Thoughts on my game proof of concept and idea itself?

Honestly, "about running" is not enough of a description. It makes me think about jogging, or perhaps track and field. I don't jog in real life, so a game about jogging sounds pretty boring. What would you do, have WASD buttons for movement and just press W the whole time? That would make it a walking simulator, except that it's a jogging simulator.

"Real cities from all over the world" is sort of a neutral for me. It's not particularly creative; not like you're running through the 0.5 G lava pits of an exotic planet or some such. Cityscapes could actually be quite beautiful and touristy depending on your art direction, but that's not easy to put into words. I think I'd rather jog through landscapes that are adventurous and fantastical. I do wonder about jogging past major landmarks, as opposed to every aspect of a real city simulated in excruciating detail.

Anyways I suggest you spend more time on a "logline" description of your game, more than just "about running".

actually i made a Kickstarter to fund the first release version of the game, it also talks more in detail about what the game will be like, feel free to check it out if you want to support this idea, and make the proof of concept become reality.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jagua-citysurfers/city-surfers-0

So a "mobile runner game" is basically a racing game, but instead of a car, you're a person? That's what your video loop looks like to me. I still think you could work on a better 1 sentence "logline" for your game, rather than counting on people to click on links.

Realistic environments allow, and demand, complex routes (often indoor or underground), complex movement (e.g. car-assisted skateboarding, jumps between roofs, safe falls), complex obstacles (e.g. irritable goats, porters carrying interesting breakable objects), complex scenery. Is it going to be an opportunity or a cost? Where do you draw the line? I'd avoid the idea of a "digital twin" of a real location because it implies freedom of movement, which is totally incompatible with running on a certain route.

Are you going to make a racing game, where everything should be optimized for challenging running action and variety would be "wrong", or an adventure game where genuine different locations make sense and novelty is expected?

LorenzoGatti wrote:

I'd avoid the idea of a "digital twin" of a real location because it implies freedom of movement, which is totally incompatible with running on a certain route.

I dunno, the Boston Marathon is run in Boston, and all the contestants have to stick to the route. If the fiction of the game sets it up as a race, however twisted the race officials have made it, I don't see a problem. One might also seek inspiration in the very old 1960s Speed Racer cartoons. That's with cars, but there's always a required route, not freedom of movement. Maybe these things become more obvious if there are other contestants in the race?