Project_init
Game Overview
The game (currently named Esoteric but highly susceptible to be changed) is a card game that can be easily played by anyone but can be quite difficult to master.
It is a two player game in which two towns compete to have the best firework display while being restricted to the same resources. You are able to sabotage the other player and boost your own display. Each town has three stages of their show, each with three opportunities to let off fireworks or sabotage the other player. Each game lasts around 4-5 minutes.
Each card has a pip which represents its value. Each player is given five cards worth values 1-5 and four additional cards worth 1 point each but each with their own ability. These abilities are to boost the next card you play by double, swap the current card with what the other places, a card that turns the other players card into a 2 point card with no abilities, and a card which destroys the highest value card of that round.
Their is an optional rule which involves the colours of the cards but this is still being polished.
The nine cards
Features
The game, while simplistic, has many enticing features already completed, in the works, or planned.
Completed
All the cards and their functionality are working
Winner/loser/stalemate conditions implemented
In game update checker
Username changer
Local shared screen play
Online play and matchmaking to a hosted server
In game manual
Planned
Colour blind friendly cards - this is an important feature as we want this game to be accessible by as many people as possible. We will have an option in the settings with different colours and pip shapes for colour blind people. If you are colourblind and would like to give feedback on this when implemented, please send me an email at: darley0alex1@gmail.com
Graphics at the bottom of the screen showing the events happening
Online play be real time rather than turn based
Team Creation
The team consists of I (kaller/Alex) and The_Ecliptican. I am the developer of the game while The_Ecliptican is the designer of the game. He created the whole idea and rules behind the game and has had the idea for around a year, working on it. He originally had the game in Tabletop Simulator however contacted me to make a prototype. Upon completion of the prototype I decided I wanted to carry on full time with the game and take it from start to finish. Eventually The_Ecliptican would like to release a board game version of the game.
Price
It has been decided that the game will be free to play with the option to pay via itch.io. This means that anyone can download the game, connect to the servers and play. Any donations do help to keep the servers up but we do not see the costs of the server being an issue. We had thoughts about making the local play be free and online play cost a few dollars but landed on the idea of the game being completely free to play.
Release Date
The game will release hopefully on the 14th of July 2020 on itch.io. The game is ready to be released but there are a few things we would like to do before then. This includes changing the name, creating promotional art, having accessibility features and additional graphics along with any bugs being ironed out.