Help Wanted

Detail about my inspired game idea – slim

slim

Junior Member

Posts: 8
From: Kentucky
Registered: 07-15-2002
First off, I would like to apologize in advance if something doesn't make sense. I tend to think faster than I type and I'm a terrible proof reader. My wife does that for me. At-any-rate, here we go the meat of the game idea. I'm leary of giving to much info for fear that someone would steal it, but I've decided that if anyone should takes the idea. I hope they do it justic. I don't suppose anybody would do that. Well here we go....ready for this...hehe

The idea of the game is fairly complecated. I will try to describe as best I can. The title of the game is SEVEN. It is based upon Revelation Chapters 2 and 3. Christ is speaking to the 7 churches, hence the name SEVEN. The game will be centered around the 7 churches, which will represent each of the 7 levels. Level 1: Ephesus • Level 2: Smyrna • Level 3: Pergamom • Level 4: Thyatira • Level 5: Sardis • Level 6: Philadelphia • Level 7: Laodicea. Each level will have challenges that were spoke by Christ to each of the 7 churches. The challenges will start with 7 of them in level one, and multiplied by 7 until level 7. Which basically means, that by the time you reach level seven: Laodicea there will be 49 challenges in that level. The game will start off at the out skirts of Ephesus where you the player, will meet with the Apostle John to pick up the seven letters to the seven churches to deliver them. The reason for this is because it is believed by scholars that the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelations after his return from exile. After the death of Emperor Domilitan. It is said that Apostle John went to Ephesus from Patmos where Revelations were written. Regardless of the validity of that statement I will go with that ideology, because it fits well with the story. The first step for the player after seeing John return from the isle of Patmos (like an in game video) will be to get to the other side of the city where John is playing. I suppose a brief description of the character is necessary here. The character that you the player will be playing is a letter courier for that time period. You have been hired to pick up the letters from the Apostle John to deliver them to each of the seven churches respectively. You be in the attire of that time period and will start off with 100 denali, A map, and a walking stick. The map and the denali you will keep in the walking stick. The objective of this game is not to get rich by getting denali but rather getting rich spiritually. The money is actually part of the challenge of the game and not the solution. After setting out of your house in Ephesus you will start to where John is staying a few streets down. Pick up the letters from John (which will be a brief in game video) and set out on your way across town to the church of Ephesus. On the way to the church you will be presented with seven temptations. (Oh which, by the way, your player is not a Christian, yet ) At any rate, the seven temptations will be along the lines of issues dealt with what Christ said to the church of Ephesus. Remember they had forsaken their first love. Now along the way you the player’s first love is money. Now during the time of the Roman Empire they had tax collectors this is the penalty for making the wrong decisions so to speak, or prison of course which will cost you denali to get out of anyway. So here is the reason why the denali is important because without it you will not get to the next level of Smyrna. The map you have in your walking stick is only for Ephesus you will have to purchase a map to get to Smyrna. Now with all of that said, after setting out to deliver the letter to the church at Ephesus you will be stopped seven times along the way. What is decided at these seven stops will determine the outcome of finishing the level. At this point the first stop will be pretty soon after you set out. You will run into Roman Centurion who stops you to see who you are and asks you to present you citizen’s ID. Which, of course the player will not have, because the player left it at home. Now here the player will have two choices. The Roman Centurion suggests avoiding a problem by presenting him with 5 denali. If the player gives him 5 denali the loses 5 denali and gets taken to prison immediately, because the centurion set him up with a bribery opportunity it which the player accepted. To get out of prison it will cost the player 5 more denali to get out. If the player says “No I will not pay” to the Roman Centurion, then the player will gain 5 denali and Roman Centurion allows him to proceed. The Centurion will say something like “Because you did not get caught in my trap to give me a bribe I will let you pass.” After the player passes this point you will continue on your course to the second point in which you are stopped. You be stopped at the theater were you be offered to purchase a ticket for 10 denali. If the player accepts this invitation then you will go to the theater to watch (something not sure what yet still researching) regardless upon enter the theater and watching the player will be robbed of 10 denali. This in the end will cost 20 denali for stopping. If the player declines this invitation the player will find 10 denali laying on the ground. At this point if every test has been past the amount of denali will be 115 denali. If he fails both of these he will be allowed to continue onto the next phases but will only have 85 denali. As things progresses the test will