PowerPoint Presentation

ZERKOUTGame ProposalbyBrent M. DingleRide elevators; Open doors to unknown adventures;Blast Robot after robot after robot; Viruses; Voices; Exit Escape?But whats behind the next door?

1ZerkOut is a 3D, multi-perspective, one robot versus many robotsshooter mystery.

You must Escape the factoryand Stop the Virus.

And for the love of platinum plating, what is that voice in your head?

ZERKOUTHigh Concept, Hook, Marketing

ZerkOut is a 3D, multi-perspective, one robot versus many robotsshooter mystery.

You must Escape the factoryand Stop the Virus.

And for the love of platinum plating, what is that voice in your head?

ZERKOUTHigh Concept, Hook, Marketing

ZERKOUTHigh Concept, Hook, MarketingZerkOut is a 3D, multi-perspective, one robot versus many robotsshooter mystery.

You must Escape the factoryand Stop the Virus.

Anddid I mention the voice in your head?

ZERKOUTGame Type and Target AudienceGenreAction, Multi-Perspective Shooter

RatingEveryone 10+

Target AudiencePeople who likeshooting and blowing stuff upexploringsolving maze like puzzles solving mini-quests

ZERKOUTUnique FeaturesUnique featuresElevators and Stairs are the main method of travelDoors lead to new rooms and areas to explore Guiding VoiceCombines the intensity of a shooter game with spatial puzzles and a mystery to solveRe-playable with advancing difficulty and upgradable equipmentNew content and levels may be downloadedAdditional content may be created by playersZERKOUTStoryline: Objectives and PlotMajor ObjectivesEscape/Clear the factory (repeatedly)Stop the virus (solution points)Get upgrades (purchasable)

Score is given for Factory based on Time it takes to escapeNumber of enemy robots destroyedScore earns bonus microchips for the escapeXP is given based on score. XP allow cross player compare.

The game has no endGame saves player stateNOT factory stateAuto-saves on factory escapeTitle screen allows new character or continue character

Player DestructionResults in restart of current factoryLimited time after death may purchase a continue to prevent restart (microchips)

Pitch Point: This game has some must-haves and a lot of room for if-we-have time things.

Lots of ways to twist the story and use ideas from multiple people

Overall, Game Concept allows for incremental development and expansion

7ZERKOUT Game Flow Main Area: Elevators to Doors to RoomsFactory is 3DThe main area is a room of 4 wallsEach wall has elevators (and stairs)Each wall has a multitude of doors

Vary in colorMay need keysMay be barredOne is the exitEnemies come out doorsDoors canTeleport you to other doorsOpen into Equipment roomsOpen into Production rooms

ZERKOUT Game FlowRoom: Bottom Floor FactoryPlayer begins on the Bottom FloorFull 3DAccess to all four wallsRobot generator(s)

Limited mobility to DoorsElevatorsSpan multiple floorsStairsUp/down 1 floor

Doors canTeleport you to other doorsOpen into Equipment roomsOpen into Production rooms

There is an additional game-mechanic implied in the image. The character has crouch ability. Ability to fire is always horizontal at standing height or crouch height. Jump may or may not be allowed.

9ZERKOUT Game FlowRooms: Equipment or ProductionEquipment Rooms ProvideResources/upgradesComputer PortsInformation/hints/questsSave Options

Production Rooms ContainEnemy Robot GeneratorsResourcesVirus Code DropsDoor in is NOT the door out

ZERKOUTGameplay SummaryThe player is a robot that must destroy virus-infected robotsand find a way to the exit doorto escape a multi-level factory

Environment is 3DEmphasis is vertical: elevators, stairways, and doors

Player collects code for solution points to solve the mystery of the virus

Game play is hectic robot swarms

A voice (Zerk?) talks to the player, offering advice/criticism The voice is not always rightZerk VoiceSubplot and name of game (also twist on Berserk)Get Zerk Out (of a factory and maybe out of your head)11ZERKOUTArt Style Summary3D realistic, A little grungy, Tech Heavy, Variable DetailRobots preferred to be humanoid but do not have to be

Robots are shown as humanoid but do not have to be12ZERKOUTVision of Development1st: Main AreaDefines a Game by itself

2nd: Equipment RoomsDefine player upgrades

3rd: Production RoomsDefine more fun and expandabilityFull 3D, Lots of Art requiredPlayer Moves around, Fires WeaponsPrototype/Test Voice and Sound stuffEnemies come out doors incrementally add drops prototype and test putting generator(s) on bottom levelElevators/Stairs workExit Door exits game, get to it and get out (no other requirements)Fancy Menu ScreenMay be a real room or notSave FeaturesPlayer Equipment UpgradesTemporarily allow Virus Code Pick up to test Exit DoorWill require prototypingKeep artwork low-resKeep AI primitiveMake a tool to make these once the basic implementation is fully decidedOptimally would load from a zipped file in a MODs directoryFile contains maze description(wall placement, exit, enemy generators) and tile sheet for artZERKOUTPresentation SummaryWhy make this game?

