game idea

[Breeta]

Hi,

I haven't made an AGS game before but I have a story idea and I would like some feedback.

Having worked with dogs for 2 years at a kennel and a pet hospital and currently going to school for a vet tech degree I thought it would be cool to make a game about a dog's life.  The pet hospital I work at takes stray dogs and most of them happen to be pit bulls.  The majority of which are never claimed by their owners and euthanized because the local shelters will not accept this breed.  Its a very sad situation which most people are unaware of.

I thought it might make an interesting game if the main character were a pit bull that was used for dog fighting but he/she is able to escape and must find there way around the world until ultimately they find a good home.

I want to know if I would be able to incorporate a health meter and have the game timed so if for example the dog could not find food in a certain amount of time it would die.  Also could it have a simple combat system?

I have no knowledge of programming but some artistic ability if anyone would like to work with me.  If completed it might make an interesting and educational game.

Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Breeta

[pslim]

I think that's a great idea for a game, Breeta. I would definitely play it.

As for the other questions, you might find the thread about making RPGs with AGS helpful.

[Kweepa]

You'd probably be interested in this game by Sinitrena, if you haven't seen it:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/games.php?action=detail&id=427

The game idea sounds interesting but I question the addition of a combat system - I wouldn't focus on dogfighting in a game whose message is presumably anti-dogfighting.

[Ghost]

That sound like a very promising idea- i always had a soft spot for games with non-human protagonists. Can't think of too many games starring dogs.
I'd like to suggest a very good book to you: Fool On The Hill by Matt Ruff. There is a great sub-plot in there about a dog looking for heaven, and his adventures alone might kick a few sparks.

I agree with McCrea that a fighting system would look a bit out of place, though. Adventure games are more about story and character than about fighting (lame line, i know). It would add some character to your main canine if he actually refused to fight- a strong dog who could solve quite some problems be sheer violence but doesnt do that (for a reason) somehow sound very good to me.

[walty]

That's a great idea for a game, Breeta . It would be interesting to see how you dealt with puzzles and the world in general from a dog's perspective and would make an interesting change from most of the human-based adventure games there are. I can't in fact think of any games with a dog as the protagonist (Sam & Max doesn't count ).

As people have said, having a fighting system sounds kinda iffy, it'll just give your game mixed messages. Which you probably don't want. Good luck with this idea, I hope the idea kicks off and we end up with an interesting and provocative game .

[ManicMatt]

"Dog's life" on the playstation 2 was a nice game. Probably aimed for kids really but I enjoyed it anyway. Also, it wasn't very realistic anyway. Although you could poo and wee at will! And pick up the poo in your mouth and chuck it at people! I'm not kidding!

[GarageGothic]

Great idea, and potentially a very unique game. The main pitfall as I see it would be to make the dog too human. If you want to show the player what it's really like to be a dog, stay far away from the antropomorphism of The Incredible Journey etc. and make it purely about instincts, needs and survival.

Perhaps you could take a look at the 1994 game "Wolf": http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/wolf
I suppose it's more of a simulation, but at the time I saw it as a roleplaying game (possibly because life simulations like The Sims weren't very common back then)..

[Breeta]

Thanks for all the support.  Its sounds like if you would enjoy playing it then its worth the time.  I hear the anti-combat message.  I was thinking that the dogs who wont fight usually are murdered but a pacifistic hero would make a better story.  So I've started working on some maps. 
And I can't find the lead either
-Breeta

[TheCheese33]

The food meter would work in a game. I think you'd have to use a 3D engine for it to be sucessful, though.

[Hammerite]

how come?

[TheCheese33]

Well, it'd be very hard to make the food challenge not impossible or too easy to do. It would have to do with the extremely difficult coding you'd have to do. The food meter itself wouldn't be a problem (just use a modified counter, like people use to make time bombs), and it's just hard to explain. Maybe if you were doing a sidescroller, it would work better. It would still fit into the storyline you have going, and you could set the food containers around like powerups.

It's all up to what you want to do, though.