Crazy Messenger in NYC (working title) will be about delivering as many packages as you can in one working day throughout Manhattan. The gameplay will focus on planning a route through the city that avoids traffic and other hazards as much as possible.
I’ve been working on importing real road map data from OpenStreetMap, so that, in theory, you can set the game to any location in the world. The city data consists of nodes connected by edges that form the road maps. Here’s a sample of Manhattan island.
Ideally, I’ll also import real time traffic data, or at least use real traffic data for one day, but it may be beyond me.
Quick idea update: In my head the game is shaping up to be a kind of Pac-Man clone, with cars moving around the road network and you doing your best to avoid them whilst delivering packages. Ideally I’d make this a multiplayer game so that you can compete (stealing packages etc) with 3 other players.
Still debating whether to go ahead and use the map data or to use a simple abstraction of NY instead.
Quick update. The image doesn’t show much, but I’ve got ‘cars’ (i.e. red dots) moving around the roads. Decided to keep using real map data so that players will be able to import data from wherever they like and play there. I’m planning on displaying road names so that you can get to a know a place by playing the game, and I’ve found out its surprisingly simple to get the current weather data for a location, so expect sun/rain or something.
Screenshot isn’t much to look it, but I should have a playable prototype done soon.
Another update: Having played around with a system where you can ride along the lines trying to avoid cars, I’ve decided that it just isn’t that fun. Therefore, I’m taking a different approach to the game.
Now, it’s going to be a point and click game: click on a package you want to deliver, get a message saying where it needs to be delivered to, then click on the map where you think the destination is. All with power-ups, different levels of difficulty and the added pressure of time.
Simple, but hopefully a chance for people to show off their knowledge of their local area, or get to learn a new one.
I prefer the new idea. You could have an award for how close you click to the destination. And factor in how many waypoints (clicks before designation is found) we’re used. Add in your path finding along the map lines, and I think it will be fun.
ps: your initial concept reminded me of the old arcade game, Amidar.
