Wednesday, December 31, 2014

New Game and Prototype: Overflow!

I haven't given up on Elemental Tiles; there was just another game idea I've been toying with that I thought I'd try out, primarily because it's so simple, and yet still pretty fun.  I'm going to run with this idea for a bit and then see which of the two people seem to like better and also which one would be easier to implement (for my first ever published game I'm okay with going for the quick win).

The game is called (for now) Overflow.  It's played with multiple players on the same device.  It's important that only the player whose turn it is be looking at the screen when it's his or her turn.  So if playing on a computer, only have the current player look at the screen when instructed; if on a mobile device, pass it to the current player when it's their turn.  The object of the game is to have as few points as possible.  On your turn you will draw a random number between 1 and 10.  Only you will know what numbers you draw.  You then have the choice to either add that amount to your Bank (thus adding to your score) or add it to the Pot (the Pot is shared by all players).  The Pot has a certain limit.  You don't know what the limit is, but it will be a random number between 25 and 50.  If you cause the amount in the Pot to go over this limit, the Pot overflows and the entire contents are added to your Bank!  Then a new round begins.  Play continues until each player has had a chance to be first in a round (so the number of rounds matches the number of people playing).  At the very end, the player with the fewest points wins.

The game doesn't tell you what numbers the other players got, but it does tell you whether the player before you Banked or added to the Pot, and it tells you how many players have added to the Pot so far.  Using this information, make a calculated decision whether to Bank your points, hurting your score, or to risk an overflow by adding to the Pot.

I whipped up a simple prototype to test the concept.  It's just text and buttons for now.  Move the slider to choose how many players and then begin the game.  If you want to play again, refresh the page.  Here's the link:
bit.ly/overflow_p1

So how is it?  Is it fun?  Does the game interface provide you enough information to make a decision whether to Bank or add to the Pot?

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