Adventure Game Brainstorming Poll

[DojoGrant]

Hi all,

Relatively new to the website and to the forums.  My roommates and I are looking to begin work on creating a full-length adventure game using this engine over the next year, but of course, if you don't have a good idea for the game, the work could end up being in vain.

So I thought I'd run a poll here and see what kind of setting/features are most popular and interesting among what is obviously an avid adventure game community.

GAME SETTING:
1) What time period is most interesting to you in playing an adventure game?
  a) Prehistoric time
  b) Ancient civilization (Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, Chinese, etc)
  c) Medieval Europe
  d) Colonial America/Renaissance Europe
  e) 19th-20th century Europe/America
  f) Modern Day
  g) Relative future (100 years max)
  h) Deep future
  i) Other (Be Very Specific)

2) Which of these "forces" is more interesting in a plotline?
  a) Religious/Divine Intervention
  b) Voodoo/Magic/Occult
  c) Scientific/Artificial Intelligence
  d) Mutation/Evolution
  e) None of the above

3) What variety of environments do you prefer?
  a) Multiple environments (visiting various locations)
  b) Single or few environments (much exploration in a single area)

4) How do you prefer to play the game as far as character selection?
  a) I like playing as one character the whole time
  b) I like being able to switch between different characters at will
  c) I like being able to switch between different characters as the game decides

5) Are you more interested in
  a) A new game based on an existing, popular franchise, or
  b) A new game based on original characters and background story

6) Are you more interested in
  a) science fiction, or
  b) fantasy, or
  c) neither

7) Do you prefer a game that, in overall tone, is
  a) extremely silly (ex: DOTT, Sam and Max)
  b) lighthearted (ex: Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis)
  c) serious (ex: The Dig)

GRAPHICS:
8) What screen resolution would you prefer to play games in?
  a) 320x200
  b) 640x480
  c) 800x600

9) What 2D art style do you prefer?
  a) Hand drawn/painted (realistic)
  b) Hand drawn/painted (cartoonish)
  c) CG graphics
  d) Other (please elaborate)

10) Which GUI do you prefer?
  a) Sierra's GUI (Space Quest, King's Quest)
  b) LucasArt's GUI (DOTT, Indiana Jones and Fate of Atlantis)
  c) LucasArt's GUI (Curse of Monkey Island, Full Throttle)
  d) Something original

PACING AND DESIGN:
11) Do you prefer a game that is
  a) quite long
  b) of medium length
  c) short

12) Do you prefer a lot of challenge in your game?
  a) Yes, I like difficult puzzles that REALLY make me think.
  b) I like puzzles, but they should be easy enough to figure out.
  c) I'm not big on challenging games.

13) Which is more important?
  a) Conversation and story
  b) Puzzles and object interaction

14) What is your favorite adventure game?


Thank you all for taking the time to answer these questions!  This will help us guage the direction we might want to take the game.

[Kweepa]

This is an unusual way to go about making a game.
I find with games that people rarely know what they want, until you give it to them. Look at the most popular games here - they are very varied.
A game is more likely to get finished if it's coming from you, rather than attempting to fill some perceived market niche. And it's more likely to be good - you're unlikely to be comfortable writing and drawing to specification.

Of course if you're just looking for a lot of downloads, Maniac Mansion Deluxe had 70000 in a weekend. That should tell you something. (Ok, it was on TV.)

[EDIT - here's some answers then]
1. all 2. all 3. a 4. b 5. b 6. a 7. a/b 8. a 9. b 10. b 11. a 12. a/b 13. b 14. DOTT (today)

[DojoGrant]

I'm not trying to tap a market. 

And we'll make the game the way we want to make the game, but that doesn't mean that I also wouldn't like to know at least common interests, because if we actually get through this, I want it to be fun for other people than ourselves, and if my interests are totally foreign to the majority of interests, that doesn't lead very far.

I guess ignore this if you don't want to answer it.    I was just trying to get a bigger perspective of adventure gamer interests.

