Announcing the development of the game Gold Tycoon!

[BrandonSPX]

I posted not long ago regarding a game I would like to make. I don't want to litter Treasure Net with posts about it, so I'll try to keep it confined to this new post.

In any event, here is the first post of my development blog: Announcing Gold Tycoon, a game that puts you in charge of a gold mining operation.

I will continue to drive you guys crazy with feedback and feature requests, since you guys live this stuff. Most of the game will involve heavy machinery on a placer mining claim, but I'll do my best to add the basics in there as well. I was told that I absolutely can not omit the ol' gold pan.

There is a lot of preliminary coding that needs to be done before I can get to the good stuff, but I like what I have so far. Thanks for reading!

 

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[AzViper]

Let's see some screen shots...

 

[BrandonSPX]

There are some in the blog entry I linked.. but I'll link them here too.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS PRELIMINARY PROGRAMMER ART. In other words, I have not had an artist professionally design anything yet. That is always the last step.

Bulldozing some trees...


Using the ATV to scout my claim...


Example of a procedurally generated forest

 

[dustytrails123]

Looks like a msdos game from the 80's

 

[BrandonSPX]

Looks like a msdos game from the 80's

That's what 2D games in development look like. Preliminary programming is done with placeholder graphics, and once development has progressed enough, professional art assets are added to the mix.

 

[Weldin It]

Brandon, have you seen this game? Placer Miner Game

 

[Jeff95531]

Brandon, have you seen this game? Placer Miner Game

Looks interesting. Have you played it?

 

[BrandonSPX]

Brandon, have you seen this game? Placer Miner Game

No, that is the first I have heard of it, but it looks to contain many of the elements I hope to incorporate.

I skimmed through the PDF, and I'll give the game a shot later on. Thanks for telling me about it!

 

[Weldin It]

Looks interesting. Have you played it?

Yea. It was a little different to figure out at first. I really would like to see some panning or sluicing game. PS3 or PC format. I figure take the landscapes from a Hunting game with their creeks. Work California, Colorado, Arizona or Georgia. Dig, classify and go at it. It would have limited appeal though so no majors game companies would probably touch it.

 

[GrizzlyGremlin]

If you mean to go big with it you need to make it an app for smart phones. Great idea could make money.

 

[Fabrication Specialists]

Do I need to source an old 5 1/4" floppy for this new DOS game? lol

 

[BrandonSPX]

If you mean to go big with it you need to make it an app for smart phones. Great idea could make money.

The engine I'm using to create the game can create builds for Windows/Mac OS/Linux/Android/iOS. Creating mobile versions of the game is simple enough, but that will come last. The app market for mobile games is incredibly saturated. It is very difficult to get good visibility for a game that isn't flashy. This game won't be flashy. Simulation style games rarely ever are. Conversely, pc gaming is very hot right now for independent developers, and gaining exposure is not difficult with a proper social media outreach.

Like I said, I am planning for a mobile release of the game, but that will likely come last.

 

[BrandonSPX]

Do I need to source an old 5 1/4" floppy for this new DOS game? lol

You guys are harder to please than the gaming communities I have reached out too. Yikes.

Like I said though, you're looking at screenshots with placeholder graphics. It quite literally took me less than 5 minutes to create them. The goal in any game is to do the bulk of the programming infrastructure first, and then introduce high quality artwork assets later. Nevertheless, I can't expect you folks to know that, so I take these comments in stride.

 

[B H Prospector]

Really looking forward to a PC version. Can't wait!

 

[OKIE]

Reminds me of "DIG DUG"..... and yes, I played it and liked it....lol
Good luck and keep use posted, I can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[BrandonSPX]

Brandon, have you seen this game? Placer Miner Game

So I got around to playing this for a bit, and I learned a bit more about the direction I want to take my game. A couple of things to note:

* I love the amount of environmental data for each cell.
* I like that the game makes it difficult to succeed.
* I don't like how some actions are immediate (like drilling), while others take half a season (excavating a single tile)
* I do not like that it is turn-based.

The most valuable part of the game for me was probably the informational PDF. It gives some decent information about placer mining that has been difficult for me to come across. That game looks like a university project of some sort, and is pretty good. I think I can deliver a better product overall, which is not meant as an insult to that one. For a non-commercial product, it is fun and interesting.

 

[Weldin It]

It was something I happened across while looking for a prospecting game that did not involve a claw..lol. You mean you don't like waiting half the game time for the ground to defrost?

 

[BrandonSPX]

It was something I happened across while looking for a prospecting game that did not involve a claw..lol. You mean you don't like waiting half the game time for the ground to defrost?

Yeah, to be quite honest, I couldn't get too far because of the fact that I had to wait 10 of my 80 days waiting for ground to thaw, 40 days to excavate a single tile, and 5 days to repair a machine.

 

[RicardoLopes]

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