Tasty Planet Trailer Video

[Dingo Games]

Hey everybody,

Thanks for everyone giving me name feedback last week. I ended up going with "Tasty Planet" btw :-). I put a gameplay trailer up on youtube.. check it out to see my new Katamari/Feeding Frenzy/Shark Shark(going way back with that one) game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az4VgetA_n0

Thanks!

[Drake]

Looks really fun! I LOL'd at the cop car chase.

It also looks (and sounds) far more casual-friendly than your hi-concept of nanotech armageddon led me to believe. :) My only reservation: once you graduate to assimilating those abstract celestial bodies, will it be as engaging as it was to devour recognizable earth things?

Also, another precedent for the eat-em-up genre: Bubbles (http://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=347)

[Dingo Games]

My only reservation: once you graduate to assimilating those abstract celestial bodies, will it be as engaging as it was to devour recognizable earth things?
I tried to address this. The bulk of the game is in more recognizable things.


Also, another precedent for the eat-em-up genre: Bubbles (http://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=detail&id=347)
Interesting, I wasn't sure if Shark Shark was the original. I've never seen this one before but it has a copyright date of 1982, the same year as Shark Shark.

[arcadetown]

Poor little kitties getting all gobbled up. Looks like fun! Love the concept that keep expanding to all sorts of new size levels.

[stanchat]

That look like it is going to be loads of fun. This is definitely something my son and nephews would bug me to buy. Swallowing the cats has got to be the coolest things..

[electronicStar]

Holy ***. Funniest game vid I've seen in a long time.
I think you have a sure winner here.
Casual gameplay with an hardcore theme.
Maybe the anims could be enhanced on the goo blob while it moves, the tendrils are a bit static and the movement doesn't look too realistic right now.

Is it ok to post the vid somewhere else?

[Dingo Games]

Is it ok to post the vid somewhere else?

Yes, please post it everywhere :D

[cliffski]

This looks pretty cool, although im not sure about the look of your central 'creature'. It needs to be really obvious what is / is not safe to eat (or is it everything?).
nice work!

[arcadetown]

Love the concept but after some after thought one thing that sticks in back of mind is that it appears to start off at germ level. Perhaps may want to start off at higher level with "cute" characters. Germs may be a turn off to target casual user audience (i.e. women), and being it appears to be in that magical first 5 minutes of play...

[Musenik]

Perhaps may want to start off at higher level with "cute" characters. Germs may be a turn off to target casual user audience (i.e. women), and being it appears to be in that magical first 5 minutes of play...

Although I agree with this, it doesn't mean you have to remove the germ level. Consider starting at a greater scope, and then offer the smaller scope as a 'bonus' start point.

[jankoM]

Who says everything that is smaller is "germs"... they can also be "beautifull secret tiny beings you see only under microscope"

aren't germs like "bad" microorganisms (pathogens) ?

I think this game is related to nano-theory where things must start small. I would not change the concept which is the most important thing in your game to meed the possible demand of some audience. But that doesn't mean that isn't a good advice... when you grow up you eat concrete things that's why its fun... so when you are tiny you should also eat stuff we all know and not abstract things ...like flu viruses, (chicken flu virus that would make sound like chicken:), amoebas, plankton.... I don't know how you could tell which is what but that would be good I think.

I love the video and love the idea! Imagining that something grows from micro to eating galaxies is making some strange and exciting loops in my head

[jeb_]

Haha! I can't wait to play :D

[Sillysoft]

It looks awesome. I'm looking forward to trying it out.

[whisperstorm]

LOL! One of the creatures from Chuzzle breaks out - jumps into a game that is a combination of Katamari Damacy and Spore :)

[Dingo Games]

It needs to be really obvious what is / is not safe to eat (or is it everything?).
nice work!
You can only eat things that are smaller than you. I worked on a few systems for identifying which things you could eat. I believe that I came up with something that does the trick. It's basically an arrow that shows you the largest thing you can eat. I think that it works well. I like the system that Feeding Frenzy uses, where there are three different fish in the level and you always know exactly which one you can eat. However, this wouldn't work in my game because of the variety and different sizes of everything.

