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#1 2010-09-06 19:26:48

soupoftomato
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

You've made a great game, but it's the same over and over? This can hurt a projects appeal, and make the game feel to restricted. Follow this guide and you will be ab;e to make a great game with plenty to do. (Some programming skills required, do not use this service under the impression that it will teach/magically learn you in the art of programming. Please program responsibly, midnight is late enough right?)

1. Unlockables

If you don't want something to be the same looks and gameplay over and over again, add unlockables. Things like new characters and weapons make the game rewarding for the player. If you're playing a racing game, will you want to use the same character and same track the whole time riding the same board with the same speed with the same looks? Then avoid having your game be a run-on sentence and add some unlockables. They don't have to do much, they just need to change the graphics so they don't get bland.

08jackt is a master at this. See his games such as Rocket Air Riders.

2. Multi-Storylined

I don't know the correct name for this so make do with my limited knowledge of greek roots. Anyway, a multi-storylined game means there is more then one possibility in the storyline. Will Bob die or live? It depends on what the player does. Pummeled by bullies or detentioned by teachers? It depends what the player does. Just make sure your game keeps track, and don't add to many multi-storyline elements in one game or they won't be the same and no one can discuss the game without an Lolwut moment.

3. Level Choice

Does your game rely on getting good time or few deaths? Than have level selection. This will allow the player to go back and get highscores an whatnot on levels he didn't have the same powerups he does now on before. Also, if a user is stuck, they can go to other levels and try to get better, or unlock more powerups.

4. Multiple Level Solutions
If you have a puzzle game, there should be more than one way to get around it. If there is a block of ice in a game where you control elements, you could float over with air, or melt with fire. If you add this system, you should reward for stuff such as creativity or few-moves.

Thanks for reading this guide.  smile  Follow the steps and everyone will want to replay your game again and again.

Last edited by soupoftomato (2010-09-07 21:49:08)


I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos

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#2 2010-09-06 20:11:01

bbbeb
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-06-11
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

Cool!
I might need to refrence to this for the games I plan on making.  big_smile


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#3 2010-09-06 21:15:08

Harakou
Community Moderator
Registered: 2009-10-11
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

Good guide!  big_smile

Another suggestion is making levels with multiple solutions, so you need to find the best possible one.


http://www.blocks.scratchr.org/API.php?action=random&return=image&link1=http://i.imgur.com/OZn2RD3.png&link2=http://i.imgur.com/duzaGTB.png&link3=http://i.imgur.com/CrDGvvZ.png&link4=http://i.imgur.com/POEpQyZ.png&link5=http://i.imgur.com/ZKJF8ac.png

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#4 2010-09-06 22:52:42

coolstuff
Community Moderator
Registered: 2008-03-06
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

Title changed upon request of the author  big_smile

By the way - fabulous guide!

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#5 2010-09-07 21:49:18

soupoftomato
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

Updated


I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos

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#6 2010-09-07 22:20:07

Telemachus
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-04-21
Posts: 500+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

Games with achievements are also fun, people will want to play again and again  smile


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#7 2010-09-07 23:10:15

cheddargirl
Scratch Team
Registered: 2008-09-15
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

Very nice guide!

I was thinking about re-vamping one of my games to make it less linear, this gives me some good ideas on where I can start.  smile


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Everything is better when you add a little cheddar, because when you have cheese your life is at ease  smile

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#8 2010-09-08 10:22:53

GraemeK
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-06-14
Posts: 73

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

thanks soupoftomato,

I'll use this in the future.



PS (ive favourited this forum)


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#9 2010-09-08 11:15:09

lasc12
Scratcher
Registered: 2007-11-18
Posts: 100+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

Very good job! However, I think this should go in New Scratch Members. It's really useful, anyways. I think it should be stickied.


Thus I have spoken.

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#10 2010-09-08 19:23:37

soupoftomato
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

lasc12 wrote:

Very good job! However, I think this should go in New Scratch Members. It's really useful, anyways. I think it should be stickied.

