A storm chasing game... why not?

[Raggit]

Now that's a game I'd like to play.  But it doesn't exist, that I know of.

I've had the idea for a couple of years now.  It'd be a strategy/action/driving game.

Think of it:  You'd start out at the bottom as an independent tornado chaser, and you work your way up to respected scientist, or whatever.  Or, you could just jump into an instant action mode, or maybe even create your own scenarios.

There'd be many different vehicles available, and tons of gear that you can purchase to help in the chase.  You could make money by selling videos and photographs to various stock companies, TV producers, and magazines and newspapers.  Cash would come in handy for repairing the damage done to your car by that last severe hail storm.

In the higher levels of the career path, you'd be hauling various kinds of weather probes with teams of researchers, that would require placement in the direct path of the tornado.  (An oldie scenario but a goodie.)

Of course you can get out of your car at any time to take pictures, admire the scenery, or take cover in a ditch because you got yourself stuck in the mud right in front of the tornado.

This game would have lots of stunning weather effects, including lightning, rain, hail, intense winds, flash floods (which could be a real problem if they're blocking your escape route,) and of course, all different kinds of possible tornados, from spindly ropes to devastating wedges.   And it just wouldn't be complete without lots of eye popping damage effects, with trees being ripped right out of the ground, houses shattering apart, cars getting rolled, and destruction of pretty much anything else in the path of the twister.

And it'd be the job of the player to navigate around all these unpredictable hazards, in attempt to get in the best possible position without getting in real trouble. 

The storms would develope like real thunderstorms.  They'd build higher and higher, often getting more intense as they go.  Some have lots of rain, some have very little.  If it's really nasty, hail begins to fall. 

Then, if you're lucky, the wall cloud develops, and with a little more luck, a funnel extends towards the ground.  The tornados in the game would also behave like real tornados, moving in a east north east direction, and progressing through each stage of the life cycle:  Developing stage, mature stage, shrinking stage, and the decaying stage.

Not all players have the patience or desire to sit around and just watch a storm develope, so there'd be instant action modes, as well as an ability to set how fast the weather changes, and how often severe weather occurs, etc.

There's even potential for a multiplayer mode, with each player driving their own vehicle towards the storm, taking directions from a teamleader. 

The problem with a game like this is that it'd take quite a system to enjoy it to the max, and the maps would have to be HUGE, in order to make it practical and interesting. 

But anybody who had the system to run it, and the desire for the thrills without the spills would probably love this game.  I know I'd play it!

So, yeah, that's my idea.

[GarageGothic]

Sounds like the Alan Wake engine would be perfect for this idea. I'm not sure how interesting I would find it to play a whole game only about the weather (it's even more niche than those deer hunting games), but as a dynamic world, sandbox sort of game it would be lovely to play around with.

[Darth Mandarb]

I had a similar idea YEARS ago after watching the movie Twister (though mine involved quite a different "world" setting with bad guys trying to stop you and the like, so there was run'n'gun type action as well)!

I think it's a fantastic idea.  The thing about it that appeals to me most is that it's a new "style" of game.  It's not the same old same old. (which the idea I had kind of was)

I would surely play it.

Especially if it's as pretty as that Alan Wake engine.  Holy shit that was amazing looking!  If it looks that good with such a crappy vid, I can't imagine how incredible it'd look on my hdTV!

[LGM]

Why are you posting this here? Send it to developers, quick! Especially those who own the Alan Wake engine. I would TOTALLY play this game.

[Raggit]

I really don't care who takes the idea.  I just wanna see it made, because every spring and summer when the severe weather starts up, I just get that craving.

We ought to solidfy it here, and then send it to somebody. 

Last year, I started on a design document for the game, and drew some concepts for the interface.  Not a whole lot there, but a basic structure just the same.  Maybe I'll post it here.