Consider this the first entry in a series on game ideas I've had. Some of these may be games I actually have made or prototyped, some are just concepts that I think would be cool. I'm a little afraid to see some shovelware company steal my ideas and make thousands, but frankly, I'm not that good an idea guy, and even if I was, I'm not likely to ever be able to see these games made, so I may as well share the ideas.

First, let me point out that I do make my own games from time to time. A friend and I did make a fairly popular downloaded game called "Flags of Doom" based loosely on Jumpman for the C64. It's still an awesome game, but I don't have a copy that works on this mac. Otherwise, I'd upload it and do a write-up in this blog. I've also written a few adventure games, 1 which was released and another which has been in the works for years but it a little too buggy to let out there. So I have some basic game design experience.

Anyway, this is my first idea in the series, hope you like it.

Luminous Seasons
Wii


Pitch

Katamari Damacy meets Sim Town in this weather-themed action-puzzler for the Wii. When junior weather demon Lummus is chosen to "paint" Golden Valley, he must step up or ship out. Roll out snow, shoot out seeds, yank out flowers and shake down leaves in this colourful take on the seasons, but watch out, because you're not the only one who wants this particular prime real estate.

Graphics

Since we're dealing with a highly procedural world, graphics should be simple and cartoony. The game is meant to be light and fun, and packed with personality. Katamari damacy's functional graphics are one example, as are the slightly blocky but personable graphics of the 3D Goemon series.



Gameplay

The basic idea throghout Luminous Seasons is basically the fun of creating the seasons, of running the weather as one small creature in a larger world. Much as in the Sims or Animal crossing, the people of this world live out their daily lives on automatic, but your snow and wind and rain can really mess up their day, just as they can get in your way, slow you down and undo what you've done. Because the premise is simple, however, anything below can be changed or eliminated if it complicates or confuses the basic gameplay dynamic too much.

It should be fun to play casually and challenging to master for completionists.

Gameplay is varied and changes from task to task as the seasons change, but is broken up into expanding challenges over 4 short years. Challenges run from painting all the leaves in a grove within a particular time-limit, to covering an entire town in a blanket of snow before morning. As the game progresses, you are entrusted to a larger and larger portion of Golden Valley until you have the entire canvas of the Town, Medow, Lake, and Mountain to cover in the affects of the season. The game can therefore be played casually, making fun shapes out of snow/flowers, or more seriously, trying to unlock each area, master your skills and beat each challenge in the best possible score.

Lummus has various abilities to clear each stage and challenge. When he builds up a little speed, Lummus can roll, and just rolling produces snow, lawn, flowers, or dead grass wherever he moves. Rolling is also a valuable defense against people, animals or other demons that get in his way. Lummus also can shoot projectiles which again change depending on the season. In winter, he breathes ice which freezes just about anything for a few moments. In spring he causes a fine spray of drifting seeds around him in an arc, which is needed for particular challenges and stuns surrounding obstacles. In summer he spits a small fountain of rejuvinating/pushing water, and in fall, a strong or weak jolt of lightning.



Lummus also has three spells he can access, but these work in any season and may have to be mixed and matched to solve some puzzles. Lummus can call up a small gust of wind, and if he holds it, create a whirlwind that will shoot him high into the air. He can call a burst of sunlight, which also helps light darkened areas. He can call a small cloud which will produce either rain or snow, depending on the season, and which will stay in place as he moves elsewhere.



Finally, Lummus can pull or push, the former with the shake of the wiimote, the later just by walking into things. He can pull buds into leaves, tug crops out of the ground, lift pots over his head and then toss them.

Enemies

Luminous Seasons is not an action/brawler filled with monsters to kill. Essentially, it is a race against the clock to paint an area of Golden Valley with the affectations of a season, or to complete a particular task for a particular weather god. However, there are a number of barriers that might get in Lummus's way.

I) Townsfolk

Townsfolk are just going about their business, but don't necessarily take kindly to a weather demon wrecking their day. They may chase him off with the broom, or melt all his nice snow, or ride tractors, tilling up where he means to plant. All kinds of people bar his way in all kinds of ways, and he will have to distract, knock down, or avoid them to get his job done in time.

II) Animals

Animals like dogs, cats and elephants are a constant worry to a small creature like Lummus. Lummus doesn't have an HP bar, but if he get cornered or caught, it can really slow him down. A little thunder will scare those dogs away though. Elephant, not so much.

III) Other demons

Other nature demons of course want in on Lummus's territory and might just be out to cause some trouble. They might knock him out of a tree he's painting, or melt his snow at the behest of another weather god, or burn up all his nice leaves. Unlike the humans, Lummus can talk to many of these other demons, and might be able to convince them to leave if he does them a favour. Or, if they're not in the talking mood, he might have to knock them out a few times to show them who's in charge.



Story

Simple, but silly. Lummus is working for a host of weather gods that may want him to do or undo his work at any time. The Gods are always arguing and never in agreement and it's almost impossible for him to advance. Sometimes they will even pit him against another demon, and that's not cool.

In the end, Lummus may need to convince his bosses to stop fighting so they can get some real weather done, probably at the expense of the poor, silly humans.

By the end of the game, Lummus will be able to tackle the whole valley, and in doing so, unlock a mode where he can use all 4 seasons at will, and just play with the people as much as he likes. If he can get the Gods to stop fighting each other for a second and appreciate his fine work.


Music and Mood

Bouncy with a unique flavour for each season.

That's all for this one for now, unless I remember some other aspect that I forgot to clear up.