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Game Design Theory / Any Ideas for game based on TV Show DR. Who?

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Bloder
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Posted: 21st Aug 2009 23:59
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Hi, I have been working on this game for some time and I want some advise about what people want in a game based on the hit BBC TV series, Doctor Who.
I want to know about what monsters should be in the game, what characters and what special features would make the game fun.
It will be in the style of the new Doctor Who animation coming out this year. (I've included a pic of what the Doctor will look like in the animation)
The game will be a 3rd person action/adventure game made in darkbasic classic.

If I were you, I'd make a game...
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Bloder
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Posted: 22nd Aug 2009 00:13
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Just to let you know, I didn't model the picture I uploaded, I just liked the style so I thought the style would look good in a game.

If I were you, I'd make a game...
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Libervurto
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Posted: 23rd Aug 2009 06:17
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Destruction Dalek Derby!!
Now that would be errr rubbish actually

You've been working on it for some time and yet you don't know what it's about yet?
I bet you have pages and pages of ideas that are ballooning out of control.
I'm not mocking just... been there

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Bloder
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Posted: 23rd Aug 2009 11:55
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Yeah, I had the idea in late 2007 but then it was just a mix of ideas like who the playable characters are.

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Dared1111
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Posted: 23rd Aug 2009 20:33
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Well, I'd imagine you'd want to change some and keep some (unless you're sure BBC are ok with fan games).

Maybe you could have the genocidal feelings the doctor used to have, or allow the player to have a genocide meter much akin to the morally good/bad meters in other games.

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Libervurto
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Posted: 24th Aug 2009 04:03
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I think a Doctor Who game should involve lots of running around and problem solving. Personally I'd make it an FPS but Fallout style where there's more to it than shooting.
All I know about Doctor Who is Daleks, Tardis, Sonic Screwdriver, and the fact David Tennant was much better than Christopher Eccleston. Unlock playable character: Tom Baker!
It sounds like I know a lot but only watched a few here and there.

Daleks, Tardis and sonic screwdriver should all play major roles in the game.

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zeroSlave
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Posted: 25th Aug 2009 04:32
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Brilliant!

Quote: "Daleks, Tardis and sonic screwdriver should all play major roles in the game."


And the companion.
Maybe the player could be the unnamed companion. I know it would be more fun to be The Doctor for some, but it would give the player more freedom of making mistakes and get to learn some things about the Doctor instead of spending time to learn how to be a brilliant Timelord.

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Van B
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Posted: 25th Aug 2009 17:25
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Regardless of the cartoon, Doctor Who has a style and it has changed little in the last few decades.

The camera view should be third person with some thought out rotation features, the Doctor is the key character, if the Doctor is not on the screen then it just wouldn't work, FPS for instance is a no-no.

Most of the action scenes have the cameras quite high up - if you had to show Doc and Rose for instance running from a building that's about to blow up, you should put the camera on the ceiling of a corridor and pan up as they run past. This is probably due to BBC budget constraints, meaning they are more likely to use real buildings with less available space, so if the camera has to go somewhere special, it tends to be the ceiling to keep filming easy and on time.

Having the Doctor interact with stuff is vital, and the best way to do that is in 3rd person - for one thing the areas where the player would otherwise demand to see could be hidden - I mean if you should the doctor frantically typing on a keyboard then should HAH! and stepping back - well that's all your really need to do - you just need that frantic typing, maybe have some side animations (looking around puzzled for instance). Because you will have such control over the camera you can do that. Now on the other hand if you tried a stunt like that in a FPS game you just wouldn't get away with it - you'd have to make those fingers type properly. It's such a vast difference in technological concern, but the main thing is that I think 3rd person view is a no brainer - people need to see the (a) doctor and if you can show some mannerisms then fans will love it.

