Steampunk game idea

[chrisman01]

When going into the game industry, it's a good idea to not focus on just one game. Branch out, into other genres, other stories, etc.

So I bring you a second game that I've been thinking of for just the past week or so. I don't have a title for it or anything yet, and I barely have a story worked out.

I suppose the setting would be an alternate universe Earth... What if the age of steam never ended? What if there was a resource that was like coal, but burned longer, hotter, and (maybe) didn't pollute as much? What if oil was rare, or even nonexistent?

This would make the perfect world for steampunk, where complicated machines and devices are commonplace, and if this coal-like material was extremely abundant, like this world's oil, then the age of steam would last much longer.

Then that would mean steam machinery would get much more complicated. Perhaps, then, by the 30's or 40's, there would be a war... (remember, alternate universe)

(Names are temporary... I mean, "Pyder"? :/ )

( in that last one, one of my friends gave me an idea for a Steam Powered Auto Reloading Crossbow. It just happened to shorten to SPARC, which considering this is steampunk, full of smoke and flames, is pretty freaking cool! )

I'm temporarily calling the coal-like resource hellcoal. One pound of hell coal can burn twice as hot as normal coal, and can last up to four months. How is this possible? ...creative liberties, for now ;D

I also have designs for zeppelins and an APC. So far this is looking like a steampunk Battlefield 2, but it would have a campaign. I think.

yeah, still early ideas....

 

[Ace]

posting in cool thread.
No, seriously, the drawings here are actually pretty fucking sweet. If you have any storyline ideas, jot them down!

 

[Forstride]

Maybe there could be a great mechanical force that goes to war against the Steam machines? Like modern technology versus Steampunk tecnology. Anyway, I like it. Then again, I like most of your creations.

You're lucky you're as creative as you are. Making games for me sucks, since I can never think of anything.

 

[Issac]

... and if this coal-like material was extremely abundant, like this world's oil, ...

I thought we were about to run low on oil

Anyway, It sounds like a really cool idea!
And a thought I just got was: What if the hellcoal was starting to run low... only the "rich and powerful" would have access to it, and it'd become a war over the resources and stuff...

 

[Sterling]

I forget which platform will you eventually be developing for?

 

[chrisman01]

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

At this point in time, I have no idea what platform Stahl Reich and/or this game will be on. By the time I get into a company somewhere, though, I bet we'll be on the next generation of consoles, or at least very close to the next generation.

As for the war being over hellcoal, yeah, I was thinking that would be one of the possible causes of the war. Gotta sit down and flesh out this story, but until then I have a 3 hour class to go to... wee...

 

[Jamstruth]

Interesting idea, I think. I get the feeling that this setup seems familiar. It mainly reminds me of Mortal Engines (a book) and not any games come to mind though...
Have you thought about genre? FPS? Action? Something that needs to be thought of for a pitch.

The initial setup seems pretty decent. A pretty dark, gritty world could be created around it. I'd suggest avoiding Gas Masks unless there's a specific reason for it. I, personally, think they're a bit overused to make the bad guys faceless and generic (if you still want them have it that the Smog created by the constant coal burning is poisonous or something... there's probably a plot in that somewhere.)

 

[chrisman01]

yup, gas masks are frequent because of smog for one, and because poisonous gasses (like in WWI) are still used in war.

Definately thinking first person shooter for this one, and the multiplayer side would play a lot like Battlefield 2, with huge maps where vehicles are almost imperative to use, and players would have to use teamwork to win. Don't know about a conquest-like game mode, but I'm juggling with that idea still.

I can't think of any steampunk first person shooters, or very many games in general for that matter. Odd, considering a quick google search comes up with hundreds of pieces of amazing steampunk art. Thus this idea is slightly more original than Stahl Reich, which is essentially robots taking over the world

 

[Sterling]

The story... Hmm. War over the Hell Coal. Overlord Mining Company. Perhaps could be like something how the American Civil War was. Deeply industrialized and oppressive on one side (Not how it was, but roll with me here), deeply polluted too. Then in a stark difference a side that has rolling hills and wild life. Because they don't have coal this side has remained untouched. They may not have coal, but they have clean gas. They don't have advanced weapons like the SPARC (I love that name by the way), but they have learned how to fire primitaive (but powerful) bows, and they have exceptional assassins. (Even the OMC know when they want someone dead that they go hire an assassin). The peaceful side has just discovered their own very large deposit of hell coal. However, they don't immediately use it. The see the shit happening over on the other side, and want to prevent this... Multiplayer could be cool class based warfare. Fully customizable though.

