Video game conceptual brainstorming

[The Last Spartan]

Don't know if this is in the right forum, but since it is within the department of actual brainstorming, I thought I'd post it here for opinions and critiquing.

I have several game concepts that I've been working on, and that I wanted to share them with you folks and see what you think of it. I have details with all of them written down in fragments, but the summary and gist of the game are in my head.

Now, here's what I got

1. Zombie Apocalypse RPG
2. Post-Nuclear Holocaust RPG
3. Cyberpunk RPG
4. Cyberpunk War FPS
5. Cyberpunk Strategy
6. High fantasy RPG
7. High fantasy strategy
8. Psychological horror FPS

and a couple others as well. Note that 2,3,4 and 5 are within the same series, as well as 6 and 7. Keep in mind that majority of these are in a tactical sense, so a lot of realism, lot's of thinking will be required, but actions and quick thinking as well.

Everyone tracking so far?

EDIT

The one I'd like to discuss right now is the Cyberpunk strategy. I had all the notes typed out, but the page refreshed So I lost all the stuff I was typing >

Anyway, the gist of it, is that there are 5 factions, some with several subfactions, and there is a grand campaign to be the dominant ruling force in the Sol System.

You have:

The Corporate Alliance, a loose alliance of syndical corporates that run reestablished governments all over the world. Their ground forces are meant mainly for urban combat and raiding and are very specialized. Their stellar forces are mainly escort ships for merchant vessels and is a mainly defensive doctrine.

The Martian Commonwealth, a socialist dictatorship established on Mars. Their ground forces are meant as a "sledgehammer" strategy for huge numbers, great for both defensive and offensive operations. Their stellar forces have big and slow, but powerful ships.

The Titan Federation, a militaristic fedederation established on Titan and its subsequent moons. Their ground forces are high quality units good for tackling any combat situation. Their stellar forces have large fire support ships with lots of corvettes and frigates for raiding.

The Sons of Liberty is a libertarian/anarchist militant movement on Mars and Earth and is state sponsored by many federal subjects of the Titan Federation. Their ground forces focus mainly on infantry and vehicles that have been repurposed and use subterfuge and underhanded tactics. They have no naval forces.

The Skoll Empire is a theocratic alien empire spanning thousands of star systems, ruled by a single "God King". Their ground forces are high quality units that focus mainly on mobility and fast attacks for a constant offensive. Their naval forces sport huge vessels and thousands upon thousands of star fighters with the support of vessels in between - a good all around force.

[The Norseman]

Zombie Apocalypse RPG sounds good for me Though it would be nice if you could have a free roam map. So that you are not limited to walk a specific area. I want a campaign though And hundreds of zombies attacking you very often!

[The Last Spartan]

Actually that was the idea. Basically after character creation you start out at pretty much where you were when the outbreak began. Then where you go from there is entirely up to you. I've had several ideas of where to place the story, but the one I'm looking at is a fictitious city set in northern Siberia. It's a small city with a rural area and mountains bordering all sides, except the north (which is coastline and some small islands). But aside from the zombies, mutants and bandits, you also have to worry about starvation, dehydration and sleep deprevation. Then there's the winter you have to contend with, and mutants from the radiation in the nearby nuclear power plant. You can also choose a place to make into your safehouse and fortify it with traps, reinforcing materials, etc. You can pick up anything and use it as a weapon. Then you have your firearms, but all of them have their own statistics true to how they perform in real life, so there will be some that will seem unblanaced. For example, the AEK-971 and the AK-74M use the same 5.45x39mm round and use a long stroke gas piston, which mean they are both very reliable. However, the AEK-971 has a balancing recoil system that not only significantly reduces recoil, but increases the cyclic rate of fire to 900 rounds per minute, as compared to the AK-74 which has a cyclic rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute and a standard recoil system. But the likelyhood of finding an AEK-971 over an AK-74 are significantly less, since the AEK-971 is currently only being manufactured in small numbers (whereas the AK-74 is readily available). Did I also mention there will be ballistics? So different rounds have different effects, and range will vary depending on the round and weapon. Different pieces of junk can be used for a various number of things, depending on the ingenuity of the player. I was debating on the idea of classes so that it will give people and incentive to team up (yes, it will be multiplayer), but that's not always the case in real life. A person's knowledge and skills can be limitless depending on intellectual capability. Plus, I don't like the idea of a single specialization. The idea behind the game is essentially a zombie apocalypse survival RPG, which I intend to keep true to its word. Of course a game of this complexity will take a considerable amount of time and resources and at this time would be improbable to use on an inferior platform like the Xbox 360. The PS3 is a possibility, but may be iffy. It's still using old technology. And so, at this point, only a PC release would be likely.


For the strategy game, I was thinking of having it so that 2 opposing forces that meet together on a battlefield would go in several phases, Pre-Deployment Phase, Deployment Phase, Battle Phase and Post Battle Phase.

