This is the blog of three university students studying BA (Hons) Creative Computer Games Design at Swansea Metropolitan University. The blog shows the progression of work on their Final Year Major Project; a video game demo.
BA (Hons) Creative Computer Games Design
The video game demo we have come up with is named 'Cat Burglars'. With a focus on multiplayer, we aim to have the game working online by May 2012 to show at our end-of-year show to the highest standard possible within the time allowed. The projects' active time for creation is between September 2011, till May 2012. To split this further:
September 2011 - December 2011
Game design idea and the majority of conceptualization to be done between these months, as well as predicting possible future problems and solving them as early on as possible. Also in this time the initial block-out of the level we plan to create must be completed, along with as many game mechanics working or 'faked' as we possibly can.
January 2012 - March 2012
Game asset creation and implementation. This includes the creation of all characters, props, animations, textures, and so on. By the end of March, we should have a near-finished demo, with little left to add to make it fully ready for the end-of-year show.
April 2012 - May 2012
Finish all aspects of the game ready for the end-of-year show. This includes final 'Best Quality' render pass for the map and all assets within it as well as characters, adding anything missing that we can get done within the time allowed, and making sure it all runs smoothly.
In the future, it is possible that the game development may carry on after university for personal satisfaction, but at this time is not known for sure.
The Game Idea
'Cat Burglars' is a video game set in the French Riviera at the South of France. The setting focuses of a group of burglars that have stolen their way to the high-life of French society, going too all the posh events and galleries. They seamlessly blend in with the locals while secretly taking advantage of every situation they can in order to rob items of great value. However they must avoid arousing suspicion of the guests and the security guards, aiming to go completely undetected in each of their endeavours.
The typical online match will involve one player to play as a burglar, disguising themselves at each event, and aiming to steal target objects of great value, unknown to the guards. The other three players control the security guards, and must figure out who the burglar is before he steals the item and manages to escape without being detected.
The security guards must target the correct guest and identify him/her as a burglar, and then manage to arrest them as fast as possible, while the burglar must eagerly try to stay unnoticed and keep themselves protected by setting up traps behind them as they go for unsuspecting guards.
Releases
The game is constantly being tested by friends online as we produce pre-alpha versions. Once the project demo is completed, it may be possible that the game will be released on here for the world to try. It should not require any installations other than the game itself, and should run on any 'current generation' PC (a PC capable of running current video games such as 'Left 4 Dead 2', or 'Batman: Arkham Asylum').
Until further notice, keep up-to-date with this blog to find out whether it will be released by subscribing to it.
