October 26, 2004
On going proposal for a cloud-play game

Here is a rough idea about a game design for the EA grants coming next spring. I'm still working on the paper prototype and looking for potential teammates. If you are interested please drop me an email: xinghanc@usc.edu
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Jupiter - Cloud Mania
Introduction
You must have played enough sand & mud. It is time to play cloud!
In "Jupiter", you play as a refugee from the dying Jupiter and need to create a "homelike" environment on earth. Yes, your ultimate goal is to create an infinite storming climate "Red Spot" for your companies. However, to create your new homeland, you have to conquer the weather on earth as well as the creatures and aggressive human beings.
As a pioneer from Jupiter, you have enough techniques to deal with the atmosphere on earth and use them as your energy source. From basic creating and shaping cloud Gozzilas to forging a magnificent hurricane, you can create and learn all kinds of weathers on earth, such as rains, fogs, snows, hails, all kinds of lightening, storms, tornados and huge hurricanes beyond the memory of men.
You started from the South Pole with a small wind current,
and finally create a none-stop ground lifting hurricane above the
Game Feature
1. Ground breaking game-play object (Cloud & earth weather)
2. Educational content living with the game-play (Game rules based on earth science & meteorology)
3. Right hemisphere play + Left hemisphere play (Creativity + rational strategy)
4. New way for game interaction (Intuitive hand gesture input)
5. Challenging graphics and simulation programming (None reference in history)
6. Challenging art direction (Abstract but easy to project reality, destructive but low violence)
Game-play Architecture
Jupiter consists of three layers supporting different game-play.
Virtual Cloud-box
On top of the architecture is a sandbox. Sandbox is a widely used feature among the game developers. It is an environment which allows player to play and create almost anything they want in the border of media.
You must have played guessing clouds in your childhood. It is our instinct to imagine and create. In Jupiter, a virtual cloud-box offers players a spacious sky as their canvas and realizes the dream of shaping your own clouds. You can casually create funny looking clouds or use cloud to draw light and shadows. This promise the possibility for self-forgetting gaming experience which we called the right hemisphere play.
Besides creating, players can also play all kinds of weathers with the knowledge about meteorology gained from the game. They don¡¯t have to follow the goal in the game. Instead, they can be cold-blooded invaders or a friendly neighborhood protecting the earth¡¯s environment.
God-like Empowerment
Continuous Rewarding
Core Systems
The whole game runs upon a highly autonomous system which
simulates the basic meteorology phenomenon.
To be continued...
Concept for tornado

Cloud Types

More cloud reference...
A wonderful photo report of storms...
Posted by Jenova at October 26, 2004 12:00 AM
Comments
rockin! can't wait to play!
Posted by: Kellee at October 26, 2004 9:21 AM
hey, I'm not sure if this was intentional, but it's really not cool to post something and change the timestamp so your little post stays at the top of the blog the entire day...
It really ruins the entire concept of what the blogroll function is doing, and it's not fair to other people.
Posted by: will at October 26, 2004 10:54 AM
fix the date.
thank you.
Posted by: tripp at October 26, 2004 10:57 AM
Sorry guys, I changed the dates just because I don't want to have two same dates together (too ugly). Not intentioanlly to stay on top. I changed it to 00:00:02 now.
Posted by: Jenova at October 26, 2004 11:38 AM
I figured as much -- thanks for changing back.
Posted by: will at October 26, 2004 12:01 PM
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