Camen Design Forum

Game Idea: Editores

append delete cthom06

Editores: Some Epic Subtitle Here!

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A gladiator game where you don't even get to be a gladiator.

You've just inherited a failing arena and a pittance of aurei. Your goal is to build the arena to its former glory and beyond (and get rich in the process).
As a new 'editor' your job will be to organize matches each week between beasts and gladiators. 

% You'll have to:
Purchase animals and offer purses to attract lanistae to the games
Ensure the matches are balanced/exciting to keep the crowd coming back
Deal with the politics of the games (such as ensuring the same lanistae doesn't lose all his gladiators or bribing officials)
Purchase quality refreshments for honoured guests
Thumbs up/Thumbs down
and more
%

If a match takes a turn for the boring, how fast can your men get a bull (or other beast of your choosing) into the arena to 'liven' things up? Can you organize a large scale re-enactment? Can you become so popular Cesar himself attends your games?

Bring others to glory and watch their names written in history (without yours) in *EDITORES: SOME EPIC SUBTITLE HERE*!

***

I tried to keep this very concise, I have quite a bit of the mechanics, mood and feel, etc. in my head as well. Oh, and you do watch the matches (how else will you know what to do?).

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append delete #1. Kroc

I immediately imagine this as a ’90s Bullfrog god-sim like Theme Hospital (curse you EA for killing Bullfrog).

It has original concepts like the thumbs up / down, which I like, and that if the show is getting boring you can decide to whip out the bulls or some other razzmatazz to liven things up.

This game would probably work best in the modern environment as a web-based casual strategy game that plays strongly on the ’90s Bullfrog format. Is there any particular way that you imagined its implementation?

How would the game scale? How would you see the logical progression, and what point does the game simply run out of new stuff to throw at you?

append delete #2. cthom06

“I immediately imagine this as a ’90s Bullfrog god-sim like Theme Hospital”

Yes I imagined it as a sim, but not a "god-sim." in the sense that you have the same control as an actual manager would. Think less simcity and more monster rancher I guess? I realize the basics aren't anything innovative (though the idea came from an early idea of an arena shooter where you're the arena instead of the lone spaceship).

“Is there any particular way that you imagined its implementation?”

About as you guessed. Ever played monster rancher? The training parts of the game (somewhat analogous to the strategy parts in E:SESH) are all menu driven, but the battle is real-time action. It could very likely be web-based. So you'll spend the between-weeks organizing matches, dealing with hurdles, etc etc. And then enjoy/oversee the matches. Ideally you'll have to throw in some kind of surprise somewhat regularly so you'll be regularly involved.

“How would the game scale? How would you see the logical progression, and what point does the game simply run out of new stuff to throw at you?”

I forgot to mention, I'm of the philosophy that losing can be (but isn't always) fun. Play the politics too badly and you'll end up left for dead in an aqueduct. The game will pretty much progress with your funds, as you gain more wealth you can stage more exciting battles, etc. (which also serve as your reward for progressing ;). Cesar acts as your "end-game" because a failure to please him will lead to your political ruin (via some mildly-historically-accurate-and-mildly-comedic situations most likely) while success means yea, you can keep playing, but you've peaked.

append delete #3. cthom06

Ahh I hadn't heard of theme hospital. The gameplay wouldn't be very similar but I did imagine a dark, subtle humor.

#4. theraje

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