Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Inserting anomalies
Besides the object-based obstacles, there can be some more impalpable ones in the
form of various forces that affected the astronaut. Remember that to add some good
dramatic moments, you should play with the protagonist's abilities. If he is able to do
an action, it is good to reduce his power somehow, or even take the power away from
him for a period of time. Only when somebody loses something do they truly under-
stand its significance. Thus, in the game, it should be territories (where the astronaut
is more vulnerable) because something invisible to a naked eye affects him and takes
his powers. I would call such events an anomaly.
There can be three kinds of anomalies:
•
Portals
: These are deformations of space that look like blinking flat spots and
may be with some visible discharges. They can be small or large. If the prot-
agonist reaches one of them, he is teleported to another location. Because
this is a pitfall, it usually means that he has been returned back, losing some
progress in the game. Only on very rare occasions, a portal may have a posit-
ive meaning, thus propelling the main hero forward. Portals can also be used
by enemies to appear suddenly in front of the player.
•
Gravity
: A distortion of force vectors may occur near really large objects. The
HUD highlights such zones with special graphics, warning the player. Depend-
ing on the current version of the anomaly, it may attract or pull on the Unit,
unconditionally changing the direction it has been flying in. To escape such
hazard fields, the player should use extra throttle and maneuver more actively.
The fuel energy for the unit is consumed much faster.
•
Artificial
: Various kinds of phenomenons affect the internal systems of the
Unit and are generated by special devices. The first on the list are old satel-
lites. They carry a field of interference and noises. If the protagonist is quite
close to one of them for a short period of time (up to a few seconds), the Un-
it becomes uncontrollable or begins to move randomly. There are stripes and
