View Full Version : Carnivore {name will change}
Bonezmann
05-03-2009, 09:48 PM
An idea hit me today:
A plant (venus fly eater) sees the moon one night and decides to eat a lot to reach it. (basic synopsis)
The basic 'mechanic' of the game is to eat. Press SPACE the plant lunges at prey. As the plant grows, it's prey changes. For instance as a small plant it will eat bugs, some bugs are poisonous and therefore damages it while other bugs make it grow. In order to go to the next level you must grow a certain size. To determine your progress, you have what I call (in the proto) plant points -feel free to suggest other names-. Once you reach a cetain amount of points or i.o.w have grown a certain size you go to the next level.
Now, while growing venus(yes, it's female. I decided while posting this :p) will encounter various problems. Like scientists wanting to use her for experiments or even the army, who clearly thinks she could be a threat. Not to worry though, all will be eatable.
Download link:
http://www.zshare.net/download/565779555f289331/
As always suggestions, comments and questions are welcome. :)
dislekcia
06-03-2009, 01:09 AM
What a charming concept for a game!
01DT!m3r
06-03-2009, 10:11 AM
Very nice idea !
Cloud_Ratha
06-03-2009, 10:31 AM
This reminds me of The Maw, which is an awesome game. It could possibly give u some ideas for your game, hopefully u can build onto that. Good luck
Kensei
06-03-2009, 01:21 PM
I finished the Maw yesterday :) Awesome game :)
What is awesome about that game is it is not just a case of eat more until you get big enough to eat the larger animals. Each type of animal gave the maw a different ability, from flames to, my favourite, shooting lasers from his eyes :)
Perhaps you could do something similar for your game?
I had a quick play through now and there is a great deal of screen wastage, I assume since the plant will grow bigger, but at the moment it just makes the screen look really bland
Perhaps you should put a logo or something at the top saying 'VENUS' or something?
I like the sprite animations, they are cute :)
AndrewJ
06-03-2009, 02:19 PM
My first impression was "Ah, sweeeeet!" in a cute kind of way. A problem that I can see is lack of variety. It kinda gets boring after a while. I like that fact that you've made the red balls subtract more points than the green balls add. That way it gives the player a bigger incentive to avoid the red balls.
One thing that I think you should give the player the option to choose for is the how Venus eats, i.e. does she only catch balls at the end of the eating movement in a defined (maybe even visible on very easy difficulty levels) space where her jaws close (not catching the balls that her jaws passing going forward) or does she catch all of the balls that are in the area that her jaws travel (catching the balls that her jaws passing going forward)?
My nephew's nine and my neice is five, and I think they'll enjoy playing this - it just looks like it could be a very cute kid's game. Who did your sprites BTW?
Bonezmann
06-03-2009, 02:32 PM
My first impression was "Ah, sweeeeet!" in a cute kind of way. A problem that I can see is lack of variety. It kinda gets boring after a while. I like that fact that you've made the red balls subtract more points than the green balls add. That way it gives the player a bigger incentive to avoid the red balls.
One thing that I think you should give the player the option to choose for is the how Venus eats, i.e. does she only catch balls at the end of the eating movement in a defined (maybe even visible on very easy difficulty levels) space where her jaws close (not catching the balls that her jaws passing going forward) or does she catch all of the balls that are in the area that her jaws travel (catching the balls that her jaws passing going forward)?
My nephew's nine and my neice is five, and I think they'll enjoy playing this - it just looks like it could be a very cute kid's game. Who did your sprites BTW?
The interwebz. Google "mutant plant sprite"
I'll comment on the rest later, I'm in a hurry. What will be the difference between Venus and Maw? The maw doesn't bark at scientists. :0
Fruzz
06-03-2009, 03:59 PM
Really cool idea :)
When I read your explanation I imagined the things to eat coming from above for some reason. You could do that and allow the plant to move left and right...kind of like a reverse space invaders...with eating or something. That could spice it up a bit :)
I also had an idea that you could grow it to the size of the screen and then change the background for each level as the plant grows. For example: some buildings in the background for level one and then those same buildings but a lot smaller in the background of level 2. You probably had that in mind though.
AndrewJ
06-03-2009, 04:47 PM
I also thought of a plant growing upwards, maybe using the mouse to move Venus' head around (within limits of the stalk/trunk) with powerups that will alow Venus to move further, faster, get more nutrients per bug etc.
I like the idea of the screen background change GamerG.
Bonezmann
06-03-2009, 07:07 PM
What a charming concept for a game!
Very nice idea !
I finished the Maw yesterday Awesome game
What is awesome about that game is it is not just a case of eat more until you get big enough to eat the larger animals. Each type of animal gave the maw a different ability, from flames to, my favourite, shooting lasers from his eyes
Perhaps you could do something similar for your game?
The powerups I'm thinking of is a tad more realistic, and please do tell me if you think it should change. Powerups are acquired through the stuff you eat, like for instance if a scientist looks at you through his magnifier glass, you can eat him and use the Magnifying glass(or even his glasses) as a weapon spitting it out and stuff. It tends to make more sense when it comes to the fighter planes and helicopters. ;)
I had a quick play through now and there is a great deal of screen wastage, I assume since the plant will grow bigger, but at the moment it just makes the screen look really bland
Perhaps you should put a logo or something at the top saying 'VENUS' or something?
Remember this is a prototype, there should be some other stuff, or a logo as you mentioned, there later on :)
I like the sprite animations, they are cute
Thanx, but I -think- the plant is ripped from a game. If anyone can confirm...
When I read your explanation I imagined the things to eat coming from above for some reason. You could do that and allow the plant to move left and right...kind of like a reverse space invaders...with eating or something. That could spice it up a bit
Not exactly what I had in mind, but a good suggestion. :)
I also had an idea that you could grow it to the size of the screen and then change the background for each level as the plant grows. For example: some buildings in the background for level one and then those same buildings but a lot smaller in the background of level 2. You probably had that in mind though.
Hit the nail on the head, kinda... :)
I also thought of a plant growing upwards, maybe using the mouse to move Venus' head around (within limits of the stalk/trunk) with powerups that will alow Venus to move further, faster, get more nutrients per bug etc.
Not a bad idea, I'll just get the basic game up and then think of powerups, special abilities and such. :)
Thanx for all the comments, I'm going to work on it while UT3 updates. Later :)
Bonezmann
15-09-2009, 08:59 PM
Yes, epic necro. But does anyone still have the exe on their HDD somewhere? If you do, could you please upload it somewhere for me? The source died with my previous computer...
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