Pirate Game- Failure
So, the first game jam I joined ended up being a failure. I found a team. We had a great idea. But ultimately we couldn’t complete the project before the Adventure Jam was over. Afterward, everyone seemed to lose all motivation to continue to finish, some people had to go back to school, others to work.
But that hasn’t stopped me! Since this first failure, I’ve been a part of launching 5 other games in jams, and don’t plan to quit anytime soon. This project taught me a lot though: what to avoid, limitations on scope, making sure the team is capable and motivated, how to write barks and a game document, and how to structure levels and design gameplay.
Here are some of the ideas I came up with for the narrative design for this side-scroller Pirate Adventure game:
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Purpose is to document the design goals, various iterations, and technical requirements of the game.
Executive Summary
The game concept is a side scrolling adventure of a pirate marooned on an island seeking a lost treasure in a cave, but as he goes deep and deeper, he finds danger lurking within. It will consist of three levels, a short introductory level, a main level where the player will face off against the Drowned Pirates, and a final level where the player will be confronted by the Big Boss, the Treasure Chest itself. The audience is anyone looking for a fun and goofy adventure game with a pirate theme.
Gameplay & Mechanics
The objective of the game is to survive and reach the end to collect the treasure within the cave. The game progresses through three levels with a healthbar (or series of rum bottles?) which the player needs to make sure doesn’t fall all the way down causing death. They will find some health potions in the shape of rum bottles (possibly also boost of speed or jumping rum bottles).
The basic controls for the player with be movement, jump, and attack. Enemies, pits, and falling stalactites will be the dangers for the player.
(Also is there also still the rising water idea? How does that tie into the physics of the world? Is the Island sinking? Where is the water coming from)
Programming
The gameplay and mechanics will be limited by the abilities of programming with Unity. This portion of the game is handled by Programmer, defining physics and level design which KaptainViciorious can help with as well.
Art & Animation
The art will consist of cartoonish player character and enemies, made to look like paper cut outs, and blocks used to make the background (not sure on this point yet). This section of the game will be handled by Artist.
Sound Design
The sounds will consist of modulating background music for the different areas and triggered by events within gameplay, as well as sound effects from player character, enemies, and setting. This section of the game will be handled by SoundDesigner.
Narrative
The narrative of the story draws the player into the world of 18th century pirates by placing them on a deserted island where they find evidence of a treasure in a cave, going deeper and deeper into the cave to find what lies within. The tone should consist of funny quips and some sense intrigue to make the player want to go further into the cave. The cave should feel a bit creepy, while the player character attitude and the enemies should add some lighthearted goofiness to the story. The narrative elements will include:
a. some short internal dialogue and barks from the player character,
b. a note on a dead body at the beginning of the game, and
c. a dialogue between the player character and the Big Boss, the Treasure Chest, that explains the reason from the Drowned Pirates protecting their lair.
This section of the game will be handled by KaptainViciorious.
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Outline:
1. Intro
a. Start in the cave entrance chamber
i. A few lines of text tell the Player how they got there, Marooned by their Captain
b. “That damned Captain Blackbeard didn’t like my cooking. And now he’s marooned me on this island! I hope this cave will have some supplies or treasure. I should take a look around.”
ii. They can explore this area to get used to controls
iii. Includes
1. a sword item for the Player to pick up
2. And a platform or two to jump up to, so they get the feel of the controls
iv. (Maybe find a dead body with a note, foreshadowing what is beyond in the cave. “Below, below, deep down below the treasure do be. But watch out, watch out for the de------")
2. Main Level- Going Deeper into the Cave
a. A series of chambers
i. Dangers
1. Drowned Pirates
2. Falling Stalactites
3. Stalagmites to be jumped over
4. Pits to jump over
5. (Maybe poison pools that spawn the Drowned Pirates?)
ii. Items to pick up
1. White Rum- Heath Potion
2. Spiced Rum- Speed and Jump Boost
3. (Small Treasure chests with gold?)
3. Final Level
a. Boss Battle
i. Treasure Chest turns into Boss, mouth opens revealing fangs
1. It talks to player, telling them that they will be a Drowned Pirate soon like the others who came before
ii. On defeating the chest, Player gets all the gold inside!
4. On death, Player is turned into another Drowned Pirate
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Opening lines from Player Character in game:
“That damned Captain Blackbeard didn’t like me cooking. And now he’s marooned me on this island! I hope this cave will have some supplies or booty. I should take a gander about.”
On finding Note on dead body:
Note- “Below, below, deep down below all the loot ye can dream of do be. But WATCH OUT! Watch out for the dea----"
On picking up the sword and hat:
“Who’s the captain now!? This was once a nice hat. And this cutlass will come in handy.”
At the final level when the boss comes alive:
Chest- “You’ve made it this far pirate, but no further. My drowned minions may have fallen easy to that blade, but I will not! Soon you will join their ranks and protect my lair for all eternity.”
Player Character- “Well, I didn’t come this far to turn back now.”
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On seeing the dead body with the note
“What have we here? Oh… a dead guy, great. This is not looking good.”
“Sink me. Wonder what happened to this fine fool?”
“Ahoy bucko!”
On Entering the second chamber (main level)
“Damn it’s shiverin’ cold down here.”
“Freezin’ my toes off.”
“Down, down, into the ground I go…”
On seeing the first Drowned Pirate
“Arg me hearty!
“Shiver Me Timbers. What’s wrong with your face?”
“You got a nasty wound there, need some rum?”
On seeing more Drowned Pirates
“I’ll cleave ye to the brisket!”
“Ye ready for old Davy Jones’ Locker matey?”
“I’ll send ye to feed the fishes.”
“Ready for another flogging with me cutlass?”
“Scurvy dog! I’ll turn ye to shark bait.”
“Son of a biscuit eater!”
On killing a Drowned Pirate
“That’s gotta’ sting.”
“Take that ye scallywag!”
“Avast ye matey!”
“Blimey ye bilge-sucker!”
“Dead men tell no tales.”
On being hit by enemy
“Watch where you swing those arms matey.”
“Ooofff, that’s gunna leave a scar. Hope the lasses back in Tortuga like it.”
“I’ll hornswoggle ye now!”
“Blow me down!”
“This old salt won’t sink that easy.”
On drinking Rum
“Now that’s some tasty booze.”
“Yum, yum, in my tummy.”
“Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!”
“I’ll be a grog blossom soon.”
“Now that’s a clap-o-thunder!”
“Aye, we’re squiffy now.”
On drinking Boost Rum
“Ahhh, now that’s a spicy swig.”
“Fire in the hole!”
“Down the hatch!”
“Now I’m three sheets to the wind.”
On entering the final chamber and seeing the treasure chest
“Finally, some booty worth looting!”
“Batten down the hatches, Doubloons!”
Discarded (for now) text
Here’s the scuttlebutt swashbuckler: Ye’s been marooned by yer sea dog captain, but ye found this here cave and it’s nice a cozy. Savvy? What will ye do? Feed the fishes or find some pieces of eight?