Germs may be a turn off to target casual user audience (i.e. women), and being it appears to be in that magical first 5 minutes of play...
I know, I was thinking of this as well. I'm still not 100% sure of what to do about this. I limited the number of microscopic levels because of this.. If I moved them further in the game, calling them bonus levels, it does sort of ruin the flow, and the entire concept of growth from smallest to largest. Also, I believe that the game has a good hook that will get people to play through the first few levels - they always want to see what is next. Let me know what you think once you have played the game.

[Artinum]

What about making the "germ" levels a form of tutorial? They could be played or skipped according to the player's choice. In that mode enemies would be fewer and there'd be plenty of space to experiment in. Players already familiar with the game could then start at 'insect' level or something.

As for making the germs more appealing - no-one really knows what a virus looks like (electron microscopes can only go so far). So go wild! Make them a riot of shapes and colours, which would also help with differentiating them.

[Dingo Games]

What about making the "germ" levels a form of tutorial?
Yes, that is sort of how it is now, although you can't skip them. There is just a little tutorial text box that pops up at the start of the first few levels. Of course, not much needs to be explained other than "Eat everything smaller than you" :)

[arcadetown]

I honestly think you should eliminate the germ part entirely and not dance around the issue. You might also want to look at your use of cats. Replace with rabbits, dogs, etc or just move that into full version territory? We've received all sorts of hate mail (and I mean hate!) about a couple freebie games that feature mild violence towards cats. Women love their cats after all. I think it's all great myself but really you've gotta take the target user into more consideration.

[DFG]

I would actually keep the game as is and not even try to appeal to the female demographic. From the trailer, it doesn't seem to me that it would appeal much at all to them. Might as well go with the funny,destructive theme and market towards guys.

[Drake]

You might also want to look at your use of cats. Replace with rabbits, dogs, etc....
Er, I have anecdotal evidence that certain folks are sensitive to any unkind fate visited upon rabbits, as well.

To be totally on the safe side, replace all enemy objects with Nazis.

[electronicStar]

The problem I see is that the antagonists look too much like clones, especially the cats. You could propose some color/image variations for example.

[Chris Evans]

Er, I have anecdotal evidence that certain folks are sensitive to any unkind fate visited upon rabbits, as well.



We actually have a sicko on this board who has a game that's solely about anvils being hurtled at a cute cuddly rabbit. The gameplay is to essentially help the rabbit dodge these terrorizing anvils. But of course most people have slow reflexes so you'll pretty much see the little wee rabbit get bashed on top of the head, over and over again. It basically amounts to a rabbit snuff film.

People will do anything to make a buck.

[arcadetown]

How about Nazi rabbits?

[DFG]

Nazi rabbits from alien hell on Mars

[Artinum]

To be totally on the safe side, replace all enemy objects with Nazis.

I vaguely recall the exact opposite of this was done to Wolfenstein 3D when it was ported to one of the consoles. Was this Sega or Nintendo...? I don't know any more! I just remember that all the Hitler portraits and swastikas were removed and the game referred to "enemy soldiers" rather than "Nazis".

More seriously, the comments about cats are pretty valid (I rather love cats myself). I think you're set up to offend some people in this way - and this could actually be a good thing. You'll attract a lot of attention!

My advice - there should be lots of cats (different colours and so on) but also dogs, rabbits, chickens, children, post boxes, snakes, cows, sheep, pigs, llamas... basically, throw in everything. People will play over and over just to spot new critters!

[Chris Evans]

I forgot to ask (btw, I was joking around in my previous post), what is the target audience for this game? With the humor, it definitely seems like it could appeal to "core" gamers. I'm not sure I'd immediately try to casual-ize the game. I got excited about the game when the trailer started showing the blob eating all the domestic and farm animals, and other recognizable entities.

