Game Idea Forum [CLOSED]

Help and Feedback Game Design Support
#1

As of 7/26/24 development for this project has completely stopped due to the spaghetti-like plot and in favor of a different project I now work on

  • Introduction Paragraph

(Contains spoilers for my game: “Mirrored”)

Hello DevForum! I am currently looking for a few ideas for my game since I’m out and both of my developers are busy right now.

It’s a horror game that is centered around an agency trying to eradicate the human race, and their first idea is a hybrid that is a perfect killing machine and also fit for the snow to wipe out their bases in the two poles.

  • What I have ready right now

Now, as of what I have so far, I have an underground facility freight elevator system that leads to a broken into facility underground that contains lore, the exit from this act of the game, and some secrets.

The reason this facility isn’t fun to enter is because it’s where the “Monster” came from and went back to after killing your colleagues on the surface.

Currently, I have a ViewModel-Centered inventory system, an internal dialogue UI, NPC interaction UIs, and a plot twist ending planned out.

  • Ideas I have

I think a good idea to extend the game from 7 minutes long, being generous with the playtime there, is to add in a few filler tasks to complete beforehand, such as activating a large emergency turbine system after locating a few jerrycans to refuel it, which then powers a large portal, (I forgot to mention that this game’s travel mechanics is teleportation via large portal creating structures) which is the escape and gives you the main ending to the current part of the game.

  • What I need from you all

Now, I’m looking for ideas to extend it further, since I think a playtime of 18-25 minutes would be more reasonable.

  • Credit for helping

I’m going to add anyone who contributes to this post in the credits of the game that occurs during the ending, and I also think throwing a few avatar minifigures of each of the post contributors on a desk in a spawn area would work as credit aswell.

(If you wish to have another form of credit please DM me what you’d like)

  • Signoff Statement and TL;DR

Thank you for reading :slight_smile:

TL;DR
DevForum random needs help coming up with ideas to extend game length because they’re out of ideas and their creative director and other developer are busy

#2

Maybe explain that more? Confusing

I suggest a secret ending. Players would have to go out of their way to do something, then instead of the normal story, they would be placed with harder challenges to complete and maybe even a secret at the end

This can extend their playtime in your game, and players may play again and again to get this ending

#3

Yeah, good idea, I could do that in a further act of the game instead of the first introduction demo act.

And by hybrid I mean its a killing machine made specifically for humans except its also mixed with features that polar bears would have like thick fur for insulation.

#4

Ah yeah another thing, I already have a youtuber who wishes to play this game as soon as it comes out so having this done as soon as possible is in priority here, I’m however still going to make the game high quality so that doesn’t mean I’m going to rush.

#5

I say

  1. Make the game scary. The kind of horror that keeps players running back to their hiding spots because a monster is walking around. More playtime, easy mechanics, you just need to know how to instill fear.

  2. Games usually have players going back and forth. Like Player1 needs to open Door1, but the key is in some other room. Then put puzzles or enemies between the player and their goal.

  3. Whatever mechanics you want to implement. A “don’t move when X is happening” will definitely make things take longer, but it’s not something every game has or needs necessarily.

#6

All of these were things I thought of doing for the facility where you need to navigate it for jerrycans, but the monster is down there as well.

This idea opens the opportunity for me to incorporate advanced pathfinding AIs for the monster and create a way for hiding. Such as for example in lockers in the armory, etc.

The whole game has lore and is already preplanned so far, but yes, I think all of these ideas will extend it further.

I also wanted to add something where you can pick which act you want to spawn in, but always at the starting cutscene.

I don’t want to make it so you can just die and then be like “Oh its okay we have the act spawn chooser”, I want to do it so that dying still has consequence.

Anyways, yes. Good ideas, I will probably implement them!

#7

Here is a few pictures of the facility for better ideas of what could be.

AGAIN, SPOILERS

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1 Like
#8

Boosting post since I still need a few ideas before its finished entirely.

#9

If you really want to extand game time, a maze might slow them down a little.

It may be a little frustrating though

#10

I’ve already published and released the game, I think 12-16 minutes is plenty time, which is what my playtesters timed it at avg.