[jannar85]

Prehistoric time, Modern Day, Future
Voodoo/Magic/Occult
Multiple environments
I like playing as one character the whole time
A new game based on original characters and background story
fantasy
extremely silly
640x480
Hand drawn/painted (cartoonish)
LucasArt's GUI (Curse of Monkey Island, Full Throttle)
quite long
I like puzzles, but they should be easy enough to figure out.
Conversation and story
Monkey Island 2

[Dart]

1. c) Medieval Europe
2. e) None of the above
3. a) Multiple environments
4. c) Switching characters when the game decides
5. b) Original plots
6. c) Fantasy
7. b) Light-hearted
8. a) 320 x 200
9.  a) & b) Hand-drawn but realistic and cartoonish
10. a) Sierra's GUI
11. a) Quite long
12. b) I like puzzles that are neither too challenging or too easy
13. a) Conversation and story
14. Conquests of Longbow

[Vel]

1)e
2)e
3)a
4)c
5)b
6)c
7)c
8)b
9)a
10)c
11)a
12)b
13)a
14) Gabriel Knight III: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned

[AGA]

1) What time period is most interesting to you in playing an adventure game?
  i) Other (the Wild West)

2) Which of these "forces" is more interesting in a plotline?
  e) None of the above

3) What variety of environments do you prefer?
  b) Single or few environments (much exploration in a single area)

4) How do you prefer to play the game as far as character selection?
  b) I like being able to switch between different characters at will

5) Are you more interested in
  b) A new game based on original characters and background story

6) Are you more interested in
  b) fantasy

7) Do you prefer a game that, in overall tone, is
  b) lighthearted (ex: Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis)

GRAPHICS:
What screen resolution would you prefer to play games in?
  a) 320x200

9) What 2D art style do you prefer?
  a) Hand drawn/painted (realistic)

10) Which GUI do you prefer?
  b) LucasArt's GUI (DOTT, Indiana Jones and Fate of Atlantis)

PACING AND DESIGN:
11) Do you prefer a game that is
  a) quite long

12) Do you prefer a lot of challenge in your game?
  b) I like puzzles, but they should be easy enough to figure out.

13) Which is more important?
  a) Conversation and story

14) What is your favorite adventure game?
   Hard to choose, but probably Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders.

[Pet Terry]

GAME SETTING:
1) What time period is most interesting to you in playing an adventure game?
f) Modern Day & g) Relative future (100 years max)

2) Which of these "forces" is more interesting in a plotline?
b) Voodoo/Magic/Occult

3) What variety of environments do you prefer?
Something between a) and b) for me

4) How do you prefer to play the game as far as character selection?
b) I like being able to switch between different characters at will

5) Are you more interested in
b) A new game based on original characters and background story

6) Are you more interested in
b) fantasy

7) Do you prefer a game that, in overall tone, is
b) lighthearted (ex: Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis)

GRAPHICS:
8) What screen resolution would you prefer to play games in?
a) 320x200 or b) 640x480

9) What 2D art style do you prefer?
a) Hand drawn/painted (realistic)

10) Which GUI do you prefer?
d) Something original

PACING AND DESIGN:
11) Do you prefer a game that is
a) quite long

12) Do you prefer a lot of challenge in your game?
b) I like puzzles, but they should be easy enough to figure out.

13) Which is more important?
a) Conversation and story

14) What is your favorite adventure game?
Hmm... Pleurghburg: Dark Ages, Monkey Island 2, Broken Sword...

[TheDude]

I have nothing to contribute to this thread except that my teacher says that you aren't supposed to use the word Brainstorm anymore, since it refers to epileptic fits. She keeps having to correct herself and call it a "Mind Map".

[m0ds]

One of our teachers used to tell us that too.

Though I'll edit in my answers later, (rushed off my a55 right now!) research is good, or is it? I don't think you should worry too much about what other people expect. You should make the game YOU want to make. To be honest, I think you'll be hard pushed to find a decent relationship between every one who posts' answers. That's of course no reason to bear them in mind, I just don't think making a game "to suit" is the best, or even that creative a way of doing it..

[foz]

I agree with Mods....

Make your game if people play it then good if they don`t who cares...

[BOYD1981]

Ã,  1) g Ã, Ã, 
Ã,  2) c
Ã,  3) a
Ã,  4) a
Ã,  5) b
Ã,  6) aÃ, 
Ã,  7) b
Ã,  8) a
Ã,  9) a
10) d
11)Ã,  a
12) b
13) a
14) Beneath A Steel Sky

[DojoGrant]

This was as much for me to just think about ideas, too.  Writing out the questions made me look at all the angles personally.

