Shooter Script Contest

[SNIPERDUDE]

Hey everyone, I thought here would be a good enough place if any to post this:
I am developing a first person shooter (PC) in my spare time, mainly focused on multiplayer elements. I thought a storyline would be cool too, but haven't bothered to write one - why not post it as a contest? The deadline will be the last day of August, and a small monetary prise will be awarded to the winning script (something like $20-50).

The framework I have set up so far is as follows:

- You (the player) are a new recruit for the international bounty hunter organisation EOD (Emergency Ops Division). They are the very best at what they do, and are the ones called by governments (typically to get them out of hot water. Politics.) to capture/kill a given target(s). No job is too big.

- You are trained in all forms of combat, ranging from mixed martial arts, military weaponry, and even swordplay.

- Time frame is near future (the weapons being put in are researched by me - these technologies either exist but are too expensive, or are under current research by DARPA). That would make it a bit past modern warfare, but not Star Wars far.

- Nationalism is left at the front door from day 1, EOD does not work for nor represent any specific country or region. Nationalism leads to ignorance.


Be as creative as you dare, no limitations on what to throw in. Multiple endings, branching storylines, different view points, etc all fun and fair.
Let me know if you are going to put something together.

ALSO
I want ideas if you have them for missions.

[mirhagk]

I think I may write a script, may be pretty interesting, thinking of a few cool twists.

[Tony]

- fly to Seattle
- break into Valve
- steal the script for Episode 3

you can either use the acquired script, or the above as the script

[SNIPERDUDE]

Haha, would make for an interesting summer Tony. Can't afford bail, so I'll just go with my current plan.

[mirhagk]

um I'm actually with tony on this one.

OR. hear me out here, you have a game, where this spec ops team tries to break into valve and steal the script for episode three. Then they spend the rest of the game avoiding not only the police, the swat and the army, but also the combine army, along with Black Mesa.

[SNIPERDUDE]

Interesting concept. So is that your official entry to the contest?

[Tony]

I would imagine that Aperture Science is much more likely to give the chase than Black Mesa, given that their Borealis is on the line. Also, they supply defence turrets for Valve's office.

Edit: sorry for derailing this thread

[SNIPERDUDE]

Forgiven for the humorous nature of the comment.
Let me know if anyone else is participating in the contest. Just so I know who to bug for submissions at the end of the summer.

[DemonWasp]

I'm interested and might be participating. I did have a few questions though:

1. Is the game stealth-based, or gunfight-based, or a mix?
2. Would you consider renaming EOD to something else if you realised that EOD = Explosive Ordnance Disposal?
3. What kind of mood did you want? Hopeful? Sad? Depressing? Mindless violence?
4. What level of maturity were you hoping for in the writing? Insight into the human condition? Yo-bro let's blow them hos (up)?
5. What kind of violence were you shooting for? A "clean" war where only adult men with no families die heroically to save their countrymen, or a murky world of brutal violence? Somewhere in between?
6. How long do you want it to be, in terms of hours of play? What ratio of the game should be conversation? Can conversation occur while the player is in control?

[SNIPERDUDE]

1) A mix - there is full support for weapons and tactics for any style you like. Could choose stealth for some missions, or tanking armoured to the teeth.

2) Only is a better name is suggested. Trivial for now, as the name can be switched out in whatever script is chosen.

3) I haven't selected one myself, whichever one you want to go with.

4) By maturity do you mean depth of writing, or age limitations? Either way I'd answer Mature. Don't hold back, it's easier to take away than to add to someone else's story.

5) Remember I said no Nationalism, so there's no aspect of "He died to save his country" present. As cold as reality is fine - whichever level you choose as long as it is well done (I don't want anyone attempting a style they're uncomfortable with)

6) I do prefer longer games than short. And this is a game that will get updates from packages I put together, so story can keep being expanded too. I don't care too much about if there's too much talking at this point (though don't make it the entire game) - a good example of balance can be found in the Metal Gear Solid series. Yes, conversation can occur while the player is in control.

[SNIPERDUDE]

Just an update:
I have created a Facebook group for the contest, to help keep my contact list of anyone in the contest together. Mostly because a friend in the UK went overboard with the whole "word of mouth" concept. Either way, should be intense, fun, and worth it. I think I'm settling on an award of $50, seeing as I have several interested. Think of it as a fun Friday night, for free! (keep it clean)

As the group is a closed private one, contact me on facebook so I can send the invite.

facebook.com/The.Great.Radio


Cheers

[ProgrammingFun]

I might write one over the summer but which engine/language are you using (not related). Since I can't think of Friday nights, I would probably use it to buy some other FPS shooter (probably BF3).

Are you going to release this game as an indie game or as a full fledged game, if at all (perhaps on Steam)? Do you want a storyline similar to MGS, where the Militaire sans Frontieres is hired be various contries?

EDIT: Do you want a script with full dialog and or a detailed plot summary w/some dialogue? Who is going to do you voice overs and level design?

EDIT2: On a sidenote: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/25_games_25_guns_weapons_defined_first-person_shooters#slide-0

[SNIPERDUDE]

ProgrammingFun wrote:

I might write one over the summer but which engine/language are you using (not related).

I'll be using the Unity engine, which uses Boo scripting (nearly identical to Python)

ProgrammingFun wrote:

Since I can't think of Friday nights, I would probably use it to buy some other FPS shooter (probably BF3).

BF3 Looks amazing, sounds like a worthy investment (don't use this to rail off-topic)

ProgrammingFun wrote:

Are you going to release this game as an indie game or as a full fledged game, if at all (perhaps on Steam)?

Indie, though eventually I would like it to be ported to console (just PC at the moment) if I can.

ProgrammingFun wrote:

Do you want a storyline similar to MGS, where the Militaire sans Frontieres is hired be various contries?

Bingo. MGS was one of my biggest influences for this game (among many others), that was what I had in mind.

ProgrammingFun wrote:

Do you want a script with full dialog and or a detailed plot summary w/some dialogue?

It is really up to you, though the easier you make it to make into a game (ex: try not to use too much narration like a book, think movie) the better. Though how easy the story is to port into a game will not affect my judgement.

ProgrammingFun wrote:

Who is going to do you voice overs and level design?

Level design is being done for the most part by me and a couple others, however anyone can pitch an idea, concept, or design.
Voice overs actors will be determined after the winning script is chosen, likely I'll ask around and make sure anyone who volunteers has the chops to do it.

[ProgrammingFun]

Thanks.
One more question, will you be incorporating cutscenes or is it all part of gameplay?

EDIT:

SNIPERDUDE wrote:

Indie, though eventually I would like it to be ported to console (just PC at the moment) if I can.

You might want to check this out if you do.

[SNIPERDUDE]

ProgrammingFun wrote:

One more question, will you be incorporating cutscenes or is it all part of gameplay?

There will very likely be cutscenes, unless the script chosen doesn't call for it. It's really up to the writer, as they wear the director hat too.

ProgrammingFun wrote:

You might want to check this out if you do.

Thanks for the article, look pretty cool. Luckily enough, the Unity engine already supports PC, Xbox 360, PS3, iPhone, web, and even Android. Quite flexible.
Unity features