Game Design (Space Trucker)

Original Concept:
Sci-fi Ascii-based open world combat/trading simulation game with compelling story

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Revised Concept:

Flip Freelancer on it's head.
Instead of a Trading mechanics which enhance a combat game, have combat mechanics which enhance a trading game.

Gameplay loops:

Overarching Loop: (Progression)
-explore new area
-discover port locations & trade routes
-trade to acquire money
-fight off bandits/pirates/rivals/monsters/etc.
-upgrade ship
-move on to new area
-(repeat)

Minute-to-Minute Loop:
-Interaction with NPC's (exposition/random events/quests/trading/shopping)	(30%)
-Managing Inventory								(10%)
-Navigating ship in space from point A to point B				(40%)
-Combat										(20%)
-(Repeat)

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Target Audience:
-Management Game Fans
-Sci-fi fans
-Men between 16 and 40

Not (necessarily) our audience:
-Realism/Simulation geeks
-Non-gamers
-Hardcore action fans
-Fantasy buffs
-Literature buffs
-Horror/Thriller enthusiasts
-Romance/Drama fans
-etc.

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What does our audience like?

-Complex inventory systems
-Resource management / Flow Rates / Politics
-Documents/Licensing/Paperwork
-Show don't tell approach to graphics and storytelling
-Technical things (diagrams, puzzles, graphics, etc)
-Puzzles (this may or may not be a good idea)
-Complex Lore and World building (alien races, galaxies, organizations, etc)
-Lasers, missiles, etc. (weapons in general)
-Guns, lots of guns
-Iconic and unique sound effects
-Women
-Comedy/Humor (??? Potentially)


What does our audience dislike? (not looking for)

-History & Literature
-Long dialogues or expositions
-Drama
-Chores/Work (this is important)
-Overly technical user interfaces (see: Chores)
-Nitty gritty details (see: Chores)

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How will these interests fit into our gameplay loop?

1. NPC Interaction:
	-Documents/Licensing/Paperwork
	-Politics
	-Puzzles (potentially)
	-Complex Lore
	-Women (???)

2. Inventory Management:
	-Complex and layered inventory system
	-Resource management / Flow rates
	-Puzzles (??)
	-Weapons & ammunition

3. Ship Navigation:
	-High visual quality (lots of things to look at)
	-Technical things (User interface, graphics look sci-fi)
	-Iconic sounds (thrusters, exploratory music)
	-Resource management (fuel,oxygen,rations)

4. Combat:
	-Weapons
	-Lasers/Missiles/Guns
	-Politics
	-Resource Management (ammunition/heat)
	-Iconic sounds (lasers/weapons/explosions, battle music)

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What backend game systems will be needed to facilitate this gameplay loop:

1. Combat System (Ship)
2. Inventory System
3. Dialog System
4. Store/Trading System
5. Navigation System (Ship)
6. Navigation System (Foot) (Potentially?)
7. Combat System (Foot) (?)

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What features will each game system have to achieve best user experience?

1. Combat System:
	-Turn based
	-Action-points
	-Line of sight
	-Ship Facing/Orientation
	-Firing Arcs

etc. etc. etc.