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[Pako]

So, I'm working on a new project, and due to the nature of the game I don't want any levels or dungeon exploration.
I want to focus on a simplistic style of gameplay, but I'm wondering on how to keep the player hooked.

Any suggestions on how to achieve that?

[kason.xiv]

watchu talkin bout boi 

You say "due to the nature of the game" - what's the nature? what kind of game are you planning to design.

[michaelplzno]

There are a ton of simple games that are fun, but without specifics I would say use your intuition and experiment with various ideas that come to you.

[Pako]

watchu talkin bout boi 

You say "due to the nature of the game" - what's the nature? what kind of game are you planning to design.

A simple arcade type game. You know, no level progression, like shoot-em-ups.

[Thaumaturge]

Well, one idea might be powerups: they provide a dash of collection to the experience, as well as a hint of progression or variety (depending on the specifics of the powerup) within a run.

That said, I do feel that "simple arcade type game" is still a bit vague: "Paperboy", "Galaga", "Breakout", and "Pac-Man" are all "simple arcade type games", for example, but are all pretty different. So, what sort of game, specifically, did you have in mind? Or is that not yet determined?

[michaelplzno]

PLZNO - POWERDOWNS is what people want, you collect objects that make you slower and weaker till the game is impossible to beat.


YEEEEEEEEEES.

 

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You like shoot-em-ups? Just a few days ago, I played Atari Star Wars for the first time. The ability to steer a spaceship from a first-person perspective is mind-blowing for a 40-year-old game, and the pacing kept me hooked. The first time, I died after a couple minutes. I came back an hour later and blew up the Death Star twice on a single credit. It feels so awesome that it becomes muscle memory pretty quickly.