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--- germinationx_game_design [2010-07-16 11:18] – davegriffiths
+++ germinationx_game_design [2011-03-30 16:58] (current) – [Visual Design] 83.101.5.51
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ======Germination X======
-This is an initial game design for Germination X - a permaculture game for social networking platforms. Based on the [[red leaf]] ideas, but directed in a slightly less confrontational direction.
+This is an initial game design for Germination X - a permaculture game for social networking platforms.
-Very rough hand wavy stuff, feel free to poke in new directions.
+Current pre-alpha version running here: [[http://t0.fo.am:8000]]
+======Games for reference======
+  * Living Landscapes card game - permaculture game [[http://www.mimoo.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=92476]]
+  * Wildcraft, a herbal adventure board game [[http://www.learningherbs.com/wildcraft.html]]
+Serious games that deal with farming and food production:
+  * McDonalds parody [[http://www.mcvideogame.com/]]
+  * Permaculture Elements: [[http://www.seed.org.za/game.php]]
+  * Bacteria Salad [[http://www.persuasivegames.com/games/game.aspx?game=arcadewireecoli]]
+  * Food Force (by the World Food Programme) [[http://www.wfp.org/how-to-help/individuals/food-force]]
+  * 3rd World Farmer [[http://www.3rdworldfarmer.com/]]
+  * Hold the Meat [[http://www.bogost.com/watercoolergames/archives/hold_the_meat.shtml]]
+  * A Swine Production Training Simulation: [[http://www.forgefx.com/casestudies/virtual-pig/pig-farm-training-simulator.htm]]
 ======General ideas======
-  - Players are arranged into "gardener guilds".
+  - You can sew seeds and see other players plants.
-  - New players can join guilds or start their own.
+  - The plants will grow according to a simulation model based on companion planting.
-  - You have a planting companion who follows you around to guide you.
+  - You have a planting guide companion who follows you around to guide you. See [[germinationx companion]].
-  - Players never directly meet in the game - although discussions via forums obviously encouraged.
+  - Players never directly meet in the game - although they will be aware of each other's activity and be able to share simple messages and seeds.
   - The world is large and you can freely explore, but you can only see a small portion of it at a time.
-  - The plants will consist of local, interesting or on the edge of extinction species rather than well known types.
+  - The plants will consist of local, interesting or on the edge of extinction species as well as well known types.
 ======Game Sketch======
@@ Line 20: / Line 33: @@
 {{:redleaf-sketch-desc.png|}}
-======Player Guilds======
+======Social Elements======
-  - Player guilds have experience points.
+One of the most interesting aspects is to explore the community building effects of social games. The main way this will work will be through the world, which is an open and shared space, unlike other facebook games which give you a private owned area which you manage, and limited access to your friend's spaces.
-  - You increase your guild's experience points by growing succesful plants, listening to your companion is essential to do this well.
-  - The more experience points your guild has, the more diverse types of seeds you will able to collect, seeds will appear on plants that are more difficult to grow.
-======Energy======
+Some ideas for more specific additions:
-  - Players have an energy level.
+=====Organic approach=====
-  - Energy is used up by roaming, looking for seeds.
-  - Energy is replenished by eating harvested food.
-  - You can't directly eat food you have collected, only that given to you by other people.
-  - When you harvest plants, you have to choose who to give it to. They will have to be a friend, but not necessarily a member of your guild, or even someone currently playing the game - this would act as an invitation.
-  - If you run out of energy you die. This is seen as a noble act of replenishing the garden with your composing matter. You can respawn, but at a cost to your guild's experience.
-//Notes: To run out of energy while harvesting for other people could be annoying - perhaps a less extreme form of this could be to keep the required donation to other players, but also take a small power up yourself. Needs testing in game.//
+  - Players are notified when they have helped one another with good choice of planting locations.
+  - This will apply to all players, not only players on your friends list - new contacts can be made.
+  - They can send helpful items, such as seeds in return for your help. Perhaps also messages, but maybe from a menu of preset phrases, or some other form of communication (picking flowers or ...).
+  - Players are given detailed information on their (FB) friend's plants and can therefore choose to help (or hinder?) one another.
+It would also be good (if optimistic) to consider the possibility of creating a system open enough for players to create their own economies or markets of exchange, rather than build one in.
+=====Player Guilds=====
+Seems rigid and encouraging a collection-as-linear-progress game mechanic, but another option:
+  - Players are arranged into "gardener guilds".
+  - New players can join guilds or start their own.
+  - Player guilds have experience points.
+  - You increase your guild's experience points by growing successful plants, listening to your companion is essential to do this well.
+  - The more experience points your guild has, the more diverse types of seeds you will able to collect, seeds will appear on plants that are more difficult to grow.
+This also encourages competition amongst guilds.
 ======Pattern of play======
 See the [[germinationx user stories]].
-  - Start game, select to join existing guild.
-  - Look around, seeds can be found around some of the plants you find, you try picking them up.
-  - You plant seeds in good locations (guided by your personal permaculture companion)
-  - You see some plants that belong to your guild, and they look ready to harvest. You click on the plant to collect the fruits or vegetables.
-  - A menu appears with your friends on it, you select one to give the harvest to. You also choose from a choice of recipes that can be used (in real life) with the type of vegetable you are sending them.
 ======Permaculture companion======
@@ Line 118: / Line 135: @@
   * Plants foraged in boskoi replenish your energy in the game.
   * As your guild improves, so boskoi unlocks secret plants in your city.
+======Visual Design======
+  * [[germinationx visual design]]
+  * [[germinationx plant design]]
+  * [[germinationx plant spirit design]]
+======Code repo======
+[[http://gitorious.org/germinationx]]
 ======Road Map======
-  * Flash/HTML5 clientside isometric graphics engine [done]
+  * <del>Flash/HTML5 clientside isometric graphics engine</del>
-  * Large world navigation mechanic [done] [[http://www.pawfal.org/dave/live/wilderness/2/]]
+  * <del>Large world navigation mechanic</del> [[http://www.pawfal.org/dave/live/wilderness/2/]]
-  * Persistent server process storing plant/world information [in progress]
+  * <del>Persistent server process storing plant/world information</del> [[http://t0.fo.am:8000]]
   * Integration with facebook
   * User model
@@ Line 142: / Line 169: @@
   * Seasons
   * Adding more regions