become hard that there will be more at stake. The third challenge comes after some progress is made to the church but the player is stopped at the gate of the main thoroughfare in which you will be ask to pay a toll of 15 denali. At the same time somebody in a market booth motions the player over. He will say something like “I have a way of getting behind the gate and onto the main thoroughfare without paying Rome a toll, but it will cost you 10 denali.” If the player accepts from the man he will get across the gate and get caught and once more sent to prison where it will cost the player 5 denali to get out of prison and the player lost 10 denali to the man and is still not behind the gate. At this point if the choice is made by the player the player will only have 60 denali before he goes and a pays the toll to get in the gate. At which time the player would only have 45 denali left. If the player accepts to pay the toll then he would only lose what the toll cost which is 15 denali which the player would then have 60 and not 45 for failing to see the danger. The fourth danger comes as the player starts down the man thoroughfare and the player will be stopped near the large beautiful buildings. He will be presented with an opportunity to tour the buildings for a cost of 20 denali. If the player accepts this tour he will run into where the player will find 40 denali in a corner. In which if the player accepted the tour of the buildings and found the 40 denali. It would have 100 denali total (if all tests are passed). If the player doesn’t accept the tour nothing will be lost or gained. The next three tests 5,6,7 will be the hardest and will deal with getting to the church at Ephesus and the beginnings of the next level of Smyrna. The fifth challenge will deal with the player being stopped to hear a man (Nicolaitan) spouting out he legalisms and sensuality of the spiritual and physical nature. If the player accepts to listen to the Nicolaitan he will lose 25 denali and be directed onto the wrong path from the church at Ephesus. Where the player will be lost and have to find his way back to the main thoroughfare. If the player does not stop to listen to the Nicolaitan he will continue a few steps to the second part of the fifth challenge where a blind man sits on the ground looking for his Apple he dropped on the ground. The player will be presented the opportunity to pick the man’s apple and give it to him. The sixth challenges ties directly into the fifth. If the player accepts this he will be given 10 denali by other Christians who witnessed the event of the blind man in the fifth challenge and be brought to their house for dinner. (An in game video here will provide some dialogue between the player and the other Christians) You will know they are Christians by the Icthus they will draw in the dirt by the play man. You will have the opportunity to accept the dinner invitation or not. If you accept it will good for you to rest and learn some more and receive the 10 denali. In addition the Christians will direct you to the man who has the map of Smyrna. If you decline the invitation then you will not be able to find the map and you will not gain 10 denali. Upon leaving the Christians house in the morning will be go to the church because they told the Christians told where the church was where the first letter will be delivered to the apostle of the church of Ephesus (an in game video will read and view that passage out loud) After deliver you will receive 30 denali. Once you received this the player will have to go back to the main thoroughfare to the Temple of Artemis to get the map from the man. At this point you will see many people at the temple of Artemis worshipping here and people selling things at the market. The player will be presented with the seventh challenge to give a child a cup of water. This off course is based upon the passage in M'r:9:41: “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” If the player accepts and buys a cup of water for 5 denali the child will tell of the man who sells the maps that will take him to Smyrna. If the player refuses to give the child a cup of water then he will go be beat over the head and taken to the temple of Artemis to be sacrificed. Whereby the player will buy his freedom for every last denali thereby failing this level and going back to the beginning of the game.

I have thought long and hard about what will happen next and I have come to two conclusions. So I would like some input from someone. I could proceed to the next level of Smyrna in two different ways. I could simply keep the game in the time period of A.D. 30 to A.D. 100 which I can deal with just fine or I could bring it into the another time period of the church. For example, it has been said that each of the seven churches represent a timeline of the church itself. The church is all of us. These seven churches represent Christians in the past, present and future. So along those lines the second church’s time period would run from A.D. 100 to A.D. 300 and so on all the way up to now the church of Laodicea. I like the idea of moving into different time periods, but don’t know how I can get the time periods to happen unless I make the player like Saul on the road to Damascus where he is blinded by God and delivered into another time period. Should I even try to go with the different time periods? If so, then I need some suggestions on how to make the transition yet not getting “magical” if you know what I mean. Or do you think I should just stick with the time period of A.D. 30-100?

