Reference: Look and Feel
Why yes, it is indeed crunch time at DigiPen. Check back during the winter break. But wait! A curious thought has stricken me that I find intriguing. To give you some context:
It hasn't been very clear what this game was going to look like. I've recognized this in previous posts. But in secret, the general idea (speaking for myself, really) has been: "Sonic Adventure was really good, so it'll look like that."
But really... that would be boring. Having several small, sparsely decorated hubs? Sonic Adventure already did that (and did it pretty well, I've noted). Frankly, not only is it unnecessary since Sonic Adventure did such a nice job, but it's far too limiting in scope for our ideas and desires.
So how about this idea: The central hub is a GTA-style sandbox. A large city that the whole gang is free to explore. The setting could involve Eggman taking over the city or something. Level entrances could be scattered throughout the area, and various missions could take place in the same space.
It's not that big of a leap to go from hubs to sandbox. But if we roll with this, it will help us break out of the Sonic Adventure mold. It hasn't been previously done in Sonic games, and the franchise could put some very unique spins on the genre. It would help tie together levels and the greater story, as well as give the whole experience a greater connectedness - AND provide enough space for all seven characters to collide meaningfully.
It's an idea that gets those mental gears turning.
Posts
Interview with Caboos15
1 year ago
.. GTA ?
ReplyDeleteare you from canada , by any chance ? :O
Grand Theft Auto, not Greater Toronto Area.
ReplyDeleteksldhfskladhdfkgjsdkjf;sdfkhg;
ReplyDelete...Canadian Spud. PFFFFFFFFFT-
Er...
So ya know, I once found a video of a Sonic fangame that was done sandbox-style - but the sandbox was the actual levels. And I couldn't understand why everybody was all 'yes, SEGA should do this but they don't because they're idiots'. The game had no HUD and gave no hint on any actual direction to travel, as there were paths all around the starting point, nor was there indication of an end. There weren't even any actual platforms, although they did put a loop in a level - past the drawback distance.
Immediately to me it just stank of bad design choice and 'this is an engine, not a fangame, but I'm calling it a fangame anyway'.
From what I've seen of Sonic '06, Soleanna was pretty large itself, and yet was incredibly boring, with pretty much no memorable NPC's or landmarks. If you're going to make it sandbox style, it's probably going to be a very large space, so you're going to have to add lots of interesting stuff going on. I haven't played a GTA game (not related to Canada), but it sounds pretty similar to the style of most Spider-Man games. In Web of Shadows, for instance, there was a main plot, and objective markers telling you where to go to continue the story, but there were also many side-quests, people to help, and random groups of thugs walking about for you to beat on. If Eggman were actively trying to take over the city, then I'd imagine it to be pretty similar.
ReplyDeleteLOL at Umiyuri ;
ReplyDeletei faaaail . x_x;
back on topic though - i kinda disagree , i like the idea of hubs better for some reason .. i guess it's because there are a variety of environments , you know ?
unlike in a sandbox , where it's the same background and atmosphere the whole time .. :\
( then again , i might be wrong , i dont know much about either . >.<; )
well i just figured this out in sonic unleashed go in a ring or battle trail its like a sandbox trail only the part where you cant make twacks to the level take sonic 1 2 and 3 and kunkles you can get debug mode well in sonic unleashed you dont get debug mode
ReplyDeletebut never go in time unelss you want to but if your looking for a sand box terrain no! because you have to finish qickly
ReplyDelete