In interactive writing, we are taking an existing game-rule structure and building narrative into it. I would like to try starting with a narrative idea, building some gameplay around it, then tweaking both until something really cool results. So as a first step, I'd like to create a prototype that explores how a navigable environment can tell a story.
Idea: A set of rooms or outdoor locations that a player can explore to gain some idea of the characters that inhabit (or previously inhabited) them. Ideally, this should include some simple goal for the player to accomplish (but the goal may not be explicitly stated).
Implementation:
- Maya-modeled scenes
- Macromedia Director interface with Myst-like navigable pre-rendered stills.
- Ambient sounds & foley
- Placeholder music tracks
- Possibly one chroma-keyed video character
Setting: I’m thinking either the Great Hall, since I’d love an excuse to finish it in its current version, or a Myst-like island with a power-activation puzzle, triggered somehow by a weather-worn LCD panel by the dock.
A simple, Myst-like interface is sufficient here, because it will allow me to explore 3D art & storytelling, without being fettered by technology (though the next logical step in my mind would be to port this to a real-time 3D engine).
Here's a link to my Interactive Writing Project:
http://www-scf.usc.edu/~msteffen/TelmahreMain.htm
It's the "Official Web Page" for a fictional government.
In case you guys are like me and forget to go to the Interactive Writing blog, here's a link to some story ideas for my project:
(Seems I've slipped pretty far down in the face roll--time to fix that!)
I've decided to shelve me game engine project and begin researching existing 3D engines. This wasn't an easy decision to make, largely because I really do feel I have the capacity to code my own engine, but I began to feel that it was an unnecessary exercise for me. So I've decided to look into existing engines. The advantage there is that I can more quickly get into some actual game design (which I've never done before), rather than re-inventing the wheel. I'm particularly looking at the Unreal2 Engine (thanks Jenova for suggesting it!). Initially, I was scared off by the complexity of the level-editor/dev tool, but the wealth of features seem to make it worth it. There are also an extensive set of free video tutorials on 3DBuzz.com.
I will also be looking into CrystalSpace , an open-source altenative. If anyone else looks into these engines, let me know what you think.