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Game design thoughts

I'm currently working on a new game (finally). I'm making it for a competition of the Dutch GMC. The goal is to make a platform game and I remembered a very old DOS platform game which I'm going to give a new twist at. As most of my competition will be reading this blog (I'm on to you ;) ) I'm not going to spoil what type of this is going to be just yet but let's for the fun spoil a few features.
* The game can be played by multiple people on a single PC.
* Each player controlls his/her 'character' with just 2 keys.
* I have multiple game modes in mind but ofcourse you can have a splashing single player game with a highly skilled AI opponent which you need to battle
[/teaser]

My main subject to blog about was recent topic in the game design forum at the Dutch GMC about whether single player or multiplayer games are better. With my upcoming game I'll add a multiplayer single PC option and am considering the idea of making it online as well. Although that depends on my available time (as will the entire completion of this game) as well as my knowhow of lagless fast action.

But what do people these day prefer. Single or multiplayer games? Multiplayer games are far more competative although this can also be reached with a online highscore list as demonstrated in the excellent Acwabatiacs   by CoolMoose. Single player offers far more features such as a better opponent matching your skilllevel and a more gradual difficulty curve. Plus you can play it without having to find a second player.
So what do you prefer? I'm welcoming your discussion as well as your votes on the poll on my site.

For those who are wondering, yes I've moved home again. Exchanged my life in the center of a city with half a million people with that of the life in the outskirts of a 5565 people counting village. Trying to readjust myself to the sudden distance everything is away and the complete lack of public transit. But I'm having 2 weeks of holidays at the moment :D (of which 1.5 week has already passed :( ) so not to much to complain about. At least now I have more time to work on my sites/games/examples/tutorials. Provided I get a sudden float of inspiration that is.
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Reacties

Quimp plaatste op 2006-02-03 02:02:31

Since I play games offline most of the time, I'll have to say I prefer Single player games. However, if anyone knows me the leasts, they will know that my favorite games also happen to be playable with other players.

Among my all-time favourite titles, there is Sparlatacus' Lawnmover massacre 1, Neverest's Human Cannonball and now Acwabatiacs. Except for the third one, I've played the games a lot with other friends in times of boredom. Keep in mind that I'm only talking about games meant to be played in solo. I just love Shawn64's Mini Golf Pro. As for CoolMoose's game, I have yet to play it with someone else, but I know the time will come.

Have a nice day Simon.

Blijbol Software plaatste op 2006-02-03 21:00:52

I like single player as well as multiplayer games. But I hate games that can only be played with two or more players at one computer, since I rarely have visitors. Because I am doubting whether to add online multiplayer support to one of my games, I'm watching the Dutch GMC topic carefully.

By the way, preferring both single player and multiplayer sounds impossible to me, because there's nothing to prefer it above.

I would not like to call "Acwabatiacs&nbsp;&nbsp;" excellent by the way. It's a bit strange you can just ride out of the window, and then you can't see yourself anymore. The left side of the menu is controlled by keyboard, the right side by mouse. Title bar's empty. Submitting to the online highscore table is so slow, that it's a good example of how NOT to do it.

Well, I don't think I've got to say much more. I'm still curious of your platformer, but I already said that. Good luck.

Jeroen

Quimp plaatste op 2006-02-03 23:34:31

Directed towards Blijbol Software:

1. You can ride outside the view, but only to a certain extend. If you let the centipede leave the screen, it dies. I personally like this "feature", it makes it possible to expand your movements.

2. Do you mean the links, when you're talking of the right menu? I see nothing wrong with having it mouse controlled: you'll have to grab your mouse to browse through the website anyway.

3. I agree about the highscores. GmSql is very slow and does not work behind certain routers.

You brought an interesting point by the way: "preferring both single player and multiplayer sounds impossible to me, because there's nothing to prefer it above."

Elmernite plaatste op 2006-02-24 04:52:26
In reply to the poll. I voted other because you have no all of the above. And thats how I learned GM. I did a little bit of all of them. -Elmernite

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