{"author_name":"mtrc","cat":"LD #23","comments":[],"epoch":1335006780,"likes":0,"metadata":{"p_key":"57932","p_author":"mtrc","p_authorkey":"12174","p_urlkey":"93681","p_title":"A Tiny Idea","p_cat":"LD #23","p_event":"LD23","p_time":"1335006780","p_likes":"0","p_comments":"0","p_status":"UPD5","us_key":"12174","us_name":"mtrc","us_username":"mtrc","event_start":"1334880000","event_key":"10","event_name":"LD23"},"text":"

The focus for Tiny Epic was always going to be ‘compact RPG’, but how compact can we get? I’ve been listening to Kevin Macleod’s superb music over at Incompetech, and I’m wondering if we could design Tiny Epic such that it plays out in the time it takes to listen to one of Kevin’s songs. Five Armies<\/a><\/em>\u00a0is two minutes and thirty-three seconds long, which is surely too short for a meaningful game to be played out! But I wonder how close I can get to it?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

This code didn't actually compile due to a missed typo!<\/p><\/div>\n

Adding in objectives now. A Tiny Epic is a series of objectives sequenced together. In the full game, the idea would be to bolt on some procedural generation to this. I’m not sure how possible that will be, but first let’s get a static one down. I’m in a Final Fantasy IX<\/em>\u00a0mood thanks to some excellent SomethingAwful Let’s Play threads, so our first objective will be to find a ship!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I’ve contacted the incisive Mike Prescott for input on the combat system (which sucks hard right now) and I’m doing back-of-a-daydream calculations for how much of this stuff I can procedurally generate. My day job involves writing content generation systems (more here<\/a>) but they’re not general enough to hook right in! I’ll have to do my best tomorrow, assuming we can get a core done today.<\/p>\n \n

Tags: tiny epic<\/a>, tiny world<\/a><\/p>","time":"April 21st, 2012 6:13 am","title":"A Tiny Idea"}