I obviously love jumpspace. That is clear from the sheer volume of words I have sent your way, and I really do want jumpspace to be a really great game.. not just a good game, but a great game. Recently, to that end, I have been thinking a lot about what exactly makes a great game.. This is going to be another one of 'those' posts regarding this topic, very much in line with my #1498078785336115333 post. Maybe, to an extent, I am saying the same thing as in that post, but in a different way. That post was more about how (in my opinion) a great game contains loads of random item combinations or ways of using items that the player wouldn't immediately think of... if that makes sense. lots of 'omg I didn't know you could do THAT' moments.
This post is a little different to that, but certainly aimed in the same general direction.
Now, once again I want to start by stressing that I understand jumpspace is currently in pretty early stages. Work out the core stuff and build on that. One step at a time. I totally agree. This is just something to consider and take with you during the creative process.
#Options.
echo roost
I have been trying to boil down things that make a good game into a great game. Boil them right down into a single word. Thats why the other post was titled 'Synergy', and this one is titled 'Options'. Let me try to elaborate a little on what exactly I mean when I say 'Options'.
At the moment missions are pretty linier. Drop the heat, gather some materia and whatever else you come across that might help, do the main mission. complete. return to hanger. A lot of variation within that framework but the over-arcing mission is basically that. I like to explore, and it is nice that I now have the option to do that, but other than ending up with a massive haul of loot that may or may not crash the game, there is little point in exploring every single sector in a large map, other than curiosity... or maybe greed.
I like that there is the option to go 'lava diving' as it has come to be called, although again atm there is little point in doing this other than the above two reasons.