We've pretty much decided to do a science-fiction game of relative seriousness (but with lighthearted characters) set in the immediate to relative future.  I've come up with some pretty good plot ideas, but it's a little too early to let the cat out of the bag.  My roommate is busy on another project until the end of May, when he can devote some time to begin sketching, but I'll be spending the time trying to flesh out the plot ideas.  Thanks for the input.

[BOYD1981]

I have nothing to contribute to this thread except that my teacher says that you aren't supposed to use the word Brainstorm anymore, since it refers to epileptic fits. She keeps having to correct herself and call it a "Mind Map".

well, i'm epileptic and it doesn't bother me at all, so tell your teacher to shut up and stop being a aietai htiaaathadgjkdajekgjekaleklgkaelktlakp3ojt

[Farsight]

Answers:

1.) a
2.) c
3.) a
4.) c
5.) b
6.) a
7.) b
8.) a
9.) c
10.) a
11.) a
12.) b
13.) b
14.) Space Quest 6

[Mr Jake]

I have nothing to contribute to this thread except that my teacher says that you aren't supposed to use the word Brainstorm anymore, since it refers to epileptic fits. She keeps having to correct herself and call it a "Mind Map".

Dont you hate stupid Political correction.....

Anyway, my answers:-
1)f
2)b
3)a
4)a
5)b
6)a
7)b
8)b
9)a
10)c
11)b
12)b
13)a
14) Monkey Island

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

1) What time period is most interesting to you in playing an adventure game?
  i) Other (Be Very Specific)
  I'm not particular to any given setting, as long as it's well made and historically accuract if the game is serious.

2) Which of these "forces" is more interesting in a plotline?
  Everyone has their opinion... personally, I find they are all great themes.

3) What variety of environments do you prefer?
  Let's say a healthy mixture of both, heh?

4) How do you prefer to play the game as far as character selection?
  a) I like playing as one character the whole time
  c) I like being able to switch between different characters as the game decides
  Both of these. More than one character at the same time MM-style is a hassle, but DOTT-style isn't.

5) Are you more interested in
   A new game with quality.
   (PS - if it comes from a franchise, and that franchise is crappy or too commercial, the game's own quality is always shady)

6) Are you more interested in
   Both o'em.

7) Do you prefer a game that, in overall tone, is
  c) serious (ex: The Dig)
  C's my opinion, but as your examples shgowed, everything can become a masterpiece, if done correctly.

What screen resolution would you prefer to play games in?
Makes no difference for me.

9) What 2D art style do you prefer?
  All of them. I'm partial to Gabriel Knight style... AND to Sam and Max style. Note the contradiction. Which is to say, as long as it's well drawn... Space Quest V had very interesting graphics.

10) Which GUI do you prefer?
   One that fits the game and isn't a hassle, like Midnight Nowhere's.

11) Do you prefer a game that is
  a) quite long
   So I can enjoy it as much as I can, my dear. That's one of the reasons I loved Phantasmagoria, Black Dahlia and Gabriel Knight. And since GK has three games, it's much much longer gameplay!

12) Do you prefer a lot of challenge in your game?
  Puzzles should be fair and integrated into the game world and the storyline. That's all I've got to say on that subject.

13) Which is more important?
  a) Conversation and story
  My personal opinion, of course.

14) What is your favorite adventure game?
Gabriel Knight, Phantasmagoria, Black Dahlia, Sam and Max, Syberia 1, Discworld... sorry, can't pick just one.

[Nine Toes]

I'm confused... MY interests, or the general populace's?

Mine:
1.  f) Modern Day.
2.  b) Occult
3.  a) Multiple Environments
4.  a) I like being able to play as one character the whole time (but, I've always liked being able to either create a character, or be able to choose from several different characters at the beginning of the game)
5.  My answer here depends...
  a) A new game based on and existing popular franchise (I'm a BIG Resident Evil fan, I've played pretty much every game released with a Resident Evil title, and I will continue to play the new ones as they come out whether they suck or not.  GO RE4!).
  b) A new game based on original characters and background story (It's always good to try something new).
6.  a) I would say science fiction, but if you had included either horror or mystery, I would have chosen one of those.
7.  c) Serious
8.  I really don't have a preference, but I'll say b) 640x480
9.  a) Hand-drawn/painted (realistic)
10.  d) Something original.
11.  a) Quite long
12.  b) I like puzzles, but they should be easy enough to figure out.
13.  a) Conversation and story.
14.  That's a tie between Pleurghburg: The Dark Ages, and 5 Days A Stranger.

