1. My current/primary plan is basically me making a simple, story-oriented 2D rpg game. Overall, the mechanics of the game would be simple (click, drag, arrow keys) as the main things the player would do is click through text and use arrow keys to move NAME to point A to point B. To break up the story here and there, there will be a few simple minigames (farm-related b/c the videogame’s taking place on a farm/in a rural, country-side setting). The game’s story will revolve around a guy named NAME and the 3-4 months of his life where he matures into an “adult”. The entire game will basically be coded up in Unity and I was planning on drawing all of the assets and animations in Clip Studio Paint as that’s the art program I use the most.
2. If I don’t go with my primary plan, animation had always been an idea? A 2D animation would be fun to make. If I got this route, I could possibly go a step further to involve my language minors? Like have it voiced over in Chinese with help from my teachers and friends. The only programs I’d use is Clip Studio Paint and Adobe AfterEffects. Story-wise, I don’t really know what I’d do but I think a comedic, action-packed type of animation would be fun to try. That or something cute along the lines of the daily lives of pets?
3. Without care for my current skills and thinking with no constraints whatsoever, making a AAA level videogame would be cool. Like a 2.5D game with fully animated cutscenes, fully voiced characters, professionally composed OSTs, and beautifully animated and modeled characters.
Hi Emma! I really like all of your ideas! I particularly think animation would be great since you are an amazing artist and really good at storytelling. These are definitely great aspects we will see in your game as well!
For your primary project idea, I just had a couple of comments: I think that 3-4 months might be too short period of time to mature into a full ‘adult’. I am wondering what events you are thinking about occurring that could bring about/expedite this process? For example: living alone, learning how to manage finances, learning how to cook, etc.
As for your 3rd point, I think you could totally do it! If you don’t think you can finish the entire game by thesis presentation, I think it’d be super cool if you could do at least one animated scene plus gameplay for that one scene, then include the storyboard for the rest of the game, so people know what you are capable of doing!
For your primary project idea, I would have wanted to learn a bit more, it would be great to have a 2D game on ‘adult’. Since you did mention it would be an RPG, would it be an open world or more linear? If you are going with 4 months, how significant are those 4 months going to be. Games can be about one day of someone’s life. An example would be to think of “Ferris Bueller’s day off”.
For you 3rd Point, I think it can be done although it would be hard to do it by next spring you can build up to it as a passion project outside of school.
Very cool concepts. I like how your first concept involves simple mini games that progress an overall story based game and how the main playable character NAME ages as the story progresses. For your second concept, I like the idea of using different languages in one animation, which could take advantage of the comedy that arises from miscommunication or misunderstanding from another’s culture while learning about that culture. The AAA game third concept is also cool in that I think your previous concept ideas could benefit this concept if they are applied to it. Maybe you could make your first concept have a mix of 2.5D and 2D graphics and possibly get voice acting from other students if possible. I am thinking you could add more controls to your first concept game idea depending on the mini game or if an important game mechanic calls for more in terms of a control system if you think this will be necessary.
I think having a game revolving around a person’s experiences “maturing” is very cool. I also like how you are going to draw your own assets. I want to know more about what the story and gameplay are going to be like though. Are there going to be any enemies to fight? What are the levels going to be like?
Having an animation voiced over in Chinese would definitely be unique and a way to improve your own skills with the language. I’m not sure if you’ve made an animation before but I’d be interested to see this.
The third idea seems like an expansion of the first and I feel like you could incorporate at least one of the aspects of that idea into the first one. Maybe you could animate your own cutscenes and have them voiced over in Chinese, and keep the same art style as the game itself. You’re thinking of choosing a rural/countryside setting for the RPG so maybe you could set it in rural China.
I really like your first concept. I think the setting would be cool to see in a game like this, and I like the idea of it taking place over several months. I think seeing your main character mature as you progress would be really nice and provide a good sense of progression.
Your third idea wojld be super great if you had infinite time and money, but that’s not the case. I feel like taking one of the aspects that you listed here and focusing on it in your first game would really help it feel polished.
Your second option also seems like it would end up being really cool. I think going with 2D animation wpuld really help it stand out, mostly because a lot of studios use 3D animation now. I feel like having it voiced in Chinese would also be a really cool way of encorporating other things that you learned at TCNJ.