Choosing the style

My design process for a game is pretty straightforward. First I create an idea, how the game will work. Then I choose the gameplay elements. At this point, I will also start creating the "world" of the game: Plot, creatures and so on. This will continue through the project. When my basic pitch for the game is ready, I will start designing art for the game. This includes the concept art and the actual game art. Then comes the rest, music, effects and so on. Finally, the most obnoxious part, the testing and fixing the found bugs, comes into play. It's just iteration there, and this part is some really boring work.

Right now I'm choosing the game style. I have decided that the game will be an endless runner. I chose an endless runner -type of game because project AH will be released for iOS. Endless runner seems like a good fit for iPhone and iPad, and since I have not created that kind of a game before, it will also be a learning process for me. However, the game will also have an adventure game vibe, in a way that I have not yet seen being used in a game. So, in some aspects, the game will be experimental.

Here's the first quick sketch I made. It's really simple, no real details, just the idea and the basic outlook.

A REALLY quick sketch.

It's real basic, but don't let it scare you. It'll evolve.

Now, the next thing is to start creating the plot, and start creating the first working version of the game. Here I will also start testing how different gameplay elements will work together. If something doesn't quite work, It's better to remove it BEFORE I have created the art and other elements for it.

Right now I'm in the final stages of designing the adventure -side of the game. It includes pretty much everything even slightly adventurish. I have a text file, where I have contained every idea for that side of the game, and now the ground work is almost done. Next, I will start combining the two sides: the endless runner and the adventure game.

Until next time.

- Ron