By Robert Higgins
IP Opportunity
“My IP opportunity is the combination of diesel punk and un-manned military vehicles around a 1940's setting”
IP Justification:
I have chosen this IP because Robots as replacements for humans have been very popular in modern culture as proven by movies such as Wall-E. As the progression of technology from wars advanced through time, my research has shown that the weapons used to fight the wars have constantly changed over the generations. From sabres to flintlock pistols, from firearms to tanks, and from tanks to un-manned vehicles and into the future of robots as my research has shown.
The reason this is marketable is the constant media reference to wars, in past, present and horizon, all of my research led to wars as a popular and profitable choice of media, especially WW2. There are countless war based games, let alone games based on WW2 as well as movies and books. Plastic army men are one of the most iconic boys toys as are action men and other war based tanks so a market will always be available for any form of media.
As discussed in my research, dieselpunk also shares a lot of styles with WW2 and shares a lot of similarities with steampunk, an already incredibly popular style and culture. Because steampunk is based on obsolete technology and as my research shows that diesel power is becoming more and more obsolete, so this trend will grow, and so too will the popularity of dieselpunk. The marketability of this "punk" genre is backed up by the massive fan base that dieselpunk and the other punk genres already have as well as all the products and media that go along with them.
The combination of dieselpunk with un-manned Military robots is a very marketable IP, appealing to a wide audience that will only grow more popular as diesel as a fuel becomes more obsolete.
Games Genre:
Take our Planet Back is a turn based strategy digital board game with a retro-futuristic art style based on “dieselpunk” and the 1940’s.
Set during an alternative reality of WW2, the game’s genre features a theme of the 1940’s view of the future.
Specification for target audience.
The game genre of turn based strategy is a more advanced and thought provoking game genre that appeals to the more adult audience. As such, the Age rating for the game is set at 16+ The art style of the game appeals to a very wide audience following my research.
Broad game description
- WW2 and dieselpunk art style and setting.
- Turn based strategy game based on holographic mat technology. (see helio 3D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmJUOHG3Uts&feature=related as well as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idyPcEA9wbA for the interactivity)
- Based around the hologram projecting matt as a standalone game.
- Gameplay is based around controlling WW2 robot tanks in a turn based strategy game.
- The game revolves around controlling certain areas of the level in order to gain advantage over the enemy in the form of radio towers to extend the range of the robots.
- Grid based movement.
Style and look and feel
The games tone and look and are heavily influenced by WW2 styles and games but with the alternate twist of the added dieselpunk style.
- Dieselpunk genre and style
- 3D modelled holograms projected on the game surface
- touch screen top down view of terrain
inspiration: dust tactics, fallout series, any WW2 game, steampunk influences and tendencies. sky captain and the world of tomorrow. Warhammer and other tabletop games.
Story
In an alternate reality, WW2 was put on halt by the mass use of chemical weapons that left large areas of Europe uninhabitable for human life. A new “surface race” begin as both the Axis and the Allies raced to create more and more effective remote controlled fighting machines to fight the war in humanity’s absence.
However, due to the radio based technology at the time, long range remote control is almost impossible, short range control towers controlled by either side can be captured to further the remote range of the robots in order to gain tactical advantage in the war.
--axis info
--Allies info
--robot Technology info
Characters: player units
Players takes control of variations of the Allied forces from WW2 but in the form of robots and remote control vehicles.
As multiple units will be on the board at the same time, approximately 5-10, the units have to be interesting and themed but not so detailed as to detract attention from the other units. As the game focuses on a clear contrast between Axis and Allied robots, the Colours play an important role for distinguishing units.
Influences for the player units:
- Dust Tactics
- Fallout
- C&C Red Alert
- WW2 Allied forces
- Airfix models
- Imperial Guard (Warhammer 40K)
What makes the units Unique
Take Our Planet back is the pioneer of new interactive hologram technology that’s readily available for everyone. This combined with the growing popularity of the dieselpunk genre ensure the game is both unique and popular.
