Friday, 12 October 2012

Game Design - One Pager for Vertical Shoot 'em Up


While I'm still working on creating more detailed game design documents for my previous two ideas, I thought it was about time I came up with a little idea I might actually be able to demo; in fact, I'm working on just such a thing.

Spider Wars!



Platform: PC
Target Age: 7-12
PEGI Rating: 7+



Game Summary

Steve the Spider just wants to do what any normal spider does; have babies and not get eaten. Alas, Suzi the Spider simply won’t go on a date with him unless he can prove his spidery worth. To do this, Steve must climb every tree in his home at the Botanical Gardens and defeat his rivals. Suzi’s other suitors aren’t Steve’s only threat; he will also have to face spider-eating predators and gnarly trees, as well as his own depleting stamina. Armed with his silk-spinning skills, Steve will have to catch prey, avoid predators and show Suzi he’s the spider for her!

Game Outline

The player guides Steve up a series of trees as he makes his way through the Botanical Gardens – each level is a single vertical-scrolling tree with a boss fight in the top branches. Although he will not be able to fall off a tree by walking too close to the edge, he will fall off if he either falls into a hole or runs out of stamina.
Stamina can be replenished by shooting your web at prey animals such as flies or smaller spiders. Steve can also use his webs to immobilise predators such as Spider Wasps, but for larger predators like the Blackbird, Steve can only avoid their attacks.

USP
  • A shoot ‘em up, micro-style!
  • Use of stamina means players have to think tactically – they can’t just race to the top.
  • Accurate food chains and biological behaviour give this game an educational touch.
  • The Botanical Garden setting allows for a wide variety of micro-environments for Steve to explore.
  • Webs aren’t just for catching prey – Steve can use them to get him out of all sorts of sticky situations.


Similar Competitive Products
  • Bio-Attack
  • Scramble 
  • Ecco the Dolphin

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