Remember that Dr.Who has a long standing, you might be trying to please a massive fan base with different attitudes, like whether hoping that Tom Baker will return as the doc is a possibility, or do we think Rose is a bit of a slapper, doesn't matter what you look like, just so long as your the doctor - I wonder if that's why they got a 12 year old doctor this time...

I digress...

Yeah, try and concentrate on what makes Dr.Who what it is, it's all in the Doc's personality, capture some of that and you can't go far wrong. Ohh and the main enemy should always be a Dalek, Cybermen are much less threatening but would also make for a cool enemy.


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Darth Kiwi
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Posted: 25th Aug 2009 22:09
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I think Van B's 3rd person idea is spot on. Putting the Doctor centre-stage would work wonderfully.

All I can suggest is, have it completely puzzle based. There should be no combat. One thing I've noticed in a lot of Doctor Who episodes is that moment when the monster reveals itself and the Doctor is standing just a few feet from it, and I think, "aha, this is where he pulls out his gun and shoots them" - before realising that he has no gun and will have to use his brains.

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Bloder
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Posted: 26th Aug 2009 21:39
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So here's what I've got so far:
Story-
The 10th Doctor is once again fighting the daleks in this 3rd person action/puzzle adventure. K9 will be there to help (Not the one from the K9 TV show) and so will his daughter, Jenny. Rose will make a cameo appearence with the paralell doctor in the final level. This time the daleks will be more lethal (and scary) than ever!

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Darth Kiwi
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Posted: 28th Aug 2009 01:00
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Just make sure the evil Dalek plot is... well, good. The series finale (of the TV show) where Davros tries to destroy the universe seemed ridiculously evil, but the ramifications of the Dalek's thought processes weren't really dealt with properly, I thought. If you could capture that terrifying desire to destroy things, and really show how merciless the Daleks are, then you're onto a winner, I think.

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zeroSlave
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Posted: 28th Aug 2009 02:41 Edited at: 28th Aug 2009 02:42
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Quote: "Dalek's thought processes weren't really dealt with properly, I thought."


I agree Darth Kiwi. The Dalek originally killed Davros because "their programming does not allow them to acknowledge any creature as their superior." So I wasn't too pleased with him returning.

The Dalek are merciless. I think it has to do with the absence of emotions and all.

Exterminate!

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Bloder
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Posted: 29th Aug 2009 00:05 Edited at: 6th Sep 2009 12:35
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It will be funny and scary at the same time.
The Cybermen MAY return!
It starts off with the doctor hiding in a sewer in modern day London. He hears a loud cry of 'EXTERMINATE!' and most of the sewer blows up. 'CUE DALEK INVASION FORCE SIXTEEN! DALEKS CONQUER AND DESTROY! DALEKS CONQUER ADN DESTROY! DALEKS CONQUER AND DESTROOOOOOOOOOOOOOY!' (Main Titles)

Edit: New plot coming...

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Libervurto
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Posted: 29th Aug 2009 05:13
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i don't think daleks know the word cue
"THE DALEKS DO NOT CUE! THE DALEKS DEMAND TO BE SEEN IMMEDIATELY!"
No that's spelt dif...
"SILENCE!"

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Argon Knight
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Posted: 31st Aug 2009 07:36
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I Like the 3rd person pov. It fits with the typical rpg like mass effect and perry rhodan. You see the character and how they interact with the environment.

Dr. Who epi's have combat. But the Doctor always avoids combat until the last unavoidable moment, then still avoids killing the dudes. So having the player dodge all the enemies bullets while trying to get to the door on the other side of the room might the goal. However, just saying his sonic screwdriver is on "stun" while he shoots the enemies is also an option.

But I definitely think a Dr Who game should include a time travel element. Not just jumping to different planets in different years, but having to go back in time to adjust something at one location so it will be there in the future when its needed. Kinda like that egyptian level in err.. (hexen 2 or heretic 2, I forget which). Where you went back in time to when the temple was new and threw a few switches that were needed in the future decaying version of the temple.

