Almighty Game Designer Chapter 39: Planning for “Plants vs. Zombies” version
After sending out the recruitment information, Chen Mo plans to check the application email again at night.
Now Chen Mo needs to plan the version update of Plants vs. Zombies.
In the previous life, "Plants vs. Zombies" had a sequel, but its reputation was very poor. Although it was good in terms of profitability, it was far worse in terms of player reputation.
Therefore, Chen Mo does not plan to develop "Plants vs. Zombies 2." If it is just to make money, then it is also scolded, why not make a domestic pit money game? At least it can keep the reputation and brand of "Plants vs. Zombies."
This version update is likely to be the first and last version update of "Plants vs. Zombies", so Chen Mo's goal is to mobilize the enthusiasm of the players as much as possible, so that they can be in the big frame. Under the self-developed new gameplay, so that people who love this game can continue to play.
After all, Chen Mo will soon start the development of a new game, and now he does not have so much energy to maintain "Plants vs. Zombies."
Chen Mo thought about it, and roughly planned the following contents for the new version.
One, in terms of game content, a new [Developer Tools] has been added. Anyone can use this [Developer Tools] to do some experiments under the framework of Plants vs. Zombies.
You can adjust various numerical settings such as plants, zombies, environment, and maps.
can upload new art resources and create new types of plants and zombies.
can use existing art resources to make new maps, or new levels and gameplay.
These newly produced mods (meaning modules, that is, a modification or enhancement program of the game), there will be a special entrance in the "Plants vs. Zombies" game to browse, players only need to download the corresponding The mod can play the game.
Players can also rate and evaluate each mod. In the mod function, the system will have a default algorithm that sorts the mods based on multiple factors such as downloads, ratings, and game duration, and regularly recommends them to players.
Two, build networking and community functions to make players more closely connected in the game.
"Plants vs. Zombies" developed by Chen Mo has simple networking and ranking functions, but this only meets the needs of players to show off and compare, and does not meet the deeper social needs.
Through the new networking and community features, players can add friends to each other, or join the same community (can be understood as a guild). Friends or players in the same community can watch other players, upload and share their own level recordings, and recommend some fun mods.
三, develop simple multiplayer game functions.
In fact, for players, with [Developer Tools], they will make multiplayer games sooner or later. Chen Mo is just trying to speed up the process.
The multiplayer game planned by Chen Mo temporarily has two modes, both of which are relatively simple.
The first mode is a multiplayer cooperation mode. Each person controls 3~5 roads and supports 2~5 players to play games at the same time. That is to say, there are up to 25 roads. The screen can be dragged up and down and free to view others. The player's situation.
The sunlight produced by each person is calculated separately, which can help other players plant plants to resist the invasion of zombies together.
In the multiplayer cooperative mode, a player can be resurrected through special plants after death, and players can also work together to plant some special plants.
The second mode is a multiplayer confrontation mode, which can be 1V1, 2V2 or 3V3. Every player can get sunlight and moonlight over time, sunlight is used to produce plants, and moonlight is used to produce zombies.
The production rate of zombies is slightly faster than that of plants.
Players must defend their lawns with plants, and use zombies to attack the enemy's lawns. Once a player is defeated, they cannot be resurrected.
As for why we need two resources, sunshine and moonlight, this is to prevent everyone from planting plants instead of zombies and drag the game into a bladder game.
If one party controls the plants and the other party controls the zombies, the balance will become difficult to control, so Chen Mo did not do that either.
Chen Mo is not sure whether these two multiplayer game modes will succeed, but he is relatively optimistic, because these two modes basically conform to the classic gameplay of the original game, and the changes made are Some gainful changes will not destroy the core fun of the game.
Of course, even if it is unsuccessful, it does not matter, there will be various mods that players will research independently.
Chen Mo's estimated development cycle is two weeks, which is already a very relaxed time. After all, the main function of "Plants vs. Zombies" was developed in just over a month.
Chen Mo roughly finished writing the outline of the design document. It was already night.
The experience store closed, and Chen Mo returned to the second floor, opened his designer mailbox, and began to screen the resumes sent by candidates.
Among these resumes, most of them are for assistants, and only four people apply for the front desk.
Chen Mo flipped through their resumes, and they were not very satisfied, either because they had a superficial understanding of the game, or they had never played "Plants vs. Zombies", or the two appreciations were very perfunctory.
Of course, it is mainly because of the looks of these four girls that Chen Mo has no eye on them.
Chen Mo is not an appearance association, and there is no ulterior motive for recruiting the front desk, but after all, this is a relatively well-paid job. Chen Mo has many choices and there is no need to improvise.
This is also for the sake of our players. A sweet-looking front desk will make the players who come to the experience store experience the game more happy, so we still have to find a good one.
is at least cute.
Chen Mo continued to look through the resume of the assistant candidate.
There are a lot of these resumes, and Chen Mo checked them one by one, and brushed out all those that did not meet the requirements. He only needs an assistant at the moment, so it can be relatively casual to brush up his resume.
Those who are too old are not considered for the time being.
Very old people~IndoMTL.com~ mainly because they are relatively conservative in thinking, not active enough, lack of innovation spirit, lack of training potential, and it will be awkward to let people older than themselves be assistants.
Those who have long-term work experience in other game companies are not considered for the time being.
Chen Mo’s game design concept is completely different from other companies. For those who have worked in other game companies for a long time, the game design concept must have been finalized, and it is very difficult to reverse it.
I don’t think about anything except playing games.
Playing games and making games are two completely different things. Playing games requires reflexes, operation and game intelligence, while playing games requires good logical thinking, delicate thinking, practical work attitude and a little inspiration .
A pure player, it is difficult to do the game design work.
Then just watch the game appreciation sent by these people.
Game appreciation can reflect a person’s basic understanding of the game, and it is impossible for Chen Mo to choose a person who is contrary to his game philosophy as his assistant.
For the appreciation of "Plants vs. Zombies", Chen Mo mainly looks at the applicant's understanding of this game, as long as he can talk about this game in any 2~3 aspects of creativity, gameplay, system, level, and value. The shining point of the game is even qualified.
As for the appreciation of other games, Chen Mo mainly wants to see the types of games that candidates prefer, and his vision. As long as you choose a relatively successful game and briefly talk about the highlights of this game, you will be qualified.
For the future prospects of the game, this is an additional question.
is too wrong to judge the future prospects of the game, so I won’t consider it for now. This kind of person is too stupid to teach.
is too correct in judging the future prospects of the game, and does not consider it. Such people are definitely not in the pool, and Chen Mo does not want to make enemies for himself.