This paper is written to describe the basic game mechanics of GoDotFizzle and explain its concepts to developers and artists. It is not a legal text but a collection of ideas and suggestions on how to create a fun game from the basic mechanics. Feel free to contribute to this document if you want an aspect of the game to be changed or discussed.
GoDotFizzle is a game inspired by games like "Overcooked" and "Moving Out". Each player ( up to 4 ) controls a factory worker and has to assemble products from raw mertials and intermediate products. The player figure can move arround in the level ( including jumps ), pick and drop items and interact with things placed in the level, e.g. a workbench to assemble an item. Correctly crafted items must be placed on the conveyor belt transporting these products out of the level. Each conveyor slot leaving the level is checked for a finished product from which a score is calculated. This score is multiplied with a combo mulitpicator and then added to total score. Each level playthrought is limited by a timer. When it times out the level is completed and the total score is shown.
The graphics of GoDotFizzle shoud be comic- or cartoon-like, all items should be drawn and rendered in a simple manner. All characters or player figures will be derived from animals - cat, dogs, monkeys and so on.
The main game mode is cooperative - all players work together to get one score in the end.
A basic storytelling element will be the "evil manager", torturing players with more and more challenging assembly orders, fast conveyor belt speeds and so on. The company all animals work for is called "Smile".
- Working animals
- Animals at work
Describe basic features of the game here.
The camera shows the current level in an "overview perspective". It's static and does not follow the players.
Future idea: Add a static ray to camera to zoom in and out depending on player positions.
Players can move horizontally ( X- and Z-axis ) and jump ( Y-axis ). This allows quite complex 3D level layouts to be found. Slopes might become a technical problem to be handled.
Player figures use a collision area in front of them to monitor interactable objects. When a pickable item appears in this collision area, it can be picked up, carried arround and dropped elsewhere. It is possible to drop an item directly into a CraftingSpot. Items may also be thrown, their trajectory depends on the items weight and the players throwing power. CraftingSpots have a "sticky zone" to catch thrown items.
The player figure has a "toolbelt" or mini-inventory enabling it to carry multiple items selectable over quickslots. As crafting may require certain tools which are given once per level, this will create an additional challenge for the players because the may have to share tools and communicate about it ( "Where's the hammer?!" ).
Items to be crafted are called RecipeItems. These items have a property to describe a collection of items from which to craft this item.
Example:
A "Woodplank" is a recipe item, it's crafted from a "Woodblock".
Crafting is done on special places - CraftingSpots. Each CraftingSpot in a level is linked to a recipe item.
Example:
A "Woodplank" is made from a "Woodblock" on the "Woodsaw".
A RecipeItem can be crafted from other RecipeItems as well as contain more than one item to be crafted from.
Example:
A "Woodchest" is made from "3 x Woodplank" ( made from Woodblocks ... ) and "1 x Screw" on a "Workbench".
A RecipeItem may require a tool to be crafted.
Example:
A "Woodchest" is made from "3 x Woodplank" ( made from Woodblocks ... ) and "1 x Screw" on a "Workbench" using a "Wrench".
The crafting tree should be kept flat. Do not create deep recipes requiring an intermediate product which requires intermediate products themselfes.
Other words: A scored recipe must be craftable in 2 steps maximum
The players score increases for each finished item from the build list. The build list shows the assembly orders to be done by the player. Each RecipeItem has a score property which is multiplied with the current combo state to calculate the score increment.
Example:
Current score is 50, combo state is "1.5", a RecipeItem with a score of 50 is finished - the new score is 50 + 1.5 x 50 = 125.
Each order from the build list is represented by a conveyor slot in the game level. The clocked conveyor belt runs continously, limiting the time for each order to be done. When an order reaches the end of the conveyor belt unfinished, the combo state is decreased ( can't fall below 1 ), if it's finished the combo state gets increased. The intention is to get a much higher score from finishing orders "in a combo" than finishing only one by a time.
The current player movement profile ( speed, turning speed, throwing power ... ) can be manipulated and excahnged to implement powerup effects.
Example:
Drinking coffee triples your movement and turning speed and doubles your throwing power.
TO BE DONE
Different player skins will come with slightly altered behaviour, for example:
- Chicken ( fast but stupid )
- Ape ( can jump very high )
- Cat
- Dog
- Crocodile ( can swallow one item, slower movement )
- IceBear ( can move items with his wamp )
- ...
Describe level aspects in detail to give ideas on how to build fun levels.
Good levels must force the player to think about the assembly process and plan its steps carefully. This will force players to communicate on their strategy to reach a maximum score, strongly depending on the player count and skill.
Keep in mind that the player figure is able to jump when designing levels, the third dimension may be used, conveyor belts may run on different levels for example.
Levels should not take longer than 5 Minutes to play through.
A conveyor belt running through the whole level. A number of conveyor slots can be found running on them, representing the assembly orders. These can be built directly on the slot or on another CraftingSpot having the same recipe. Remember that CraftingSpots have a "sticky zone", in a very difficult level the player may be forced to throw the assembled items onto this conveyor belt.
Machines placed in the level for the player to craft items on. A CraftingSpot is linked to one RecipeItem to be crafted on it.
When a CraftingSpot is used incorrectly it may break - blocking any crafting for a certain time, e.g. 5 seconds.
Players can order raw items here by interacting with them. The number of items dispensed can be randomized, items can even be thrown out.
Players can get into a powerup state by interacting with them, e.g. the coffee automat.
Player figures enjoying their work break, giving chance to earn buffs / boni for next level. Random events included, e.g. boss telling there is no coffee left ( 50% movement speed loss in next round ). No tools are allowed in the break room, player have to clear their toolbelt before entering.
Switch from factory to super-simple Acrade-Look, building very crazy levels with crazy goals.
Describe aspects of the game progression creating long term fun / motivation.
Each level of this game should be fun for itself, nevertheless some aspects must be included to encourage multiple playthroughs of each level, making the player think "i need to get this done better!".
By reaching higher scores the players gets a better rating for a finished level. New levels are unlocked by overall rating collected by a player.
Unlocking level scheme by ratings may look like:
lvl2: Silver with any count of players in lvl#1
lvl3: ( Silver with any count of players in lvl#2 ) OR ( 1 Gold rating )
lvl4: ( Silver with any count of players in lvl#3 ) OR ( 2 Gold ratings )
...
Aspects of the game that motivate to replay a level
Level rating depends on score reached and number of players. There are three ratings to be reached for each level: bronze, silver, gold.
Rating for first level may look like:
1 Player : Bronze 100, Silver 200, Gold 300
2 Players: Bronze 150, Silver 300, Gold 500
3 Players: Bronze 200, Silver 400, Gold 700
4 Players: Bronze 250, Silver 500, Gold 900
The "evil manager" can be used to communicate so events, e.g. telling the players that assembly orders have changed ( drastically ) to challenge the player by rethinking their assembly strategy.
Another form of random event is a broken machine - this may happen when crafting stuff on a machine.
Trigger item dispenser throw items through the workshop
Unlock all levels, reach gold rating for all levels!
Become employee ( animal ) of the month?
Describe aspects of the overall game experience, e.g. the graphics style, colors used, sound effects and overall appereance.
The optical impression should be:
- comic- / cartoon-like
- simple but cute
- not very detailled
The gameplay experience should be:
- fast
- easy to learn but hard to master
- best played in hotseat-multiplayer
Items crafted in the game are made from these materials
- Wood
- Metal
- Factory
- Animals
Player sitting on toilet smoking
Player standing in front a huge pile of items