To try and come up with a great idea, you have to first create 100 versions of them and pick the best of them only to narrow it down to the ultimate idea. My prototype idea however came almost two and a half months back and was made without thought only trust that It could actually work as a mini-game in unity. And weeks later noticing what I could submit for the third term of my first year I selected grappling hook and decided to look back on a fresh idea and combine both of them. This would eventually be called Sky Hook and change over time to what It is now. And idea that is my own and simple enough to make as a term project with my passion.
In order to test the limits of my game idea, I had to make numerous pages of art and mind maps to expand my idea into something marketable, but as a prototype the execution of this ideas wouldn't have to be so complex as my original thoughts and sketches. My idea was of floating islands with invisible bridges and platforms to traverse across to reach bigger islands and cities. The player would use a grappling hook, a jetpack or a wing suit to avoid pits and AI robots called Domeros. Domeros were robots who lived in the "Domed cities" and patrolled town areas while protecting them from scavengers and outsiders alike. My hero character donned a flying squirrel power suit similar to one you would see in power rangers and use the squirrels flaps to glide.
LSWTSWS Mind map part 1
LSWTSWS Mind map part 2
When I was told to make 3 different mind maps for different games, I made one of them based on Sky Hook, one on Minecraft and another on a game I was playing at the time; Lego Star Wars the Skywalker Saga. These each break down the game into each of their game mechanics, game pillars, the core game and the game features. The Lego one was especially big because I was still hyped about the game and putting all my devotion into writing about it. The Minecraft was was simple, since a lot of the features are just build, fight, survive. And Sky Hook was done before I had made any digital mock-ups and some of the features/mechanics displayed are now either scrapped or do not even appear in my level prototype submitted.
Minecraft Mind map
Sky Hook Mind map
Next I was tasked in lesson to create a new Battle Royale game, since most out at the moment have their benefits and issues, whether that being cross play or more explorable game match areas to fight in. Games like Fortnite have weekly updates for bugs/issues and cosmetics to buy from the game shop. Fall guys has competitions and challenges to complete. In order to improve some of these features on other games like Valorant or overwatch, I would have to look into what makes up the game and how to implement some ability or game mechanic that would benefit the community.
I had to create a bio for myself to show what myself as a player struggles with and enjoys. I was then asked like in the first term for twine to create a list of 100 ideas on how to implement one feature for extra mobility.
My gaming bio
My 6-8 chosen ideas
The title, key and first 5 ideas of the list
When writing this list on word, like before I set a key for the different colours used to highlight which idea was Good, Bad and {Still great}. From there I sorted them into Final 10 and Final 6 to storyboard. The storyboarded idea were drawn out and annotated with a simple bio and sketches alongside them. As I've said before, I had already chosen my idea and wanted to solely do that so it was basically rigged from the start. But grappling isn't in all the different Battle Royale games, only recently has Fortnite has added in a webshooter Spiderman swinging item and a regular grappling item.
List going between 6-37 ideas
List going between 38-58 ideas
List going between 59-87 ideas
List going between 88-100 ideas
With all my 100 ideas counted for how to get across from one area to another or any platform in-game, I started drawing up a storyboard as well as sketching out ideas in my notebook, refereeing back to my original Sky Hook designs. The picture on the left showcasing one of the winning 6 storyboard ideas stretched out to have different swinging or tunnel areas to use to get across. If you were a bird you would glide up or down an area. If you a Octopus, Scorpion or elephant you could just swing with either your tentacle, arm or tail. And smaller insects or animals could use a small ledge/tunnel to crawl through to the other side.
Design thinking and alternate game ideas for prototype
Original sketches for Sky Hook
Spiderman web shooters used to swing on various tall objects in Fortnite. Can be bought or found.
Super Mario Odyssey swing poles used to traverse from a low area to a high area in game.
The final 6-8 ideas included Swinging, Blowing up a balloon and then deflating it, using a slingshot, riding a elephant and using its trunk to swing, grappling, opening your jacket to glide across/opening an umbrella, crawling and setting a specific time on your wristwatch to get across. Grappling being the one that I still chose but I still debated the animal swinging ones and the balloon one too. But I hadn't learnt enough code at that point to know what I could specifically do for my final submission.
"How to get across a platform right to left" storyboard. (Red pen is used to highlight quotes or important information)
1) To use the balloon, players would first blow it up and then deflate it on the other side.
2) To use the swinging poles, the player would first either jump on the swing platform or the pole and then jump off the other side.
3) To use the open jacket or umbrella, the player would open it & then close it on the other side. (same for gliding)
4) To use the wristwatch, the player would first set the time and then pick the platform which would spawn in and create a bridge of that size.
5) To use the grappling hook, the player would first use the hoot to target the handle and then retract the wire to propel themselves forward.
6) To use the gigantic slingshot, the player would first pull back the elastic band, then climb in and let go to reach the other side while landing safely.
Wrist Watch picture example
If your as confused as my parents are about the Wrist watch idea on how to get across from one platform to another. It basically involved the user setting the time to either 12.00, 3.00, 6.00 or 9.00 and this would spawn in a bridge of that number in size. So if the watch was set to 6,00, it would create a 6m bridging platform of that size. And if the gap was that wide, then the player would be able to get across. If not then you would fail.