Exploding Pineapple
1. Problem
Resource Balance
The amount available to the player and the costs of build/craft
Lack of Story or things to do
Most Survival games only have limited amount of things to do and that list runs low quick
Lack of Tutorials
Most survival games lack clear tutorials that show the players how to start off in the game, forcing them to have to research how to play on there own
Too Repetitive
After interviewing some of my friends that play survival games, he was telling me that he doesn't care for some titles because they end up feeling too repetitive.
Travelling across the map can feel tedious
Some people make comment that on some games with large maps it takes to long to explore to the other side or it is boring to run.
Slow Crafting times
A lot of complaints on survival titles are that the crafting times are too long.
Hunger & Thirst
Several people on several survival titles complain about always having to eat and drink just to maintain a good level not allowing them to search the map or travel far. In example in Conan one guy was saying he had to eat 20 chickens in one night time.
Dangerous NPC's
In Conan one big complaint was that all the NPC's are dangerous and try to kill you.
Why socialize?
Why bother with socializing with NPCs? What makes the player want to use this feature, what's the end goal?
2. Solution
Resource Balance
A possible solution isn't just to provide more resource but add the ability for the player to decide the abundence of the resoources or how much they get from each tree or node. so then people looking for a challeng can keep it low people who want more freedom can turn it up.
Lack of Story or Things to do
Add an optional story/quests to fill the history of you character race or help NPC's with there own specific quest/tasks.
Lack of Tutorials
Be very clear on the basic starters need to survival and help the player understands the options/paths they can make/take in the game.
Too Repetitive
By adding random encounters, quests, and interactions we can help the player break free from the repetitive cycle of resource gathering and building in most survival titles.
Slow Crafting Times
In multiplayer pvp survivals I understand the crafting taking awhile but in a singleplayer we should either make the crafting short or even consider adding mini games that can be played while crafting and possibly even they can help speed up crafting.
Traveling across the map can feel tedious
Adding a quick travel or better yet mountables can easily hel p fix this problem in most survival games.
Hunger & Thirst
Make the amount needed to eat and drink a little bit more realistic and make it sustain for longer but possibly add a punishment for overeating like small decrease in speed
Dangerous NPC's
Being a survival game we want it to have a dangerous element but adding lots of friendly NPC will be a nice change of pace.
Why Socialize?
Add NPC shop benefits, reduced pricing, specialty craft tables, and NOT be killed on sight. Also add a sanity bar, people go crazy when all alone in the wilderness, talking to others is essential to survival.
3. Unique Value Proposition
Socialization
Most survival games don't have much socializing, if any at all. Our game will include a different personality type for each of the 4 races, and each NPC will hold it's own emotions towards the player.
