CART CGD meeting May 31st, 2009
Everybody please add their name, email and phone contact information of the google document CART CDG contacts list in google docs.
- New doodle with ‘yes, no or maybe’ for having a creative concept meeting. Must decide style so that artists can move forward. Concept art and examples should be posted to blog and/or forum.
*Can Nancy have access to modify/moderate forum? SHADI? All artists have to share their work to discuss specifics at a separate meeting.
- Programming team is done. All have libraries, just need to get things to start working. We can now have water, video textures for cut scenes are now possible (if pre-rendered – SHOULD be pre-rendered since it is easier).
Organization: start a mailing list for JUST the artists.
Moh shows concept art of wheelchair-fat man in Zbrush. Freaky!
Discussion INTERACTION?:
• Concept is so far very story intensive – like myst. Must develop interaction. Programmers will begin to design puzzle/interaction and the story will be written accordingly.
• We like the concept of scale (really big or really small – not necessarily physical size. Think being a general vs. being a random little foot soldier). Mix of action and puzzles, physical puzzles are of interest.
• Option of Interactive Cinema? No goal, just experience the world. Think Heavy Rain, think flower. Is this a good option?
Discussion: The game – adjusting the theme the address the issue of lack of game dynamics.
- We all like interactive cinema with focus on design and story with ONE really neat and interesting interactive twist.
Thought: Playing the same event, the same game, through the eyes of several different people. As individuals, you can change things. You can, perhaps, work together?
- Something is attacking is world. You never see it. It’s your mind, your world, crumbling.
- Something neat but almost impossible! – - You play the game as several characters and as you change characters, your original actions are recorded and you can watch, as this new character, the actions you have already done. See your deaths!
SINGLE PLAYER CO-OP : play as three characters, all within the same 4 blocks during a disaster, they see each other within each others . They all experience the world differently, they all have different goals: to find family members (parents/loved one), to survive, to save the world, to have fun in your last minutes? They all see a different threat: war, creatures, random breakdown of society within itself?
What is the disaster? Assume it is the apocalypse – the four horsemen. Mid-day, the world darkens, things explode with green fire etc. You have no idea. You’re mind is crumbling.
What is the goal? All three characters have interactions AND they can die at any time.
First person is important to be immersive. But third is needed cause you have to recognize the people later. Chosen 3rd person but with recognizable traits (can look down and see hands and body) AND a small introductory movie.
Three opening sets: School (for kid), Office/Homeless (for man), Starbucks (for woman). Non typical characters.
Joke of the day (South Park): “Do you like fish sticks?” “Yes…” “What are you, a gay fish?”
Gameplay: goal – to survive. Characters can help or hinder. The exact same situations can be solved differently ie: kids can get into smaller spaces (vents), the men is stronger and can push things, woman is both mid strong and mid small (?). Everything will be physical can carry things in hands to use or move one at a time. Puzzle will be solved through moving things, exploring things, avoiding things, breaking things.
Elements that are of use will be subtly highlighted by either sound or slightly lighter color – think Half Life (a creaking see-saw? A pile of bricks? Perhaps I could use them…). You can almost pick up everything. All will have mass stat. Need to break a window? Anything will heavy enough mass will work – note, all characters can handle different mass.
Think of puzzles that happen school, office, street, starbucks…a city. Level design is crucial.
