Pioneer is a game development experiment written in C++ using OpenGL and SDL. The unusual development approach taken is to code before design, instead of the other way around. To set this up I’m starting with a development sandbox to try ideas in.
Since the entire project is a construction toy, It seemed appropriate to make the environment a construction toy, similar to popular plastic building blocks. This provides a direction for development and a surprisingly specific set of goals, functionality and user-stories that can be summarised as “a world made of bricks”
The second advantage of making a world out of building blocks is it provides inspiration for gameplay mechanics. Just looking at a brick-based landscape calls to mind what you could do with buildings, bridges and castles or with roads, trains and planes. Each idea can be tried out as a gameplay experiment, and either forge a direction for the project or form a fork that can be worked on in isolation.
The third advantage of using building blocks is one of nostalgia. If you have an affinity for the construction medium or just fond memories, the environment becomes easy to pick up and to visualise constructions.
The prototype is nearly finished and aims to provide a sandbox environment for construction with a reasonable UI.
Since the entire project is a construction toy, It seemed appropriate to make the environment a construction toy, similar to popular plastic building blocks. This provides a direction for development and a surprisingly specific set of goals, functionality and user-stories that can be summarised as “a world made of bricks”
The second advantage of making a world out of building blocks is it provides inspiration for gameplay mechanics. Just looking at a brick-based landscape calls to mind what you could do with buildings, bridges and castles or with roads, trains and planes. Each idea can be tried out as a gameplay experiment, and either forge a direction for the project or form a fork that can be worked on in isolation.
The third advantage of using building blocks is one of nostalgia. If you have an affinity for the construction medium or just fond memories, the environment becomes easy to pick up and to visualise constructions.
The prototype is nearly finished and aims to provide a sandbox environment for construction with a reasonable UI.
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