Help me pick my next 40-hour project!

[Viridian]

My 40-hour RPG is complete! (See here. (http://www.viridiangames.com/blog/?p=120))

Which means I need a new project. Here are the candidates I've been kicking around my brain, feel free to vote for one, rank them in the order of preference, or even suggest something completely different!

1. Turn my 40-hour RPG into a 3D-based RPG with a simple software-rendered 3D engine, but adding no new functionality (unless I have time).

What I'd Learn: 3D math, raypicking, 3D animation

My rating (out of five): ***

2. Make a simple real-time strategy game, in the vein of Command & Conquer or Warcraft 2. This project would include an AI that the player played against.

What I'd Learn: Setting up a real-time engine, A* pathfinding, AI.

My rating (out of five): ****

3. Make a simple 2D Civilization clone strategy/wargame. This project would include an AI.

What I'd Learn: More about turn-based engines, pathfinding, AI.

My rating (out of five): ****

4. Make a simple 2D Master of Orion clone space-based strategy/wargame. This project would include an AI.

What I'd Learn: More about turn-based engines, pathfinding, AI.

My rating (out of five): ****

5. Make a 2D space combat RPG, in the vein of Starflight and Star Control 2.

What I'd Learn: Switching from turn-based gameplay to real-time gameplay, more about conversation systems, real-time combat, AI.

My rating (out of five): *****


So those are the options I'm currently entertaining. I really need to learn a lot more about 3D programming at some point, but writing a fully 3D game from nothing probably isn't possible in forty hours, which is why the only 3D option on my list is to take my current game and make it 3D. It's my least favorite option because frankly, I'm sick of Inaria right now :) I would still learn a whole lot from the other projects, and would have completely different, new games to show for them.

So, any thoughts?

[Artinum]

Sounds like your personal favourite choice is number 5 - and I'm a big fan of Star Control II myself! But let us not be biased here.

3D programming is very hard to do from the ground up (I tried it myself long ago and got absolutely nowhere!) so I'd suggest you take little steps into this area. There is an abolute horror of a list of things that make 3D graphics painful so - unless you can figure out some prebuilt libraries, which may make a 40-hour flight sim a possibility but might be considered "cheating" - I've got a simpler suggestion.

Write a shooting gallery.

It's silly sounding, I know, but you'd only need to set up one 3D viewpoint and it would never move. This cuts out a HUGE amount of headaches. You can then have a host of 3D things flying around, and you shoot them with your 3D gun that shoots 3D bullets.

It won't be particularly groundbreaking but you should be able to learn a great deal about 3D techniques without some of the hassles. Does anyone agree with me here, or am I talking out of a non-oral orifice?

[princec]

Inverse Pacman please!

Where you control the ghosts and have to catch the little critter before he eats all the dots.

Cas :)

[papillon]

I vote for 3, because I'm interested in seeing the development of a strategy game on a very limited timescale. :)

[GBGames]

Inverse Pacman please!

Where you control the ghosts and have to catch the little critter before he eats all the dots.

Cas :)

I love Pac-man, and I really like this idea.

[g666]

a C&C clone in 40 hrs would be interesting.

[illume]

The game you'd have the most fun making, and will give you the best learning experience.

So from your list I choose...
"5. Make a 2D space combat RPG, in the vein of Starflight and Star Control 2."

That sounds like a really fun game to make.

Another thing that requires practice in game making is giving a game polish. I have made heaps of mini games now, and so am working on giving some of them a polish up for practice. I think the last 50% part can be fun just as much as the first 50% part. It just takes longer.


Good luck with what you choose!

[whisperstorm]

If you make a 2d shooter you could then submit it to the side scrolling shooter contest :) http://www.shmup-dev.com/index.php?topic=228.0

[Viridian]

A shmup might be a little too easy :)

[impossible]

If you go with a 3D RPG, why software rendered? If you have zero 3D experience, just getting OpenGL or D3D up and running would be a enough of a challenge. Writing a software engine means you'll be spending your time not only learning 3D Math, picking, etc. you'll also have to write triangle rasterizers and clipping. Switching your current RPG to 3D wouldn't be too difficult (it'd be interesting to see where you'd get the artwork from), but learning 3D while you're doing it will be an interesting challenge, without the added difficulty of writting your own software renderer from scratch :).

If I were you I would go for the RTS or the Star Control game. Both are feasible in 40 hours, and can still make them fun games as long as you limit the scope. As much as I would like to see a 40 hour Civ or Moo game, I just don't think its possible to make a half way decent game like this in 40 hours. It wouldn't be an extreme technical challenge (not too different than the RPG in terms of graphics and interface), and the content and design requirements are way too high for 40 hours. Maybe if you're very clever you can come up with a fun "mini-Civ" game.

[Viridian]

This is the last day of voting...make your opinion known!

[Pyabo]

2D space combat !!!

[Viridian]

The votes are in, come see the results on my blog (http://www.viridiangames.com/blog)! Thanks to everyone who voted!