 

[chrisman01]

The story... Hmm. War over the Hell Coal. Overlord Mining Company. Perhaps could be like something how the American Civil War was. Deeply industrialized and oppressive on one side (Not how it was, but roll with me here), deeply polluted too. Then in a stark difference a side that has rolling hills and wild life. Because they don't have coal this side has remained untouched. They may not have coal, but they have clean gas. They don't have advanced weapons like the SPARC (I love that name by the way), but they have learned how to fire primitaive (but powerful) bows, and they have exceptional assassins. (Even the OMC know when they want someone dead that they go hire an assassin). The peaceful side has just discovered their own very large deposit of hell coal. However, they don't immediately use it. The see the shit happening over on the other side, and want to prevent this... Multiplayer could be cool class based warfare. Fully customizable though.

Well, two things:

1.) having one side with steel, zeppelins, and other advanced tech while the other side is more primitive (say with Final Fantasy II style airships, bows, etc.) would be really unbalanced in multiplayer. This game might have a campaign, but at the moment I'm envisioning it to be mostly multiplayer.

2.) No game I will ever create will ever have weapon unlocks, wicked complicated customizations, etc. Unlike CoD or Bad Company, I want this game to be balanced. It'll have a leveling system to show how much you've played, but you won't unlock any uber weapons or perks for doing so. To point to Battlefield 2 once again, maybe have one or two weapons that are relatively balanced compared to the starting weapons.

Not trying to make a clone of BF2, but it's one of the most balanced FPS games I can think of.

That's the biggest beef I have with the latest CoDs and Bad Company. You start out as level 1 with peashooters, then you go against people that have played for hundreds of hours and have 2-hit-kill weapons, ridiculous and arcadey perks, and so on. In real life you can't select three perks that can make you 1 hit kill, take ridiculous amounts of damage, and/or be invisible on radar.

/rant

 

[Sterling]

The story... Hmm. War over the Hell Coal. Overlord Mining Company. Perhaps could be like something how the American Civil War was. Deeply industrialized and oppressive on one side (Not how it was, but roll with me here), deeply polluted too. Then in a stark difference a side that has rolling hills and wild life. Because they don't have coal this side has remained untouched. They may not have coal, but they have clean gas. They don't have advanced weapons like the SPARC (I love that name by the way), but they have learned how to fire primitaive (but powerful) bows, and they have exceptional assassins. (Even the OMC know when they want someone dead that they go hire an assassin). The peaceful side has just discovered their own very large deposit of hell coal. However, they don't immediately use it. The see the shit happening over on the other side, and want to prevent this... Multiplayer could be cool class based warfare. Fully customizable though.

Well, two things:

1.) having one side with steel, zeppelins, and other advanced tech while the other side is more primitive (say with Final Fantasy II style airships, bows, etc.) would be really unbalanced in multiplayer. This game might have a campaign, but at the moment I'm envisioning it to be mostly multiplayer.

2.) No game I will ever create will ever have weapon unlocks, wicked complicated customizations, etc. Unlike CoD or Bad Company, I want this game to be balanced. It'll have a leveling system to show how much you've played, but you won't unlock any uber weapons or perks for doing so. To point to Battlefield 2 once again, maybe have one or two weapons that are relatively balanced compared to the starting weapons.

Not trying to make a clone of BF2, but it's one of the most balanced FPS games I can think of.

That's the biggest beef I have with the latest CoDs and Bad Company. You start out as level 1 with peashooters, then you go against people that have played for hundreds of hours and have 2-hit-kill weapons, ridiculous and arcadey perks, and so on. In real life you can't select three perks that can make you 1 hit kill, take ridiculous amounts of damage, and/or be invisible on radar.

/rant

Well, I'm not saying it has to be like CoD. Crossbows really did work out great in BlOps, so with the right system regular bows would work out great. Since I'm assuming there won't be any real fire arms, then primitive Draw bows, and repeaters would still hold water. Large maps would also provide other ways for players to proceed with the battles. Green side would have an advantage with camouflage and stealth (Perhaps traps and stuff), while the Red side would have technologically advanced firepower (Eg the SPARC, and possibly repeating ballistae).

The way I envision the multiplayer, is the Red side goes into battle expecting the green side to hide. The maps would have a specific feel to them. Certain maps would have a transition area where the trees and grass diminish, and give way to a smoggy inhospitable landscape. Pitted and exploited. Only the most hearty greens do battle here with the Reds. Berserkers and armor is a must here. Amongst the trees and such are the stealthy greens. They do battle with bow and traps from the shadows. Traps that hold things in place, or pits are common. The Reds only dare to assault this area when making the final push. These maps would be like capture areas and move on. Deathmatches and such would be areas that for the most parts consistent, but never just Barren, or Green. No one would have the single advantage.

Since I don't think you're using firearms, then I think limbs being damaged should have an effect.

