Hi everyone, I am going to college to be a video game designer. I already thought of an idea for a full-length video game. I’m afraid it sounds a little off and needs more to the story. Here it is:
In Montreal, Quebec there is a special forces group known as the SIF(Special Investigation Force). They are a division under the Montreal Police Department who investigates activities such as homeland terrorism, drug trafficking and murders. One day, three members of SIF, Mark Anderson, David Porter and Victoria McLeod was sent to the rural part of Quebec to investigate a mysterious religious cult who has been reported murdering and brainwashing innocent residents. Two days later, SIF lost contact of their three members and considers them to be missing. A day later SIF sends two members, Jack Mauer and Mia Chang to the area to find out what happened to the the four members.
SIF members Jack Mauer and Mia Chang arrive in a forest in rural Quebec by helicopter. Jack and Mia split up to find the whereabouts of the three missing SIF members. Jack searches through the forest for them and later he runs into a village. He searches the village and he finds out that the villagers have been brainwashed and they attack him. He still couldn’t find the three members. Outside the village, Jack finds a monastery. Outside the monastery, he finds Mia. They together infiltrate the monastery while solving puzzles and fighting monks. They then bump into a strange man named Adolphus who claims to be the cult’s high priest. He tells Jack and Mia that he held the members captive in his underground den so they can be sacrificed. Adolphus walks away laughing evilly. They then enter the monastery’s main chapel and fight the Adolphus’s brother, Brunhilde. After they defeat him, they find the key to a door behind the chapel and it leads to the underground den. The two infiltrate the den and they find the room where the three are being held. They meet Adolphus again and they fight him. Adolphus dies and then Jack and Mia rescues the the three members. They escape the den through a shortcut and Jack sends a chopper to pick them up.
In theory anything could sound good, it’s about the execution. Prototype the game, till then the idea is redundant. If you are inspired by it, work with it.
I thought that was the best part. Anyway, I would say make your game first. Then start thinking about particularities of Mauers’ adventures and potential titles.
Technically, I wouldn’t call this ‘game design’, this is more story-writing/narrative.
But story-wise, it sounds pretty good. I would add some dark/horror elements into the story too.
You mentioned going to school for video game Design. Perfect. I’ve been absorbing Novel writing as of late and being that you are interested in story elements I’d recommend two books:
Early on:
A Story action that affects the Hero with experiencing loss / failure / emotional distress etc, this moves the story towards it’s purpose.
Middle:
Obstacles of increasing difficulty that the hero must overcome to move forward towards the goal. At the same time the Hero’s level of danger to himself and others must increase as things progress forward.
End:
A Symbolic Death Rebirth of the Hero character that leads to triumph over a Villain.
Like I said both books and many others show this basic story arc, that has a million variations for you to conjure up.
I like where your head is with your story.
From reading both of these books my first question to you would be , who is the Priest?, and what has motivated him to create this cult/army. I could see a cutscene or several interspersed where he explains a touch of his psych and motivations and or plans to his followers, as well as a secret that threatens a large metropolis etc. Showing a glimpse of his plan reveals to the player the huge danger element of what could occur should he/she fail.
Like I said, I like the base of your story, in the end you have to flesh it out, and if you decide to make a game out of it, good luck. You have alot of options for the platform, FPS, Isometric, 2D etc.
Try to think of your game’s potential levels as scenes of a movie as well, and if it works for you laying it out on paper. It helps me to organize my thoughts. Again Good luck.
Actually I want the gameplay to be over-the-shoulder, just like in Resident Evil 4. Not to rip it off, but I prefer that since it will be an action horror game.
Yours can be too.