Predeployment Phase
Both sides choose their forces they wish to deploy on a map at the beginning of a battle. Units and assets are chosen for the screening force, main column, reserve force and support forces (however, this will be dependent on the commander). The screening force may be included within the main column. Force strength is based on point value, there is no population cap. Support points are used to bring in reserve forces and support forces into a battle. Support forces and reserve forces are units that are called in off-map in supporting role of the main column. Reserve forces are regular combat units while support units include theater range artillery such as cruise missiles and air units such as fighters and bombers. Field artillery can be included in your force.

Deployment Phase
After both sides have chosen their forces, they may now deploy within the general area of operations. Battle areas can range from a single square kilometer to many square kilometers (up to 50 sq. km). Forces will choose an area within their zone of control while a no man's land will remain as a buffer zone between the two forces. Pre-battle preparations such as static defenses may be made during this phase. Note that some battle preparations such as static defenses can be made after the battle has begun commencement.

Battle Phase
Once both forces are ready to fight, the battle begins (or if it is an ambush, the attacking side will automatically begin the attack). The battle is over once opposing forces are eliminated or once the objective has been achieved. Note that depending on the objective will determine a forces ability to reinforce and the like. Also note that certain units have certain deployment rules. For example, airborne infantry must be in a reserve force if they are to be paradropped onto a designated drop zone, but still have the option of being deployed regularly on foot.

I hope I explained that well enough. I know it's a little confusing.

Case in point, being no base building, no resource gathering, none of that stuff from classic strategy games. There's a lot of good technology out there like how Company of Heroes and World in Conflict, but many strategy games are simply not utilizing it. Frankly, it's old and boring. In my opinion, very little actual strategy involved in that.

[Robin de Bodemloze]

There is a community RPG forum for this kind of thing.

[The Last Spartan]

For concepts overall?

[Shankbot de Bodemloze]

You can propose something like this in the Consulate, which is a sub-forum found in the link robinzx gave you.

[Le_Cliffe85]

The Skoll Empire is a theocratic alien empire spanning thousands of star systems, ruled by a single "God King".

This sounds interesting, do you plan to have them as a faction that already has a foothold in "our galaxy" or do you plan to have them as a force that is just entering it, planning on conquer but with only a limited number of troops, like some advanced scout group or something?. I also kind of like the idea of having corporations which are more like "mega businesses" (although i'm not sure if that's what you meant).. Are these 5 groups the sole factions or would you plan to include others? Or maybe some native factions, i.e some creatures or species that are native to titan and oppose the Titan Federation. I'm not asking these questions critically or anything i'm just curious. All in all is sounds very interesting

[The Last Spartan]

This sounds interesting, do you plan to have them as a faction that already has a foothold in "our galaxy" or do you plan to have them as a force that is just entering it, planning on conquer but with only a limited number of troops, like some advanced scout group or something?.

I plan on having an expeditionary force that comes to the Sol System some time during the Colonial Civil War. Much like in the fashion of the Achemenid Persian Empire, they send an emmissary after studying their culture and language for some time, and offer them a place in the Empire without violence. If they refuse, then they will be conquered anyway. But...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Martian Commonwealth and Corporate Alliance join forces and gain ground on the Titan Federation and the rebels later on. When an emmissary comes to greet the Federation leaders, they offer to serve the Emperor as a military force in exchange for helping to destroy their enemy. Keep in mind that the Titan Federation is a warrior society, virtually everyone there is a soldier and it's part of their culture to fight. If they're not fighting someone else, they're fighting each other. However, they respect one another and know when to put their differences aside.

I also kind of like the idea of having corporations which are more like "mega businesses" (although i'm not sure if that's what you meant).. Are these 5 groups the sole factions or would you plan to include others? Or maybe some native factions, i.e some creatures or species that are native to titan and oppose the Titan Federation. I'm not asking these questions critically or anything i'm just curious. All in all is sounds very interesting

Megacorporations or syndicates is the proper term. But yes, you are correct. Business run everything on Earth and other colonial entities.

And yes, these are the only 5 major factions, but they all have several military sub-factions beneath them. Like the Titan Federation has many federal subjects that all have their own version of uniforms, weapons, etc. Kinda like how the 40K Space Marines are one faction with their chapters with different doctrines as sub-factions. The Sons of Liberty, Skoll Empire, and Corporate Alliance all have sub-factions as well.

The Sons of Liberty all have different cells. The Skoll Empire operates different cults. The Corporate Alliance has their myriad of Mercenary Armies. The Martian Commonwealth does not have different sub-factions per se, but they have an extremely large military force that is modeled after the Waffen SS and the People's Liberation Army. I guess you could count the main army as one sub faction while the military arm of their political party as another.