 

[chrisman01]

...huh. Excellent ideas, but they're getting further and further away from my vision XD

I was thinking both sides would almost have the same level of technology, but the war would be over resources and, of course, political views. Essentially a retelling of WWII, but the entire planet would be consumed, the empires would be much larger, and it would take place more than just in Europe and the Pacific. Giant airship battles, naval battles, maybe battlefields with teams the size of MAG (100 people per team or so) that would span entire island nations, with warships flying overhead, legions of steam powered tanks and other mecha, and soldiers everywhere...

At this rate, I'd say you should join a rival game company. Your idea is wicked good, but it sounds a lot like Avatar (as in too light hearted), and not dark enough for this world I'm envisioning.

Shall we someday meet on the battlefield of game design, good sir/madam!

EDIT: Also, big thumbs up to the limb damage! And there are firearms, but they'll be like WWI era, and then there'll be steam powered guns as well. I have to sketch some weapons...

 

[Sterling]

Eh, I was just throwing a few out there. I'm a bit dissatisfied with current FPSs, and I myself have always envisioned a medieval FPXX. Where, you would be on the battlefield with the warriors on the front lines, and the Mages and Archers on the support. Of course with a few specializations, mages could fight alongside the warriors, and the Archers doing work all the same. Seems like it has always made sense that you get shot in the leg, you hobble, and if your arm is disabled, then yea. Medics would be a must.

There would have been a time when I would have been all for joining a game company, but after seeing a few of my friends getting laid off then it kinda diminished my wants. Although, I'm going to be a programmer that much is certain.

I'm thinking that an Online FPRPG would be cool. Have a level up system where you'll be thrust into a few roles.

 

[Jamstruth]

Steam powered guns? Guns still work off gunpowder, their principles are mechanical. You could have some quite modern weapons without oil. You just wouldn't have any plastics. Steam is needed for big engine powering or power generation not really guns.

Oh and Argentum, I'm sure there's a Source mod along those medieval lines. Remember playing it a bit a year or 2 back.

 

[Sterling]

Steam powered guns? Guns still work off gunpowder, their principles are mechanical. You could have some quite modern weapons without oil. You just wouldn't have any plastics. Steam is needed for big engine powering or power generation not really guns.

Oh and Argentum, I'm sure there's a Source mod along those medieval lines. Remember playing it a bit a year or 2 back.

Oh shit really!?

Gonna have to track it down then, because I just so happen to bought source and stuff.
Oh, yea. The confederates in the American Civil War tested a working Machine Gun with steam power. It worked. The SPARC doesn't seem like it would be portable, it would seem more like a Ballista more than anything.

 

[chrisman01]

There is gunpowder, of course, I'm just thinking of other weapons. Like the soldier wears a tank on his back that builds up steam pressure, then his gun launches a small spear-like bullet or something along those lines.

Gunpowder exists, but so do some very complicated steam contraptions. As for why armies would use those weapons, well.... Creative liberties? ;D

 

[Sterling]

There is gunpowder, of course, I'm just thinking of other weapons. Like the soldier wears a tank on his back that builds up steam pressure, then his gun launches a small spear-like bullet or something along those lines.

Gunpowder exists, but so do some very complicated steam contraptions. As for why armies would use those weapons, well.... Creative liberties? ;D

Make it to where Hell coal is its own heat source. Like you said, just one would be able keep going for a bit. A small amount of water can build up nice amounts of pressure in a small contained system. If its just one self contained unit, then make it to where after the steam has been used, have a condenser to recycle the water, then let the cycle start over again.

 

[chrisman01]

There is gunpowder, of course, I'm just thinking of other weapons. Like the soldier wears a tank on his back that builds up steam pressure, then his gun launches a small spear-like bullet or something along those lines.

Gunpowder exists, but so do some very complicated steam contraptions. As for why armies would use those weapons, well.... Creative liberties? ;D

Make it to where Hell coal is its own heat source. Like you said, just one would be able keep going for a bit. A small amount of water can build up nice amounts of pressure in a small contained system. If its just one self contained unit, then make it to where after the steam has been used, have a condenser to recycle the water, then let the cycle start over again.

That... is uncannily exactly what I was thinking o_o

 

[Veho]

Steam cannons are an interesting concept because, while crude, they can be powered by pretty much anything that burns. Gunpowder could be saved for accurate, "precision" weaponry like handguns and rifles, but if all you need to do is hurl something heavy roughly in the direction of your enemies, steam cannons or trebuchets would work just as well.

And if you have a slow-burning, compact source of energy, like the hellcoal, it might make more sense to create weapons based on that, rather than to lug a ton of gunpowder around.

 

[mameks]

Nice drawings ^~^
Pyder looks like it's from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (ep3)