As I mentioned earlier this week, I am in one of those productive kind of moods. So far, it has been mostly directed at my on and off again project, Stellar Fortune. I still like it as a web game, rather than a Unity 3D game. Basically, I've been thinking about how to make a compelling game that does not involve combat.
Seems like every game I play has combat as an integral part. I'd like Stellar Fortune to be mainly an economic game, but is that enough to make it interesting? It really comes down to giving players enough to do. Here's what I have...
Buy low, sell high. This is the base level of the game, where new and mid-level players will earn money. Not very exciting though, mostly about the research.
Companies. Once a player has enough money, they can start a company. this would be an official (and name approved) entity with it's own wallet and functions.
Raw Materials. Companies can open facilities which generate goods like minerals or agricultural products.
Manufacturing. Companies can also open factories to make more complex goods.
The next import aspect of the game is Factions. out in space there will be a number of inhabited (and uninhabited) planets. The ones with populations are controlled by a faction. If your company wants to build a facility there, it must get in good with the Faction.
This would make up a big part of Corporate wars, as companies jockey for influence using legitimate (and not so legitimate means). When it comes down to gameplay though, I'm not sure how fun it would be. I see Company A spending money to dig up dirt on an official in order to blackmail them.
It'd be a click, wait a bit then another click or two. I'm not sure it would actually be fun or provide any interesting decisions. I suppose if the system was deep enough, it might.
Stock Market. I'd like to do a lot of stat tracking when it comes to companies. That should allow for some intelligent decisions to be made about what to buy, instead of just a guy on the forums.
Territorial Control. Taking control of a planet (and space) would be reserved for the larger companies. Here players would be responsible for planetary management and who knows what else.
These are just some thoughts I wanted to get down. Still not sold on it being a concept worth making, especially in this day and age.
Stolen Realm - Review
7 hours ago
