RPGDX > Forums > Story and dialogue > Rock Band RPG

JimKurth · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:29 am Post subject: Rock Band RPG

I am already in development of my Time Switch, which is very similar to Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI/VII. I was thinking of dropping that game project (which is in limbo status for god knows when) and moving onto something that may be easier for me to do (maybe a starter RPG to get my skills ready for what I'm needing in TS)... here's the idea, please comment on your opinions. Thanks:

The RPG starts off with you as an aspiring band member. You choose what path you want to go (instrumentalist, singer, guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboard player, etc) and you audition others from your hometown who want to start up a band (of the genre you choose: country, rock, metal, jazz, blues, pop, alternative, emo, etc) You can choose from people who've never been in bands before to those who've been in bands of all types (if you want to form a metal band, then you can hire a drummer who's been in a country band, or a guitarist who's played only jazz before, etc).

Once you have your band complete, then you play at open-mic nights at local bars and make some money to afford to record a demo cd which will be given to local club owners. Once they like your material (standard experience will be your path experience (guitar, vocals, bass, drums) and your experience must be high to get a good sounding demo), then you can play at their club and hopefully win some money by selling cd's, etc.

When you reach enough money, you can afford better gear, a van to take you around in, etc. Once you have a van then you can go on tour outside your hometown and play at a variety of locations from a gay bar in Atlanta, to a hick town's local pub in the woods. You book your own bars (some may have charges), and you plan your dates. You build more experience the more you play at locations and you basically go from garage band to rock stars (or country stars, or pop stars, or jazz quartets, etc). Everything will be included in your budget (don't book for Chicago if you're in Florida and cannot afford to travel up north. It'll be wasted money), including the weight of your gear compared to the weight restrictions of your vehicle.

You can also purchase better instruments (aka weapons), gain extraordinary skills (aka magic) to use during performances, eat out at the BBQ joint or Taco shack down the road (aka Health), or buy tons of alcohol to raise your confidence to perform in front of an audience (aka strength/vitality/power). You'll be able to see your personal stats once you have formed your band and you can increase it anytime when you're not performing.

Battles will be similar to turn-based battles like in Final Fantasy however, you'll be performing in front of an audience and not striking a goblin or other monsters.

What do you think?

-Jim
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Terry · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:59 am Post subject:

This could be pretty cool - especially if you don't sanitise it and deal with the edgier side of things.

It's worth noting (before you get too far into things) that there's something very similar already out there - Kudos: Rock Legend. What you've described here is a lot more detailed, though.
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JimKurth · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 3:36 am Post subject: OH yeah

ManaTroph · Monkey-Butler Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 57

no offense, but this is supposed to simpler than you're current project? sounds pretty in depth.

Just the same sounds really cool. good luck with things, I look forward to reading more about it in the future.
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JimKurth · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:53 am Post subject:

DeveloperX · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:01 am Post subject:

Jim, take these words of advice from someone who has seen far too many unfinished rpg projects.

Aim Low. Its been said by so many people, yet soo many do not follow these two simple words. Even I have failed to follow these very wise words.

I'm by no means an authority on the subject, but my new approach to things seems to be working a lot better than what I used to do.

1. create or learn a library to use.
2. think about what different things your game needs to do
3. pick one of those things and get that working
4. once you're satisfied that you have that thing working, pick another, and repeat the process.
5. by now you should have something that resembles the game, minus the game content.
6. now is the time to create some test content and create a separate demo that demonstrates the features that you want your game to have.
7. Once all of the things are working, then you should start putting together your game content, building on it, until you think it is finished.

One thing to remember is to keep each 'thing' in its own project, keep multiple backups / use source code control, and always always don't be afraid to scrap things that just don't fit in.

I bid you good luck on your game.
:)
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JimKurth · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:10 am Post subject: Thanks

ManaTroph · Monkey-Butler Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 57

DeveloperX this is excelent advice for anyone starting out and a good methadology to always follow.

JimKurth, it seems you've got it all figured out. I am into a fairly large project myself (the biggest i've tackled yet and have been using this method with good success) and soon will take a break to try something much smaller, probably in java as opposed to c++.

Am verry tired. will check back later.
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