Suggest an index.

Also, it fits better here, New Members won't be adding two ways to solve a level, unlockables, and deep storylines anytime soon.  tongue


I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos

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#11 2010-09-08 19:32:53

lasc12
Scratcher
Registered: 2007-11-18
Posts: 100+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

soupoftomato wrote:

lasc12 wrote:

Very good job! However, I think this should go in New Scratch Members. It's really useful, anyways. I think it should be stickied.

Suggest an index.

Also, it fits better here, New Members won't be adding two ways to solve a level, unlockables, and deep storylines anytime soon.  tongue

What does "Suggest an index" mean? And yes, I see what you mean.


Thus I have spoken.

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#12 2010-09-08 19:35:18

soupoftomato
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

lasc12 wrote:

soupoftomato wrote:

lasc12 wrote:

Very good job! However, I think this should go in New Scratch Members. It's really useful, anyways. I think it should be stickied.

Suggest an index.

Also, it fits better here, New Members won't be adding two ways to solve a level, unlockables, and deep storylines anytime soon.  tongue

What does "Suggest an index" mean? And yes, I see what you mean.

See the only sticky at the top of this forum? It's "Indexes", where important topics are listed. Go to the bottom where it says something along the lines of "Give a suggestion to be indexed" and post there.


I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos

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#13 2010-09-08 20:38:05

lasc12
Scratcher
Registered: 2007-11-18
Posts: 100+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

soupoftomato wrote:

lasc12 wrote:

soupoftomato wrote:


Suggest an index.

Also, it fits better here, New Members won't be adding two ways to solve a level, unlockables, and deep storylines anytime soon.  tongue

What does "Suggest an index" mean? And yes, I see what you mean.

See the only sticky at the top of this forum? It's "Indexes", where important topics are listed. Go to the bottom where it says something along the lines of "Give a suggestion to be indexed" and post there.

I don't see it...can you be more specific? Like what page in the forums? The main index?


Thus I have spoken.

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#14 2010-09-08 22:06:15

cheddargirl
Scratch Team
Registered: 2008-09-15
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

lasc12 wrote:

soupoftomato wrote:

lasc12 wrote:

What does "Suggest an index" mean? And yes, I see what you mean.

See the only sticky at the top of this forum? It's "Indexes", where important topics are listed. Go to the bottom where it says something along the lines of "Give a suggestion to be indexed" and post there.

I don't see it...can you be more specific? Like what page in the forums? The main index?

The sticky of the "All About Scratch" forums is labeled as an index, as it contain several helpful links. In that index, there is a link to a thread where you can suggest topics to be added to that index. Here is the direct link to that suggestion threadsmile


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Everything is better when you add a little cheddar, because when you have cheese your life is at ease  smile

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#15 2010-09-10 21:06:50

soupoftomato
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

Bump


I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos

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#16 2010-09-10 23:43:31

Chrischb
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-07-24
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

yikes  That's a great guide!  smile


I fall: It's a tragedy. You fall: It's comedy.
Hmph enjoy your fall - I get a lovely spring... without pans of new leaves.

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#17 2010-09-10 23:58:54

JAMBAMtheSLAM
New Scratcher
Registered: 2010-09-03
Posts: 100+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

Sadly, I'm not advanced enough. But I might be soon.


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#18 2010-09-11 00:09:09

what-the
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-10-04
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

Nice. I will most likely add some of these things to my next game.


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#19 2010-09-11 01:41:45

Jonathanpb
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-07-25
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

This is a really good guide!  smile


"Human beings... must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.
-Charlotte Brontë

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#20 2010-09-11 10:48:20

soupoftomato
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

Thanks guys!


I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos

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#21 2010-09-11 21:51:01

cpumaster930
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-02-23
Posts: 100+

Re: A Guide To Less Linear Gameplay - Make Your Games More Fun

Here's an idea!  Add an achievement that says, "Play for 24 hours."  The title?  "Too much free time"

Ya rly.


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