At work today, an idea game to mind, which would work as an overall concept.

Plotwise, the game is based around a wanna-be musician. He loves his guitar, and video games. One day, he decided that playing a guitar and a videogame console at the same time would be great enjoyment (or some other event involving the two) and upon accidently dropping his guitar onto the console, he gets sucked inside the game.

He shows up in an 8-bit videogame world, but with a difference. The town he is in (called Melody, or Rock-Town, or Metalville, or something like that) is surrounded by all sorts of different areas. Each one representing different musical genres. Eg, Techno, Jazz, Musical Theatre - whatever. This is impeding on the rock-focused town, slowly losing citizens to these musical trends.

So, when this musician shows up, they think he has been sent from Rock Heaven, and he is here to save them all. The player must then venture into whatever area they can get access to first.

Gameplay wise, the game would use "riffs" and "solos" as ablities. How I imagine it is similar to the Ocarina from OoT. When playing, the player can press the "Play" button (maybe Z jump, X play) to freeze motion, whip out the guitar, and play a piece of music using the arrow keys. Some may be an attack, or a launch jump or something. Basically the sorts of abilities you see in an adventure RPG. Riffs are learnt by gaining levels via experience. Solos, on the other hand, are earned via story progress, though some may be hidden. Though, of course, the player can also smash the enemies with his guitar. Though he may break a string!

Also, the player can purchase new guitars and rock outfits, which are basically like your typical rpg equipment. Some guitars will have better attack strength, but might use more Rock Power (RP) upon playing a Riff/Solo.

The game would also need to feature some sort of "Rock Off" mode to battle bosses. No idea how that would function.

Other minigames could also include playing other instruments.


I've got a few more ideas, but on the whole, there's not much pont in expressing them unless the idea is favoured.

What do you guys think?

i like the idea of each town (subliminal) representing a music genre. That's cool. Although I think it shouldn't be said/stated ingame... It should be a thing noticed by the gamer himself. i.e. Pokemon games have towns like vermilion city, indigo plateau, saphron city which refers to colors (most people don't notice that)

The start is a bit 'back to the future' like... and i think you got away with the beginning too easy... I drop my guitar on my gamepad all-the-time xd

uless you present it in a comedy like coating... you could get away with it... but for now it's cheesy.

the action sounds a bit like Guitar hero... and i'd advise not to copy a good game because usualy you'll be the one trying to immitate another game.. You can use elements and expand/improve them. But it's gotta be different imo.

Also i'd like you to realise that the music-genre is really specific and thus you might be adressing a smaller crowd

See, it's not actually a guitar-hero esque game. It's actually an action-platformer that uses guitar/instruments as its basis.

I know alot of the ideas are vague/rushed/cliche, but it's merely an idea I had, and decided to write it down a) while I remembered it, and B) to try and draw some other hefty ideas out from other members.

:D hey, rome wasn't build in 1 day!

I like it! Especialy as action-platformer it has more chance of successing

I like the OoT aspect to it, but you could also throw some Metroid-ish stuff in there too, using riffs to unlock doors (like missiles open doors, but you have to get the missiles first to get to that area).

For the boss battles, there are three ways that seem very usable, even though there are games based around all three.

• Gitaroo Man: Follow the path or hit buttons as they pop up.
• Guitar Hero: Hit a series of riffs using five buttons. Could be done like Frets on Fire, where the keyboard becomes the guitar.
• DDR: If you're using arrows throughout the game for OoT style instrument playing, a DDR style rhythm game could tie in well.

I can dig it. For my first term level design in Neverwinter Nights, that is the EXACT story concept I had. Musical styles in different areas that the player had to revive... it was fun. Received well, too. I, personally, like the idea of involving music. I use it a lot in my concepts.

Oh, something to note: http://www.brutallegendgame.com/splash/

An action adventure game using music (only metal/rock mind you) to attack your enemies. Avec Jack Black!

I think the premise needs a bit of love. I think we can make this a serious and interesting game. UnXpected knows what's up.

Something stylized and interesting to be sure.
See also: http://www.theworldendswithyou.com/
Note the 'gameplay' section. It's cool.

I think if we were to do something with music, the world IS music. Let the player immerse themselves rather than give them the cliche of being teleported in to the game ala Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.

Let's keep vibing on the idea of music. I like where it could go!

Okay, so a full music world sounds like a much better idea. None of the cliche teleportation into another realm stuff.

I was thinking X could attack, and holding X could activate the Riff/Solo thing. Seems to make more sense, and simplifies the number of buttons needed.

Takeru: Solos would be more used to unlock doors. They're like the "upgrades" you see in metroid, where as riffs are like "spells" from your normal rpg.

We could also make sound effects all stick to the beat, though it may be difficult, I admit. I like the idea of everything being rythmic for this though.

Keep flowing the ideas, boys.

Aah, I see. I was thinking because the riffs were exp based, as you level up you get access to other areas. Maybe overlap riffs and solos for area discovery.

On the music/beat stuff...
Maybe while the character is walking, the music plays. When you run, it plays faster. When you stop, the music stops. When you play a solo, the music fades down and lets the solo come through. Riffs would stop the music and let the riff play out. That could bring the whole game to have a beat, without timing every sound or action to the music. Also, it would give the player the feeling that they are affecting the world they are playing in, which gives a cool fucking experience.

Nice ideas.

But, it still is pretty easy to time it. Just have it queue the sounds.

I've been thinking about this music related game idea.

I think we need focus.

Let's talk focus.


