Game Concept: Multiplayer

The following blog post concerns how making my game multiplayer would affect various aspects of the game.

Overview

In the general sense, Fingersplash (my game) is about typing fast. Now that skill is a competitive skill in nature, so I'd make a lot of sense to let people compare it by battling each other in multiplayer. Hence, the multiplayer version of the game would be a versus style game in which the players were pitted against each other. 

Gameplay

In the original game, the gamescreen is depicting a surfer struggling through waves in the rhythm of the typing of the player. In the multiplayer version, the game would be split screen. Note that even though it is split screen two computers are still needed. Now the mechanics should be that the opposing players surfer will fall if you type faster than the other player, and vice-versa. Words would still appear in the same way and the core concept of typing is of course still the same.

Progression

In the single-player game, a lot of what makes the game fun is upgrades to the player such as longer error margin, new venues, new visual upgrades etc. Then the basic concept can extend to a campaign which makes it replayable. However this progression can be taken somewhat out of the multiplayer as the competitive element is what makes it playable. Now highscores and leaderboards should be what make the game addictive.

Graphics

The graphics can be more crude in the multiplayer, and maybe even more toony than originally intended (the original though was more of pixelated art). The graphics should not take any attention from the competitive element. A good comparison of how the graphics could look like is looking at the popular "Tetris Battle" from Facebook: http://www.ergame.com/uploads/big/dtFbGKNRss/2012/08/image-5019950c1b551.jpg

That's it for my multiplayer idea. Shoot me some comments if you like!

Game Minute

Following is my game minute for the game, fingersplash:


"The young surfer is contemplating which upgrades to get for his board. After all, a new fin will surely allow him to increase his balance, making it easier for him to withstand pressure from the incoming balance. On the other hand, he's also thinking of just going for a soda which will only temporary boost his abilities, then saving money for later upgrades in his journey. The decision is made in favor of the soda and he's quickly out in the water again. This time the waves seem to come in even faster (words) and he's gotta be quick to spell words loudly to maintain his balance. He's even learned a new trick; spelling multiple words at a time. The focus allows him to swiftly type in almost any word. However, he misses a word on a big wave, causing him to fall over. This could have killed him had he not been provided with extra life. However he must now start all over the wave again, squandering any potential to reap rewards for that particular wave in terms of money to buy new gear.
After a long period of surfing the same reef (level), the surfer is now ready to spend some money to travel to a more exotic place with promising rewards of greater glory and money.