Day 9
So today I took stock of what I need to make my game playable at the least, then what I would be able to add to the game in order to make it bigger and more exciting after meeting the initial goals.
In concept art as in product design, there is what is called M.V.P. or Minimum Viable Product. So, for structure, I'm going to use an offshoot of that term called Minimum Viable Game.
M.V.G.
- Players receive initial goal or 'gift'.
- Players can interact with other characters.
- Players can receive tasks from characters.
- Once players complete each task, they are rewarded.
- Players will play in chunks of 24 seconds (fulfills the micro-gameplay core idea)
- Play will last for 7 days (each second will count as if it was an hour, 1 day = 24 seconds). At the end, player is rewarded on how many tasks were completed and whether they kept to the goal they received in the beginning.
Completing this, my game will be playable while respecting the theme and concept I came up with using the verse. After this, I can move on to expanding the base game.
After M.V.G. is achieved:
- Add character animations.
- Add mini-games.
- Add end-sequence on ferry or train.
- Expand game world.
- Add extra rest stops for when night falls..
Right now I've gotten a 24-second timer set up which restarts the game every time it counts down. This gives me an idea of how long it takes to reach certain characters and move around them. It also allows me to explore gameplay with that time constraint, so I know how to fit in everything else. I've also revealed to you a little of the game's underlying narrative in the above lists.
I hope the mystery entices you to want to play the game!