Project Hungry Moose - Post 001

With the intention of making a simple game app, that also allowed me to pursue a game idea I had previously come up with; Hungry Moose was designed. Inspired by the fun I had playing the special stages of Sonic The Hedgehog 2. 

 

All Sonic 2 (Mega Drive II) Special Stages

Many hours were spent on my Sega Mega Drive II when I was a kid. I wanted to redesign the control system and build on the idea and expand it into it's own small game. I will also be drawing inspiration from Playstation's Wipeout game for pick ups, boost pads and possible weapons (for getting through blockades and/or enemies).

 Wipeout HD has some similarities. Wipeout (PSX) gameplay

 I ideally want to control left and right by rotating the phone, but I may end up with a left and right button on their respective sides. And a jump button near both, if jump cannot be triggered by flicking the phone (jolting it if that's easier to understand).

 

(The on screen joysticks of the Sonic 2 remake for smartphones.)

But essentially the idea will be collect enough food items / score to progress. Each level will be made up of a series of twists and turns, possible jumps and/or obstacles. Along the path will be collectibles, and hitting traps or enemies will cause you to drop some. Multipliers can boost the next combo (a string of collectibles - ex. a 1 second gap will end said combo.) Checkpoints along the level will determine if you have enough score / food items to progress. (Perhaps when hunger outweighs food intake or something? - Visual Idea: Upon failing => H.M. collapses, too hungry to continue?) 

I think the biggest decision for me at this point is which style should I pursue? Do I make a traditional 2D game but use 3D image based resources and "fake it", so to speak? Or do I make a very simple 3D game and hope that the average smartphone can run it? Essentially I'm asking Stencyl or Unity. 

A 3D game in Unity is more what I want to swing towards. The resources will allow me convert the game to 2D if necessary; failing to get the game running optimally in 3D. And I will get the perspective I'm after, along with the collision system for picking up collectibles in 3D.