I am trying to make a well executed safari photography game, I have a concept, but execution I am having trouble with, I am taking inspiration from Afrika on the PS3 (except that this is a PC game), I have the idea and concept in mind, but execution I am concerned about after reading on IGN that Afrika was boring in execution, what could I do to make a execute a good photography game?
I am unsure and nervous on how I can make an enjoyable safari-based photography game, in terms of execution in the concept, partly being bad negative reviews that is one of the big things I am nervous about.
So did you actually play this “Afrika” game? Did you think it was fun? Were there boring parts?
My personal experience of going to Africa to take photos of the animals was someone stole my camera. Not exactly the experience id want to relive.
Yes, I played Afrika on the PS3 before, and it was alot of fun, IGN said it was boring which made me think negatively!
I am thinking about a fun photo safari game with less constraints, more free roam but with missions of course, I got a gorgeous color palette of African style visuals with more color than dull lighting already setup in Unity, I think honestly with less constraints, it might make better execution for a photography game, where you go and free roam and do things at your own pace and not just follow the main missions I am setting up currently. I think previous older photography games with wildlife had alot of constraints not letting you do things at your pace, constraints would make it boring and less fun, so I think that less constraints could help with execution in my game’s idea and concept, not being limited to photo assignments and missions, but free roam that is more enjoyable than boring.
I guess the focus on the game depend on what sort of player you want to appeal to. Or, you can try to appeal to multiple kinds, but that involves more work of course. Some will want more freedom, some will want some direction.
Though in either case, this would definitely be a niche type of game to pursue.
Maybe look at games like The Good Life, which has a focus on photography, and see how it’s handled. That game had a sort of simulated, fictional social media site that the player could upload images to in order to steadily make money and pay off their debts. Maybe some sort of narrative incentive is in order? Maybe something conservation themed? Educational?
check out “The Hunter: Call of the Wild”
it is a hunting game but many people play it only to photograph the animals. whether you shoot animal with gun or camera the gameplay is the same though.
first you have to learn the animals behavior. then you predict when and where it is going to be. you decide how you’ll get there and go. along the way, new distractions appear so you have goals developing for once you complete your current goal.
you get to the location and anticipation builds. maybe you arrive a bit early. or maybe too late. there is a lot to consider. the animal appears, maybe it is too far away, so you have to stalk closer. This can be tense because it is easy to spook the animal if you chose a bad route to get closer to it, or maybe got impatient and moved too fast. maybe the animal wasnt where you predicted, so you have to replan and try again.
so the players emotional journey is one of analytical planning, anticipation, moments of high stress and pressure, final big satisfaction or crushing defeat, and the length of time this cycle happens over can be like 30 minutes to an hour or more.
as for longer term things to keep the player hooked, you can unlock new weapons and equipment. in a photo-only game this might be cameras that have greater lens so you dont have to stalk as much, or do better in low light, or tripods, or treestands, or drones, etc.
And a big thing is that the game looks gorgeous, so sitting in a hide and waiting is enjoyable on it’s own.
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@lukamas233
Maybe you can use/add in some ideas, from the Pokémon Snap games. That might make your game, a bit more attractive to gamers. So if the gaming media finds your photography game boring, gamers and Pokémon Snap fans, might buy your game, and have fun with it.