Lovecraft RPG : Video Game (Work in Progress)

[Kane8290]

While I have just signed-up for this site, Lovecraft's stories are not new to me. I have read many of his books (rather, published collection of his tales) and greatly enjoyed the few games currently out that are set in his universe. But something crossed my mind...there are no *real* RPG's set in the world he created! I've thought about it and have decided to fix that. I have some (well, I took computer programming for four years in highschool) experience with game creation and alot of willpower to use it. I aim to creat a semi-open-world RPG set in the Miskatonic County Lovecraft set many of his tales. Currently, there will not be a *central* plotline, instead I will focus on having numerous questlines scattered through-out the world. Each of these qestlines will carry the potential to affect te gameworld at large (from influencial families denying you access to their store, to entire towns being wiped away). Random encounters will also play an important role.
My current plan of attack is to reread the book "Lovecraft: The Complete Fiction" (published by Barnes & Noble), then move on the the 6th edition of the Call of Cathulhu game manual. I already have a good idea of how I'm going to make the game, but I still wish the review the manual incase I missed something important.

There is, however, one key decision I have yet to make; 2D, or 3D. A 2D game in a similar manner to the original FF games with a dialogue system like the firts Fallout, or a 3D First-Person game. Both choices carry their pro's and con's; 2D will not be as visally pleasing (IMO) and it will be harder to create impressive location (vast canions, enormous towers, etc), but the game will have more in it and be much easier to make overall. The reverse is true for 3D.

Whle I can program a game and setup a proper GUI, I can't create models at all (lack of imagination or patients). Placeholders can be used, but if anyone coud offer their assistance, I would be much obliged. The point of this post is to see the general interest in such a game. All the content from the board game (creatures, weapons, proffestions, stats, etc.) will be present and the locations will be based off the maps included in the expansions (or supplaments). Multiplayer may even be possible.

Any comments will be great! I really need some feedback as to weather this is an idea people can get behind. In essence, it is the board game turned into a video game with a great many quests and pre-included adventures (many more will be added with each update). ALL FOR NON PROFIT/NON COMMERCIAL USE! (needed to put that to avoid any legal problems)

I posted this here as it is intended to be a DIRECT "port" of the boardgame, not just set in the same world. I interpreted the other category for games to be for ones only set in the same world, whereas this is to be the exact same (strickly following the rule book and info in the Mytho's)

[Nvision]

It's an admirable goal! I've been planning something similar, and have finally convinced my development partner to move from design to production. Our game seems rather different than what you're planning, so I've no worries about retreading similar ground.

I'm a 2D artist by trade, so I'd have to disagree with you about 3D looking better (check out anything by Henk Nieborg, or Vanillaware, for instance). I do think it can take longer, as you don't have access to procedural animation, reskinning, and other 3D short-cuts. It's also harder to find artists who specialize in 2D art, particularly if you're doing a non-commercial game and don't have funding.

You can still run into legal issues doing a non-profit game, however. I'd highly suggest picking up Daniel Harm's "Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia." It has entries for almost all mythos entities, creatures, and locations, and cites the originating author. While creations of HPL, and some other authors like Clark Ashton Smith might be public domain, a lot has been added by others who are either still around or not deceased long enough for their copyright to have run its course. The book has helped us immeasurably, especially since we're aiming at a commercial release, but we've run everything by our lawyer, just in case...

[Kane8290]

Thank you, I'll be sure to pick-up a copy of that encyclopedia! What I ment by it being harder to create impressive locations in 2D is that I would see myself struggling to create something like the ride into Rapture in bioshock, or leaving the vualt in Fallout 3. I actually forgot about HPL's work being public domain! That's excellent news!

Since you are already working on a game yourself, do you think you could offer some advice? I outright suck at AI's, they are always so artificial (pun semi-intended), any tips? Other than that, I believe I will do 2D FOR NOW, then switch to 3D once I'm near completion. (The way I'm setting it up, it won't behard to switch to 3D...mainly change the models from an image to a model and alter the view. Physics and interactions will remain mostly intact).

Does anyone else hae any suggestions or comments? To make things easier for me, I'm actually already working on the editor (kinda like the Elder Scrolls Construction set, but only designed to make quests and such). Anyone able and willing to offer some help in the department of character sprites? Models?

EDIT: I believe we are talking about two different types of 2D. I just looked at Vanillaware's games, and they look like sidescroling deals. I mean top-down type thing or something Akin to the first elder scrolls / Doom. But I get your point.