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Story for Educational RPGs

Started by PedroFurtado Nov 2, 2011 at 11:26 PM 10 replies 6.2k views

Original Post

Nov 2, 2011 at 11:26 PM

I'm actually busy with some other projects, but still, I want to discuss this.

For my next game, I want to create learning games about a certain subject with turn-based, RPG-like, battle system.

However, I'm stuck in creating a plot for it. I mean, where should I take it?

I was thinking about something happening in the real world ( the hero failing an exam about the subject, for example ), and then, because of a fantastic element, he gets stuck in a fantasy world where skill in that Subject is used in battles against monsters, and basically he has to escape. He's a school kid.

But then, what? At first I was thinking about you only visiting the fantasy world through nightmares, and in the fantasy world maybe you could interact different versions of the real world people, but I can't really get a complex plot going in my head, to make some use of the real world. But maybe, it shouldn't be complex, I guess I just have a knack for complex plots. I also have a knack for anti-heroes... But it would be kinda hard to fit here, maybe.

Any thoughts on this?

sunandshadow

336

sunandshadow

Nov 2, 2011 at 11:52 PM

I don't think one would really expect a deep complex story in a game about doing math problems or spelling to vanquish monsters. Personally I'd go for humor. And maybe something like Okami and similar games where the world has been messed up or darkened somehow and the player cleans it up and makes it magical and pretty again.

PedroFurtado

Author

PedroFurtado

Nov 3, 2011 at 12:37 AM

I like both, they do fit. I don't think I'm suited for humor, though. The whole thing about the world going wrong sounds easy to integrate with the gameplay and battlesystem, thanks!
I guess I may focus on graphics and gameplay, then try to find somebody to write up the text.

Titanium Man

Nov 9, 2011 at 1:38 AM

Are you going to take inspiration from Math Curse? You'd better.

PedroFurtado

Author

PedroFurtado

Nov 10, 2011 at 10:43 AM

That book looks interesting!

Never read it though. The story may have a similar hook, but the gameplay will probably be set in a fantasy universe and I wanna go with language instead of math.

Although my first idea for the game was about teaching Calculus

klefebz

Dec 11, 2011 at 6:11 AM

Have you ever heard about The typing of the Dead? This just reminded me to it.

FLopez

Dec 12, 2011 at 5:07 AM

what do u think about a game like indiana jhones but using real history based monsters or creatures from cultures like mayas , incas or another culture that belived in those kind of things?

chrisanonymous

Dec 13, 2011 at 4:15 PM

You say you the subject you want to convey is Language. Language is a very broad term and if you could specify what parts of language (i.e grammar, spelling, foreign language, sentence structure, etc) it might be easier to point you in a good setting and plot.

Paul Franzen

Dec 14, 2011 at 7:23 PM

I would play the heck out of an RPG starring a copy editor battling monsters like the dreaded "comma splice" and the fearsome "dangling modifier." ...But I'm also a copy editor in real life, so...

PedroFurtado

Author

PedroFurtado

Dec 20, 2011 at 3:44 AM

The game would probably go towards vocabulary or basic grammar, because it would be about learning a foreign language.

I just finished another project, so I might make a prototype of this to try it out, I have some doubts about a vocabulary turn based rpg...

A game about battling a comma splice xD talk about niche market.

AoS

121

AoS

Dec 21, 2011 at 3:52 AM

I'm not really sure about the actual value of this type of thing educationally. Presumably its for very little kids. Older kids wouldn't buy the premise. What's your learning target for the game? A few basic words or sentences?

PedroFurtado

Author

PedroFurtado

Dec 21, 2011 at 4:40 PM

Actually, it's something I wished to have for myself. A fun way to burn those words to memory. Especially verb conjugation, which sometimes I realize I can't conjugate really basic verb forms.

My market of choice will be the Android Market, since I find that to be well receptive of RPG games. I wanna make a game that you can learn while playing, but that you can also play without having learning as the objective, you know? So the main focus will be to make the battle system pretty fun!

I haven't really decided on the story as of now, but I've started creating the battle system. I have decided, with my artist, that the game will be set on the present days, with a school theme, most likely.

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