CRYSTALGATE'S PROFILE

I do not buy the argument that you play the role of Mario. The definition I found is in line of "...acting out or performance of a particular role..." and I don't call pressing a button to jump as acting out or performing. Going a step further, I do not think you're playing the role of Cloud in FF VII either, the game itself does the majority of acting out and performing. Even ignoring dictionaries, my impression of role playing is that you need to do the role playing, not just direct the character to a trigger where then the game will act out the character's personality.

However, video RPGs have never been about role playing. Personally, I identify elements common in most RPGs as RPG elements. The more RPG elements a game has, the more likely I am to identify it as an RPG. I do some exception, like I don't identify "medieval setting" as an RPG element despite it being present in most RPGs. Otherwise, this is basically it.

I think we have different ways to get inspired and I suspect that hearing from other doesn't help much. Still, I try to describe my techniques.

How I get inspired varies greatly depending on whether it's for starting a new project or continuing working on one already started.

Usually, inspiration for a new project just comes automatically. I do however also have a method I can use to help getting idea. I simple make a wish-list. That wish-list usually consist of elements described by one or two words only, such as "exploration based" or whatever.

If I have a difficulty working on a project, I've found that the best source of inspiration is other games that contains elements I want to incorporate into my project. Let's say that I want to make an exploration based game. In that case, playing another game that has a great focus on exploration is good for inspiration while games that are mostly straight paths are not. Simple as that.

The thematic differences may break it, but it's definitely something to think about.

I had the idea for an underwater RPG. I actually would like to make that game, but artwork is my weakest aspect and that just happens to be what's in greatest demand in an underwater RPG.

Let's start with exploration. Since it's underwater, you're not bound to one high. To simplify, there's two levels you can swim at, near the bottom, and higher up.

Near the bottom is where you interact with objects laying there. You also can't pass trough those objects since you're at their level. Most NPCs will also live there and you need to be there to talk with them. Higher up is basically as high up as needed to swim over barriers which doesn't stretch to the surface. This high gives you relative unimpaired mobility, but you can't interact with most objects and if stealth is needed, you will be seen. More heights can be added to sections where it's relevant, but normally the above mentioned two heights are enough.

I want magic to exclusively manipulate water. For example, you can create water whirls which spins enemies around and thereby disables them or you can extract all air from a sphere around an enemy. Mostly magic will disable or weaken enemies, not that unlike biotics in the first Mass Effect. However, unlike Mass Effect biotics, I want there to be an actual defense against it.

I have not yet encountered any game who's file-size was to big. I don't think I'd be so fond of hours long downloads though.