Here's the schtick -

Pick a genre. Elaborate.

What that means is that we actually have a chance to finish it. The assets will be easier to create and it will be cohesive a lot quicker.

Examples you say?

IE.

A musical adventure where a lone violinist travels the road to mastering the art of playing the electric violin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_violin
(The following videos are quick ones... but really, watch them all they are fucking amazing.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIp_Q4DQ8uU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP6NWkApqJI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoD78foaZ4o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxj0H8TnpaM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mLGTiRkXGQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdHB0AWVQT8
Long one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc3hGgPl8Js
And finally (Wow): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMSCntotIcI

A world where music is king but is slowly being destroyed by the Authorities of Expression Suppression. Told in the style of a rock opera with a classic feel, this lone warrior enters combat with the Bow becoming his sword, and the Violin becoming his shield. In placing the sword upon his shield he may play a rocking riff to cast a variety of effects. By using different bowing techniques (Pizzicato, Col legno, Martelé, Tremolo, Mute) there will be different and devastating musical melodies (COMBAT) and elevating elegies (PLATFORMING) that will enrapture the enemies of ROCK or bring you to a HIGHER plain!

"They tried to control rock music... but they can't control rock; because it's what you are."


--------


I actually didn't expect that to turn into the tangent that it did... but you get the idea. PICTURE IT. IMAGINE IT.
Most importantly... FEEL IT.

Love what you do. Love the music you listen to. Love the fire inside of you yearning to create, and we will have something more than great... something that we can use to elevate the consciousness and the soul in a seemingly simple 2D form that can make this crew whole.

Time to get excited you gorgeous people, you.

It's different, it has merit, and I love it.

Electric Violin Adventure! :D

20 years too late

Explain yourself!

the freedom of speech in music thing was played out in teh 80s..

Please name a video game in which this was executed. It was played out because it was a true story with famous moments such as the Berlin wall holding the ties to music (Hell, even Alvin and the Chipmunks capitalized on that). I know of no games that have used this, not only as a story basis, but as a mechanic. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Besides, if this game -were- to be made, it wouldn't be just music... it would be all forms of expression. And -that- idea is as old as time... but it is how the -style- melds it together that makes it new and different.

Otherwise, I'm happy you like it Spik. :)

While not a video game, a book did a very similar story. Only one type of music was allowed, god help you should you even try to play something else.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Worst_Band_in_the_Universe

On topic though..

I like the idea spik, though I wonder if it would be possible to get the additional forms of music to be added as a skill set as well?

The way this is swirling around in my head has it as a rtb system, played out similar to ddr - instead of taking turns and having to hit a sequence, the whole battle is one long song, and the different moves still require the sequences, only instead of having "bursts" of music, each battler has their own song they power up and murder the other guy with. If turns were to be added, I see it as a "Being attacked, play dodge tune!" sort of event, so you never actually get a break. This could make bosses a little hard, but overall I think the thing can work quite well.

Now the other musics could act like a triangle, similar to how the weapons in fire emblem work(a beats b, b beats c, c beats a), only on a larger scale. Jazz could beat techno, but be well and truly outclassed by classical(who in turns gets it's ass handed to it by metal). Sort of a counter attack, if you will.

One aspect I'd like to see, though don't know if it would be viable, is have the boss of each town as a saviour themselves - beat Little Miss Blue, and you can start a new game as the hero of Bluesvile. As well as the normal hugely affected world type thing.

As for control, I'm seeing the left hand taking care of the notes, right hand controlling the poses. Leave the space bar open for the head smash super mode - the faster you bang your head down, the more excited the crowd gets/weaker the boss gets. Not sure if this would be a safe idea, but it could work.

My three cents.

Maybe this is where those solos could come in real handy. You up your solo skill, and gain harder solos. The better you do on your solos, the weaker the boss gets.

I also had a completely different story idea. You start off as a roadie and your guitarist gets hurt trying to crowd surf. He gets rushed to the hospital. You decide to take over on the last song. You do somewhat well for a roadie, but the crowd gets mad and the band's shows are cancelled for the next week. Now you have to gain shows, but you are a small band and don't have a demo tape. After many failed attempts, you find a poster for the battle of the bands in your town and decide to enter.

Unfortunately, the band is broke, and can't pay the entrance fee for the battle of the bands. Because you unintentionally got the band in this mess, you decide to help out, and play on the street. By playing on the street, you collect money and items, and increase awareness of the competition.

You get to the Battle of the Bands, and kick complete ass. But a rival band shows up and decides to get rid of your band so they can win. Luckily, they are a whiny emo band, and can't stand up to the power of metal. And so the game starts, where you can play on the street for money, and riff in front of the rival band members and their roadies, fans, and groupies to defeat them. If they are fans or groupies, you have the ability to convert them into fans of your band, giving you an edge over other bands at the future Battles.

When you fight, you get to play one of your songs, they play one of their songs (short cutscenes), and then the battle starts, and the bands compete on a rhythm game type stage.

Takeru, it's good, but it's sounding a little bit too much like Guitar Hero or something of that effect. We wanted to keep this a bit obscure, and not actually a rythym game, music is just a tool being used.

Though, Jed, there are some good ideas there. Definately some things to be considered during the planning process of the battle system. I mean, different instruments may not be such a bad idea... If each instrument can play the same Solos, but has its own Riffs/Beats which need to be learned by using that instrument more. Also, different instruments could have different types of attacks. (Ranged, Close, Area, etc)

video games the Only Medium