As someone else already pointed out, if you make it a little more aggressive / fast-paced, you might do well with a male audience or direct sales. It's not easy to get a bunch of jaded male programmers excited but you've managed to do it. :)

[Darky]

It reminds me of spore, lmao. But it looks too plain in my opinion. Needs a bit more polish.

[arcadetown]

Yes llamas.... Nazi llamas from alien hell on Mars with anvils dropping on their heads.

[dumbmanex]

Some of those sound effects when objects are gobbled up are priceless. Do you have multiple sfx per object when they're eaten, or slight pitch variations? That would be sweet. Looks like it'll be an enjoyable experience.

[Drake]

Was this Sega or Nintendo...?It was Nintendo. They also changed the blood to sweat, and the dogs to giant rats, as requested by the Plasma and Canine Anti-Defamation Leagues, respectively.
(btw, I was joking around in my previous post)O RLY? :D Because if I was a mod, I'd just ban that nutcase.
Nazi llamas from alien hell on Mars with anvils dropping on their heads.Back to that old chestnut, are we? See, this is why design by committee can never work.

[Dingo Games]

:) Thanks for all the feedback...

I really can't start taking out things in fear of offending people. It's part of the game. I tried to make it humorous rather than gory (I mean, when you eat the cats they don't send guts flying everywhere) so it would appeal to more people.

Besides, is eating a cat that much worse than destroying the entire universe (just imagine all the cat-like species that exist in the universe - the Kzin are sooo cute)?

Some of those sound effects when objects are gobbled up are priceless. Do you have multiple sfx per object when they're eaten, or slight pitch variations? That would be sweet. Looks like it'll be an enjoyable experience.
Yes, most sounds have a few different variations.

Oh yeah, I remember when Nintendo took out the Nazis.. and the dogs. :(

[MiceHead]

Besides, is eating a cat that much worse than destroying the entire universe (just imagine all the cat-like species that exist in the universe - the Kzin are sooo cute)?

There's precedence for this cartoon violence in Katamari Damacy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katamari_Damacy), and that game was well-received. I recently gave a talk (http://web.cs.wpi.edu/~gogo/imgd/speakers/) about what I called "Cargo Cult Game Development," where dev teams simply follow the forms of game development ("We need hallways, monsters, and keycards. That's how we make a game!") but miss the details that make a game fun. Katamari's an example of a fantastic game where I felt that those inspired by it might miss the point -- a large part of the enjoyment is in giving the game an emotional context.

You need to be able to swallow up mewing cats to enjoy this game!

For those who haven't played Katamari, check out this video (http://web.cs.wpi.edu/~gogo/imgd/speakers/0607/Lambe_2006_Katamari.mpg); it shows all sorts of things being rolled over in order to be shot off into space -- mice, ducks, dogs, children, women. Violent, yet it's a hit with non-gamer women whenever I have a get-together. I think people will love Tasty Planet, in part because James and his team was unapologetic about the animals.

And I personally love the police chase and train wreck scenes.

[MrPhil]

Looks great... I laughed and laughed!

[Artinum]

I couldn't help thinking of this game idea when recently adding a topic to my Bytten Blog about Grubby Games' "FizzBall" - cats and farmyard animals are amongst those rescued by the Professor with a ball that grows bigger as it "eats" things.

Ideas seem to happen to lots of people at the same time. James Watt wasn't the only one to come up with a steam engine (he was just the first to patent it).

[AVataRR]

mmm waw, looks like a 2d version of katamari damacy. good luck with this! ^_^

[Anthony Flack]

Very cunning adaption of a Katamari-like game in a style that is achievable by one person, without losing the all-important variety. And although the suggested changes is probably good advice, I like the way you're sticking to the decisions that will make for the best game - I think all the things suggested that would make the game possibly bigger-selling would also make it a weaker design.

And anybody who hasn't played Katamari yet - you must! It's a lovely casual console game, and the way the cutscenes and menus are handled should also be inspiring to anyone making downloadable games. Very effective use of static graphics.