<LittleViking> Actually, I think we need a concept level. A full level with some puzzles and architecture. Even if it doesn't make it into the game itself, an idea of what the levels might be like.
<GamingWolf> Well then at the very least I would request a genre.
<AF> This'll be a puzzle-platformer.
<LittleViking> Platformer. Probably low on combat, based in space. Yeah, puzzly at times.
<AF> I still prefer the scorched earth idea.
<LittleViking> http://www.assembla.com/spaces/image_annotation/index/metanet?document_id=cYpyhQONWr3z3lab7jnrAJ The drawing at the bottom of this is how I picture it going.
<GamingWolf> Okay well then I could easily design something. Soon
<LittleViking> That's only one planet though. We need several planets all near each other, and the player crosses the planet and then jumps to the next one.
<GamingWolf> Is there gonna be like some bonus thing when you go between planets?
<LittleViking> I don't think there'll be a bonus, besides finishing the level when you've crossed all of them. A single level will probably have ten planets or so that player has to cross.
<LittleViking> Also, he won't just be able to just jump across sometimes, so he'll have to plug in the power cord for the space elevator, or piece together the rocket ship, or whatever puzzle like that comes up.
* kkstrong doesn;t like the idea of having to make 500 levels
<kkstrong> 50 is more appropriate
<LittleViking> Yeah, we might do 50. We might even do 20.
<AF> 20 seems reasonable.
<AF> Depending on the size of each level.
<GamingWolf> Okay do you really want levels to consist of planets or planets to consist of levels? Or rather... the overworld involves traveling around these planets and then the planets have separate levels?
<AF> Levels consisting of planets is what I was thinking.
<LittleViking> Some levels might be a single large planet, but I think everyone wants levels with lots of planets.
<GamingWolf> Okay so when you get on a planet you are basically running around in a circle until you jump right? And then gravity takes its course
<AF> There will be satellites too, from what I understand.
<GamingWolf> Satellites perhaps containing items or switches and whatnot...
<GamingWolf> Hmm. What exactly is the goal of each level. Is each level a galaxy where I must reach the sun? What I am looking for here?
<LittleViking> Hmmm. That's something we haven't decided.
<LittleViking> Jumping into the Sun is usually a bad idea. We would only need to make one level if that was the goal.
<GamingWolf> Well, the goal as in the transition between stages... or is this one big long venture with save points?
<LittleViking> Oh, there's definitely a transition between stages. Probably checkpoints too if the levels are long.
<LittleViking> A few options come to mind. First is collecting something-or-others. Maybe the star system has 5 computer ships on different planets, and you finish the level when you've grabbed them all. Maybe there's an "exit door" on the last planet. Or maybe it's like the newer Mario games where each level has several goals, and you can do any of them.
<kkstrong> Or maybe its that your trying to collect peices for some satelitte or space station on each planet...
<GamingWolf> Well these are important decisions... it will effect the level design.
<LittleViking> It certainly will. I think I'll post on the forum for opinions.
<GamingWolf> Oh dude... totally liking that Mario idea though.
<GamingWolf> PURPLE COIN CHALLENGEZOR
<LittleViking> Haha, purple coins.
<kkstrong> maybe something that builds your own exit door?
<GamingWolf> I totally loved the comet things too.
<GamingWolf> Wait what the hell will happen with comets? Transporters of some kind? They go a long way.
<kkstrong> haha, they only come once every few million years, better get it right!
<LittleViking> Comets would be a good way to travel between star systems. They have a huge orbit, so the player could hop on a comet, ride it to the edge of the system, and hitch another comet into the next one.
<GamingWolf> Yeah I could definitely work with this but I would prefer to know of any objectives beforehand.
<LittleViking> Well, I really like the multiple goals idea like Mario, but I wonder if we'd be ripping off Nintendo /too/ much with that.
<GamingWolf> Have you ever seen Mario fangames. It's not like you could get sued.
<LittleViking> True, good point.
<LittleViking> Well, the most generic goals are definitely 'collect 5 tokens' and 'reach the exit.' And they're fairly similar in terms of design, so either of those will work until we've decided on something final.
<GamingWolf> Well except we have a greater liberty of goal choice. We don't always have to go by a system of "big bad guy" "area with stage" "coin challenge"
<GamingWolf> We can be way more creative with mission ideas.
<LittleViking> Maybe one of the goals can be to collect water from the outer star system and deliver it to the terrestrial planets. The outer planets usually have lots of ice on them.
<LittleViking> Maybe a goal can be to set up and focus a giant magnifying glass so that people can inhabit a planet like Pluto. The magnifying glass heats the planet.