I always imagined a time war campaign to be like a bank of lights. Each light represents a time zone. Each light can have 3 colors, Green for the normal events happened, Yellow for some events were changed, but not enough to effect the time line, and red for way out of whack. the players must journey to each of the zones and try to make the time zone get back to green if he can. If you think of light 1 as being in the past and say light 10 being in the future, then you can have each light affected by is ancestor. Lets say the player fails resolve time zone 1. It gets red status, then the player solves time zone 2 and gets a green status. The effect on the time line for zone 2 is yellow since the events in zone 1 went horrible wrong. even though the player was able to solve the puzzles in zone 2, the results did little to put the time line back on track.
Of course, I imagined that there is a evil time traveler who wants all the zones to be red and its your job to stop him.
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Plotinus
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Posted: 31st Aug 2009 10:44
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Quote: "The Dalek are merciless. I think it has to do with the absence of emotions and all."


Daleks have emotions - mainly psychopathic hatred. It's cybermen who don't have emotions.

Quote: "But I definitely think a Dr Who game should include a time travel element. Not just jumping to different planets in different years, but having to go back in time to adjust something at one location so it will be there in the future when its needed. Kinda like that egyptian level in err.. (hexen 2 or heretic 2, I forget which). Where you went back in time to when the temple was new and threw a few switches that were needed in the future decaying version of the temple."


That sort of thing can't happen in Dr Who - he can't go back and do things that will interfere with his own timeline. If he could then most episodes would be very short.
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zeroSlave
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Posted: 31st Aug 2009 18:00
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Quote: "Daleks have emotions - mainly psychopathic hatred. It's cybermen who don't have emotions"


oops.

The absence of "negative" emotions. I also believe that their conscience was removed as well.

Quote: "That sort of thing can't happen in Dr Who - he can't go back and do things that will interfere with his own timeline. If he could then most episodes would be very short."


I think that Gallifrey would be back if this were possible. Also, he can't because of other... wibbly wobbly timey wimey... stuff.

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Plotinus
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Posted: 1st Sep 2009 12:28
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By the way, if you like puzzles involving time travel, you can't do better than All things devours - a very clever game.
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Argon Knight
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Posted: 4th Sep 2009 21:04
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I was thinking more along the lines of:

When Sylvester McCoy found a tablet with Gallifreyan writing that he said was a note to himself.

And like when the Doctor gave his "wife" his sonic screwdriver.

Simple little things that are important to the plot.
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Dared1111
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Posted: 5th Sep 2009 19:18
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Argon Knight: The master has a sonic screwdriver that can stun/kill, but the doctor does not, otherwise he would use it. He's always used carefully planned (otherwise oddly placed) traps and diversions. I think these should be incorporated somehow.

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Bloder
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Posted: 6th Sep 2009 12:55
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I was thinking along the lines of the plot because I know what the gameplay'll be like.

If I were you, I'd make a game...
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Libervurto
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Posted: 16th Sep 2009 06:44
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Has anyone played The Journeyman Project?
It's about 18 years old now but graphics looked pretty impressive for the day because it was all pre-rendered.
Very strange game that was based on time travel.

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Lonnehart
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Posted: 17th Sep 2009 02:44 Edited at: 17th Sep 2009 02:46
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I've only skimmed through this thread, but I think that while the Doctor is a key character the player himself should play the part of his companion. I wouldn't want to ruin the canon of the series by portraying the Doctor. The companion would have a bit more freedom to play his role than the Doctor would. I guess I see The Doctor as a mysterious character in the series. I haven't done my research, but I bet there's a lot about him that's still unknown.

BTW, isn't Doctor Who that series that was cancelled with "extreme predijuce" by the head of the BBC or something (kinda like how a certain network tried to cancel the old Star Trek series)?