All in all, though... I'm gonna have to agree with Steve McCrea.  I played around with AGS for about a year trying to make games that other people would think were cool and they all ended up getting scrapped because I just wasn't interested in working on them.  One day I finally said, "screw it" and I started working on a game that I thought would be cool, and I've gotten a lot more done on that one than any other little project I previously had going, and I've actually gotten some good responses for what I've done on it.

~Sully

[Renal Shutdown]

K, here goes..

1. f, g and i. Post-Apocalypse
2. b, c and d.
3. Kinda both - various large places, ie Indy.
4. a.
5. b. (Depending on the franchise).
6. a.
7. It would depend on the game, I like all three.
8. Most games I like are 320x200.  That's purely for computer capabilities.
9. a and b. It would depend on mood of the game.  I'm not a fan of CG.
10. a and d. I'm willing to try new things.
11. a.
12. a. As long as they have some kind of logic to them.
13. Both.
14. Monkey Island II.

[Radiant]

1) What time period is most interesting to you in playing an adventure game?
  a) Prehistoric time
  b) Ancient civilization (Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, Chinese, etc)
  c) Medieval Europe
  d) Colonial America/Renaissance Europe

I believe A or B would be interesting because they're done less often. Generic fantasy is something I happen to like but that's just personal. If it went for futuristic, I would like to see a hardcode science fiction game based maybe on Asimov books.

2) Which of these "forces" is more interesting in a plotline?
  a) Religious/Divine Intervention
  b) Voodoo/Magic/Occult
  c) Scientific/Artificial Intelligence
  d) Mutation/Evolution

D is cool and hardly used to my knowledge (check E.V.O. on HOTU though). A and B are overdone but can be useful if treated right. I guess that applies to C as well. It doesn't matter what you use as long as you pull it off in a decent matter. I guess I'm not being helpful here now

3) What variety of environments do you prefer?
  a) Multiple environments (visiting various locations)

Definitely. I always found KQ6 a bit weird since every room had at least five different things to do in it.

4) How do you prefer to play the game as far as character selection?
  b) I like being able to switch between different characters at will

Seldom-used feature but one I like a LOT!!! Especially if the characters are in the same area and have to cooperate, which frankly I've only succesfully seen in Maniac Mansion and Gobliins 2.

5) Are you more interested in
  b) A new game based on original characters and background story

More interesting than an existing frenchise. Imho.

6) Are you more interested in
  b) fantasy, or

See above.

7) Do you prefer a game that, in overall tone, is
  b) lighthearted (ex: Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis)

If only because most really serious games fall flat at a certain point. I'd like to see a horror game that really horrifies me, though.

8) What screen resolution would you prefer to play games in?

Whatever, I don't care. I'd play 80x24 too.

9) What 2D art style do you prefer?
  a) Hand drawn/painted (realistic)
  c) CG graphics

A, or maybe C. B is overdone but I hated the MI3 gfx.

10) Which GUI do you prefer?

The one used by Legend in the Spellcasting series, where you get to select words from a list. Failing that, I'd prefer the IndyFoA / MI2 GUI from LucasArts.

11) Do you prefer a game that is
  a) quite long

12) Do you prefer a lot of challenge in your game?
  a) Yes, I like difficult puzzles that REALLY make me think.

... as long as they're fair and not a pixelhunt or use-every-item-on-every-object.

13) Which is more important?
  a) Conversation and story
  b) Puzzles and object interaction

Both. Especially when combined.

14) What is your favorite adventure game?

Lemme think.... Maniac Mansion. Enchanter/Sorceror/Spellbreaker. Monkey Island II (and to a lesser extent, I). I'm not saying I don't like Sierras, but I tend to prefer Lucasarts. QfG2 is very good too.


HTH!