This game has a high probability of successFor Completion and being FUN (to create and play)Implementing the mechanics of this game can be done quicklyThen it is all expansion and adding more fun!

Door idea is expandableMore types Where/what they lead toAdditional (downloadable) contentPlayer ModsIt is ONE main 3D-roomThe Equipment rooms are a menu displayThe Production rooms are fake 3D overhead view mazes (low-detail, low poly)

It has a unique feel (but not way-out-there)

The potential for re-use is high for all assetsThe EndQuestions?

Additional information may be found Past this slide and in the Inception DocumentExtra InformationThe following slides are ones that were created but thrown-out

They were too detailed or time consuming to include in the pitch presentation

They may be useful in answering questions or explaining details laterZERKOUTStoryline: Objectives and PlotMajor ObjectivesEscape/Clear the factory (repeatedly)Stop the virus (solution points)Get upgrades

Possible Minor SubplotsGet the voice out (free Zerk)Defeat False Cici Source (fake exit)Defeat Cozbot (real exit option 2)

Pitch Point: This game has some must-haves and a lot of room for if-we-have time things.

Lots of ways to twist the story and use ideas from multiple people

Overall, Game Concept allows for incremental development and expansionThese come laterZERKOUTStoryline ConceptSimple Story FirstOne (repeatable) Factory, One Escape

You save everyone (all robots) upon exitExit room only allows exit when enough virus code has been collected

Some static hardcoded contentDoor placement to this content is randomized

Other rooms are randomized content and placement

RepeatableDifficulty goes up each timeUpgrades remain

Add more later

ZERKOUTEnemy TypesEnemy Robots in Production Rooms are via GeneratorsLike Gauntlet

Two extra enemy types to stress the playerBouncerPlayer hunterReaper in GauntletOtto in Berserk

CleanersMoving Laser GridsNon-hunterPath followerResident Evil 1

ZERKOUTEnemy DropsVirus codeNeed N of these to allow the final exit door to open

MicrochipsFor buying upgrades

Energy PacksRestore HealthRestore Weapon EnergyRestore Shield Energy

ZERKOUTSoundSound will be importantLow volume backgroundSlow tempo for intro/menusFaster when fighting occursVarious voices and noiseOne primary voice that is in the players headNotice this implies:

A sound specialist may be needed

Also needs an AI design for how to trigger when the voice in the head gets triggeredCould make a research topic out of this aspect conference game design paper.

Do users respond/follow visual or audio clues more often?Can they process both?Or even notice both?ZERKOUTMerchantability and UniquenessMoney and First Person ShooterPlayer buys Continues and UpgradesFor a virtually never ending game

Voice Driven GuidancePseudo AI Helper

Near Indestructible BaddiesTimed to appear and hurry the player

Random Level GenerationMultiple options for design so multiplepeople may have design choices

ExpandabilityExtra mini-stories could be added in by multiple people

You are selling this to your peers. Point out this may be your idea but there will be places for others to contribute.

Remember you might not be the team lead even if it is your idea.Investors care about money.

Contests judging varies. Unique helps. Re-using proven ideas in new ways/new settings may score pointsThis game introduces the concept of money into a first person shooter.While the game can stand alone and is entirely playable beyond the initial purchase, the player will learn to appreciate the value of microchips. Particularly for continue options and upgrades. Emphasis on CONTINUE.While this approach has been used in other games, particularly many of the mobile based games, the monetary aspects have not been commonly integrated into first person shooter genres (full research into this, needs to be completed upgrades probably, do not know of any recent one that money can buy a continue).In the long term, the game/player saves would need to be encrypted and stored to an online server. While the initial target platform for this game is a windows PC, this online save property is rather common practice for mobile devices. This does require an internet connection and a server to be available so in the short term this online save state may be deferred, though the encryption of the saves will still be completed.

22ZERKOUTScoring and End GameScore is given for Factory based on Time it takes to escapeNumber of enemy robots destroyedSubplots completedScore earns bonus microchips for the escapeScore also contributes to player XPXP earned determines player levelPlayer level and XP allow cross-player comparison

The game has no endGame has only 1 save allowed upgrades only, not progression?Autosaves on factory escapeTitle screen allows new game or continue game

ZERKOUTExpandabilityThis Level 1 factory is just the beginningMultiple Factories: Not faked but with changed scenery and goals

Additional Story ContentMore discoveries/quests

Add more Player Upgrades

Allow Multiple Saved Players/Multiple Save Slots

Add higher level factories and higher limits on stats and equipment

Expansion to multi-player cooperativeLike Gauntlet or Diablo III (but better)

Upon player destruction: Allow purchase of continues with MicroChipsBack to merchantability