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Bloder
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Posted: 17th Sep 2009 21:51
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Hi again, I've had the Idea that the camera will be positioned behind the Doctor and you hold the mouse button down to scan with the sonic screwdriver. If there is something you can use with the sonic screwdriver, there will be a beep sound and you will have to use your sonic screwdriver by pressing space.

Lonnehart: The BBC DID cancel Doctor who but after 16 or so years, it was brought back.

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Plotinus
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Posted: 18th Sep 2009 13:09
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Michael Grade famously hated Dr Who and scheduled it to clash with Coronation Street, but I don't know if the oft-repeated claim that this was part of a deliberate attempt to kill the programme off is really true.
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Bloder
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Posted: 20th Sep 2009 01:02
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Right, we've talked about why it got axed-any plot ideas?
P.S Michael Grade as the Dalek Emperor is not a good idea!

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Libervurto
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Posted: 22nd Oct 2009 02:55
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The sky is dark, darker than the darkest night. No starlight penetrates the thick black smog decending upon the town. And from these hellish clouds, great rocks rain down; crashing through rooftops, smashing into pavement, and striking down those unfortunates within the swirling mass of screams and panic.
Two figures draw closer, each carrying the end of a lifeless object.
As they approach one is suddenly struck by a firey boulder. The other cries out, but not in mourning, he calls to you "Please help me! come over here!"
You leave your cover and run without thinking, it is to late to turn back, your decision has already been made.
You rush to the vacant tail of the object, which you now make out to be some sort of chest. You take the weight and the mysterious man leads the way, pulling you towards a peculiar blue structure on the road. At the door he drops the chest and dives into his pocket.
This man is mad, he carts around a box during Mt. Vesuvius' eruption, has no regard for the life of his companion,

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Libervurto
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Posted: 22nd Oct 2009 02:55 Edited at: 22nd Oct 2009 03:14
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and now he's trying to fit this collosal chest into a thin blue box!
"It will never fit!" you shout out over the crashing hail,
"Trust me, it will!" he replies.
He opens the blue door and bends down to grab the chest handle, then raises his head to catch your gaze "come on!"
You pause, you're not sure what you're doing but it seems too late to reconsider, you might as well play along with this fool if it will get you out of the storm.
"Well? Are you coming or not?"
You take a deep breath and grasp the handle. Immediately you're pulled forwards with such a force you are knocked to the floor.
What's he playing at? You feel yourself getting angry. You get to your feet and dust yourself off, with a mind to put the fool in his place.
"Now look h...", as you raise your head to confront the man you're pinned to the spot by what you see: a vast circular room, with lights and cables all around. Circling the centre of the room are several glass panels with bright lights flashing from within.
"Whe?.. Wha?... Who?..."

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Libervurto
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Posted: 22nd Oct 2009 03:15 Edited at: 22nd Oct 2009 03:22
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You turn to the man in hope of some explanation. This can't be the small blue box! He doesn't seem shaken at all, he simply smiles and extends a hand, "I'm The Doctor, nice to meet you."
[end]

Sorry I had to triple post, I have a word limit.
If you hadn't guessed this is set in Pompeii, and the chest is err... something important the Doctor wanted to save
Opening scene done!
I have to agree playing as the companion is a much better option. If you played as the doctor you'd have to force his quirks on the player, but the companion is pretty much void of personality so it's an easy character to assume the role of and do what you want with.

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Dared1111
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Yes. Companion is a better idea. Then you could have the Doctor comment on the morality of player's choices. You'd need someone that can imitate the Doctor though, unless you used sound bites from the show.

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Libervurto
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Posted: 27th Oct 2009 01:53
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I remember playing the game for the Armageddon film. You played as Bruce Willis and every 20 seconds he'd say some quote from the film. It got really annoying and made me feel like I wasn't really controlling him. I think that's what it would be like if you played as the Doctor.

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Bloder
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Posted: 27th Oct 2009 23:26
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I will have the player player playing as BOTH the doctor and his companion(s). He won't say anything apart from in cutscenes.

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