FIRST Video Game: Hammering out details

[JVN]

Guys,
Do you think you're getting ahead of yourselves here?

The most important aspect of any videogame is GAMEPLAY.

Why not start with a simple FIRST-like, 2D game. You could either use a 2D approximation of a FIRST game, or an entirely new game. See what you can do. See if you can make it fun to play. I imagine the 1997 game would adapt itself well. Lot's of strategies that could be done simply.

Craft in some decent AI. (This is probably one of the hardest parts, but one of the most important). With decent AI, the game can be challenging to play.

Put in a bunch of different robots. Different styles, different mechanisms, different capabilites.

Throw in some "videogame elements":
Unlockable robots.
Robot upgrades.
Special "boss" robots for the playoffs (the super robot that grabs all 3 goals and walks to the endzone!).

Make it into a 2D RTS type game.
Think... Warcraft with robots...sorta. For every move, there is a counter move. Have people play through several "seasons". Each season you progress until your robot/drivers get beaten. Then you get some experience points depending on how well you do. These experience points let you develop your robot further the next season.

Program in several such 2D games. Allow a "franchise" mode where you play through 14 seasons (with 14 unique games), gaining experience along the way. Program in some real life teams.

There are ENDLESS possibilites for a simple game like this.

Make it multiplayer online.

Think NES era, not Xbox era.


*shrug*
I'd play it.

John