Slim

©2002 Pottershouse Games

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Slim

gingerellies

Member

Posts: 50
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: 05-28-2002
Great idea! It really sounds like fun (spelling issues and all ) I like the idea of jumping time periods. If that is what the seven churches represent, then that is how it should be, pray to God for an answer of how it should be handled in the game. You've got a really great start there, flush it on out and I'm sure you could get some funding for it! Good luck!

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God bless and keep you!
-Ginger

slim

Junior Member

Posts: 8
From: Kentucky
Registered: 07-15-2002
Thanks for welcoming me. Yesterday, I had stumbled upon this site by accident or possibly by divine guidance. The latter is most like correct. When I found this site, Its like a kid anticipating Christmas. I think its great to feel a call toward something. I have spent most of my life looking for guidance on my talents that God has givin' to me. I think, like you, this could be something special. In my heart, I feel like this project could be worth a go. I would love to have your help with this project. Even if it is on a limited basis. I haven't look at the Christian Game Developer's Conference. I think I saw a post about that....I will read it Just ICQ me sometime and I can give you more details and discuss how we could proceed when you time allows. I too, have a full-time job and a family so I completely understand the issues with time, but with that in mind, I have always kept the idea...that maybe what God wants more than your money is first, our love and second our time. I think God will bless all of us that are getting into a cutting edge media industry. Look forward to speaking with you some more.

Slim

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Slim

slim

Junior Member

Posts: 8
From: Kentucky
Registered: 07-15-2002
Oh yeah...I forgot to mention....this post is from your reply before as well as, for the second posted reply you made to me. I have been praying for some time on the game play. The thing I guess that I feel in my heart, is that, I should keep the game pure of heart. If that makes sense. Its important to keep the game in perspective. It seems more and more each day that I will be taking the direction of the different time periods, as this will get a better effect. Or at least I think it will. I'll continue praying about that, but it looks more like that will happen. I just need to be inspired on how that will happen. So I will listen to what God has to say. In response to your comment regarding funding. As I mentioned before this is really my father's idea. Spiritually and physically. What I mean is my Father in heaven gave my dad this revelation to my father on earth. My dad, being a pastor, could get us the funding. I don't feel that funding would be an issue. So, I propose this plan. If and when you ready to join me in this quest. I say we build a demo of just the first level of Ephesus. Once we have completed the demo...we'll then start distributing it in our respective towns. I live just outside of Cincinnati Ohio, in Northern Kentucky. Northern Kentucky has large amounts of churches. All different shapes and sizes. My dad, who is one of those kinds of people who knows everybody...could help us with the marketing of the demo and most likely the funding to complete the game. I don't expect anyone to do this for free....and I certainly don't expect you to do that, but I don't have much money on my own. In fact, very little, but I think that we will have to have something to show before asking for funding. What do you think? By-the-way, what kind of language do you use? I have been studying C,C++ for sometime now, but haven't really gotten to far in it. I bought this big book on C++...hehe it is terrible to read. So, when I found this website, I got so exited because I feel the Lord lead me here to find someone (such as yourself...wink...wink) to help with this project. I guess it's difficult to express to someone and idea. At-any-rate, I look forward to speaking with you some more and I ask that you pray about it. Make sure you feel lead to join on this project. If you decide to join me, don't feel like you have to hurry to get things done. We will proceed on the basis of being comfortable. However fast, or slow you wish to work is fine with me. One last thing, if you want to join this project and you if you want to, any suggestions technical or otherwise will always be welcome....even if you don't want to do it I guess I'm saying pray that you feel lead by the Lord. Thanks so much Ginger. Talk to you soon.

Slim

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Slim