapidly expanding company from humble beginnings where no method – no matter how illegal or morally bankrupt – is dismissed. Whether they build their investment empire through hard work and good ethics, or blackmail and insider trading; when this ambitious trader proves themselves, they will get their chance at a hostile takeover of ‘Lars N.E.’ do you have what it takes to be a true Trader Scumbag?

Game Outline: 

The game is split into time increments of Continuous Trading Hours (8am-4:30pm) and Market Close Hours (4:35pm-8am). During Continuous Trading, the player trades their available capital on the LSE. At this time they are also able to peruse market reports on commodities and general news to make an informed choice on what will net them the most money. During Market Close, the player schmoozes potential investors to gather more capital to trade. Sleep? There’s no need for that; you’re a Trader, you have cocaine!

As the player makes more money, they will be able to purchase membership to different markets and Multilateral Trading Facilities, as well as hire analysts who can provide more accurate data on the best investment opportunities. There will also be several opportunities to advance in less than scrupulous ways: investing in ethically dubious companies, blackmailing clients and rivals, even illegal practises such as Insider Trading will be available – at a high risk. Eventually the player will be in a position to absorb their previous employer, ‘Lars N.E.’; how they choose to handle this will change the whole game.

USP:

• ‘4X’ strategy game with blackly comic diplomacy elements.
• Build your own investment empire; the more money you make, the more products, schemes and influential investors become available.
• Morality option; players can partake in illegal and unethical business practises for a huge reward – but at a great risk.
• Players can gain investors through contacts and word-of-mouth reputation… or by taking them to strip joints and blackmailing them; if they’re prepared to take the risk.
• Increasingly complex investment opportunities such as Pairs, Futures, Short Selling become available throughout the game – along with in-game instruction in each new option.
• Fully customisable avatar; any age, race, sex and sexuality can become an elite trading scumbag!

Similar Competitive Products:

• Civilisation series 
• Theme Park