How different units are used
Because in standard missions the player is given a pre determined set of units for each mission, each one will have varying characteristics that will give advantages and disadvantages to varying situations.
e.g. A large artillery tank will have tremendous range and fire-power however, it wont be able to shoot enemies up close and its mobility will be slow and limited.
In games where players are allowed to pick their task force for the given mission, cost effectiveness will give a tactical option.
Allied unit Examples:
The Allied units in control of the player. For each scenario or mission, the player is given a predetermined selection of units before each mission.
Light unit example
medium unit example
heavy unit example
Axis unit Examples:
The Axis units aren’t in control of the player and are controlled by the AI. For each scenario or mission, the player is given a predetermined selection of units before each mission.
Light unit example
medium unit example
heavy unit example
Settings and scenarios
Take our planet back is set in a WW2 setting along with the dieselpunk twist.
As the game takes place on the battlefield, the setting will be desolate and battle damaged. These scenarios range from densely packed cities to give the player a tactical challenge to barren wastelands, denying the player any cover so they have to rely on brute strength and choosing the right target.
---image of WW2 damaged city’s such as France---
Example settings and benefits of setting/ change to gameplay.
Game mechanics
The core game mechanics of Take Our Planet Back are:
- Pre-selected or pre-determined unit force.
- Turn based strategy
- Cover bonuses and systems based on unit size
- Capturing and maintaining radio towers to boost the effect range of units.
---in game image including cover, turn system and radio tower---
In each game level, the player is given a selection of units to use and in some cases, the player gets to choose from several to use for themselves. The game focuses on the control of radio towers scattered around the level, these towers extend the control reach of the players units so they can take advantage of cover and firing points.
E.g. The player takes control of a radio tower near a narrow road, which controls enemy tanks. After the player captures the tower the enemy tanks are immobile and no longer a threat leaving them open to easy attack from the player.
USP’s & Exciting Game Play Features- The new and exciting successor to steampunk, the dieselpunk style will be the next big “Punk” genre.
- A completely interactive holographic system.
- Tactical based gameplay, more power does not always more wins.
- Choose your own forces with pre-planned mission teams.
Marketing.
As with the theme of military games, especially along the genre of WW2, miniature painting and modelling is a very popular hobby. With a lot of modern games nowadays, toy producers have started making toys and model kits of their game assets more of a common thing.
Take our planet back is the perfect game for miniature model merchandise, appealing to various miniature modellers and collectors as well various dieselpunk enthusiasts.
Allied unit Examples:
The Allied units in control of the player. For each scenario or mission, the player is given a predetermined selection of units before each mission.
Standard infantry
--Standard infantry image goes here--
The standard Allied infanty unit, affective against other infantry and very mobile, they are the fastest linfantry in the game. The standard infantry's main strength is the speed in which they can capture radio towers.
strengths: fast, mobile, can travel through almost all types of terrain and cover. cheapest unit for unit selection, able to capture radio towers the fastest.
weaknesses: low health, weakness to anti infantry weapons, low damage output.
Anti tank infantry
--anti tank infantry image goes here--
Although slower than the standard infantry, the anti tank unit is a mobile and cheap way to get anti tank weaponry into the field. their weaponry takes advantage of firing from cover.
strengths: fast, mobile, can travel through almost all types of terrain and cover, cheap anti tank weapons.
weaknesses: low health, weakness to anti infantry weapons, low damage output against none tanks.
Grenadier infantry
--grenadier infantry image goes here--
The same speed as the anti tank infantry, the grenadier unit is very effective against enemy infantry and can cover several squares in one attack.
strengths: fast, mobile, can travel through almost all types of terrain and cover, effective against multiple enemy units.
weaknesses: low health, weakness to anti infantry weapons, one of the more expensive infantry units.
Sniper infantry
--sniper infantry image goes here--
The slowest infantry in the game, the sniper units are potent anti infantry units that can kill most infantry in a single shot to the drawbacks of speed and unit cost.
strengths: high power against infantry, bonus to cover.
weaknesses: low health, weakness to anti infantry weapons, slow, expensive.
Jeeps
Jeeps are the fastest vehicles in the game
