TIM BENITEZ

1. Vision

Platform Fighters is a 3D, third person multiplayer competition in which six players must race through a series of platforms to retrieve a treasure, preventing each other from obtaining the prize by pushing, shoving, and brawling. Sporting a simple cartoon wacky style will keep this game focused on fun. This will not be cel-shaded though, but will just have exaggerated proportions on the characters. The game will be on the PlayStation 4 for the power it has to make a beautiful game operate at a fast pace so that players can feel the rush of playing this game. Also being able to create and share levels will at some excitement to this game. No other game has third person platforming as a primary means of competing with each other like this and the adrenalin rush will bring excitement to the gaming community. In a midst of arena shooters found all over the place, a different genre of online competition will give something new to the gaming community. One of the most interesting features though is that players are able to move some of the platforms in each of the levels to prevent other players from getting to the prize first. Controls will be found to move certain platforms.

 

1. OverviewGenre and Gameplay

So each game will go like this: The players will select how many matches they will engage in, then players will choose from a number of characters to play as, then players will choose the stage they want to compete on which will have various themes. AT the beginning of each match, the players will be at their own starting locations at different parts of the map. Each player will be equally distant from the prize they are trying to obtain. When the match begins the players will race towards the prize as they scrap with each other along the way. As a platformer there will be a deep abyss in each stage that the players will fall into if they are pushed off. The players have unlimited lives though so their will be respawn points. The fighting controls will involve some simple attacks and throws to knock others off of platforms. A defend button will allow the opportunity for players to counter attacks if they are threatened.

   There will be a lot of content for the players to enjoy to keep this game fresh. There will be a wide diverse set of stages for the players to compete in, from a medieval tower, to a volcano with lava pits, to a futuristic city with flying cars. A map creator will be given so that players are able to compete on their self-made stages and share them with others. Also players are able to choose from a variety of characters, but also create their own. Players can unlock items for customizing their own character.

There will be single player competitions and two man team competitions. Both modes will have a total of six players. Only that in the team competitions, players need to get the prize and bring it back to home base. If the player has the prize and is knocked off into the abyss, then the prize returns to its origin.

 

1. Movable Elements

The majority of the platforms can be moved by players. There will be control terminals found in the levels which the player can use to move certain platforms. These platforms will only move to certain locations though, so the player is not able to specifically pick a location for the platform to move to. For example, there will be a floating disc where the player will move to point A to B and only those locations. It is up to the player to find the controller that corresponds to its platform. Each platform, that can be moved, will be able to be moved every two seconds and no less. This will make the game somewhat fare so that platforms aren't moving back and forth to quickly.

 

1. Victory, Losing, Scoring

The players can determine how long and how many matches they will play. At the beginning a time limit can be set. A match point is awarded to player or pair that successfully obtains the prize for the match. For free-for-all matches, the player just needs to get to the treasure. For team matches, the pair need to have at least one player get the treasure and return it to their home base, the place where they started. The player or pair that has the highest score will be the victor. Players have unlimited respawns for every kind of match. A player will be forced to respawn if they fall off of a platform, get pushed off, or do not make a leap to another platform and fall into the deep abyss. About three to five seconds will go by before the player respawns. The respawn points will be located on various platforms. The closer the player is to the prize when they fall into the abyss, the closer the player will respawn to the prize. Each platform will have a proximity level in regards to the treasure. If the player fell and the last platform the player touched had a proximity level five, the player would respawn at another level five platform or the same. It depends on if there are any enemies (other players) close by or not. Other hazards will also kill the player, forcing them to respawn.

 

1. Graphic Style

Cartoon looking humans with exaggerated features will be the players' avatars in this competition. However, they will only have the form and anatomy of cartoon like figures with real lifelike shading. These figures will not be cel-shaded. Bright colors will be used so the players will be able to clearly see the platforms they are leaping on and moving. The characters of course will also be wearing bright colors for other players to see them. The other reason for the cartoon style is to show some exaggerated facial expressions when a player is attacked or knocked off a platform.

 

1. Audio and Music

There will be music playing for each of the matches. Each arena will have a tune that fits its theme. For example a castle may have more of classical tune and a futuristic city may have an electronic vibe. All the tunes will have an exciting fast tempo to give the players a sense that they must hurry to get the prize. The players really do not need to hear too much what's going on in the distance. Of course there will be sound effects like the swooshes of platforms moving and buttons being pressed at the controls. Grunts will also be heard as characters jump, attack, and are attacked. Also screams and yelling from characters as they fall into the abyss. If the player really would like to hear what's going on in the distance, they can turn off the music, but the player is really just focusing on getting himself to the prize and moving others out of the way or moving platforms so that others miss a jump and fall to their doom.

 

1. Platform and Controls

This game will be found on the PlayStation 4 where players can share replays, levels, and more. Online play will also be permitted so people can race against each other across the world. The power of the PlayStation 4 will allow this game to look good and run fast so the player can enjoy fast paced matches. As for the controls they will be simple so that players can execute commands quickly with exactness. Fight controls will be kept to a minimum with an attack button and a defend button. These are kept simple because fighting is not the sole focus of this game. Running and jumping will be fast and fluid so that players can easily reach their destination.

 

1. Major Selling Points

   1. The ability to share custom stages will keep the game exciting and fresh.

   2. The ability to control some of the platforms in the levels to gain the upper hand will give an added sense of competition.

   3. The diversity in scenery for the arenas will keep things fresh.

   4. With fighting being part of the action, players will enjoy knocking each other out of the way.

   5. There has not really been a 3D third person platformer with multiplayer as the primary focus.