I cant wait any longer - 'Majic Jungle'

[reubert]

Hi people

I just have to get some feedback. Its been a few months in the making and probably has a few more to go, but I've been working on a game that currently goes by the name Majic Jungle.

It's a game about growing pot. I really don't want to explain why I decided to make such a game, so please just take it for what it is. All I will say is that I don't grow weed, I don't smoke weed, and I just thought it would be a fun game to play.

After a while trying to work out how to make a game based on something so profitable work as a financial type sim, I changed my mind. It's a game about genetics. The idea is that you are working for a seed company trying to make specific strains. It will be level based, and I'm pretty sure shareware.

Heres a few screenshots:

[edit - deleted see next page for links to more]

This is my first game - apart from a screensaver, a tetris clone, and an unfinished simTower ripoff. So please feel free to let me know what you think, ie. ideas on gameplay, graphics, basicly anything. Although I guess it is hard to tell from just a couple of screenshots. I'd like some beta testers at some stage, its not ready yet, but I'll post a link when its is.

The Game currently has most of the genetics side of things working, and the interface is starting to take shape, although as you can see from the screen shots there's stilll a bit of work to be done there.

Thanks,
david

[Cookie]

Nice looking game there, good graphics.
Is it possible to make the plants look less symmetrical?
I'm assuming the player has control of the light cycle?
Is the player aware of the sex of the plant instantly, or only after it has flowered?

cant wait to try it out!

[kemalyun]

Reminds me of the first level of NECROMANCER, the best game ever made (Synapse Software on the Atari 800).

[reubert]

'Is it possible to make the plants look less symmetrical?'
Hmm you're probably right there, wil add it too my list. They usually get a bit less symmetrical later on as you breed them to be more compact

' I'm assuming the player has control of the light cycle?'
yep, you can start and stop the budding cycle and the plants react appropriately

'Is the player aware of the sex of the plant instantly, or only after it has flowered?'
only after it has flowered for a while.

[reubert]

Just wanted to clarify a few things.

I'm no druggy, I think pot can often screw people up, growing weed for real is both stupid and risky, I have no pot obssesion, I am not 'pro-hemp' or 'pro-leagalize it', and I haven't smoked the stuff for over a year, and probably never will again.

Thanks for your support igame3d, but I just think you were getting the wrong idea, and other people would too.

just because someone makes a game about running around shooting people doesn't make them a serial killer, and likewise here.

just trying to make a fun, original game, and a game about growing orchids just didn't have the same ring to it.

[AnotherJake]

Don't put this out as freeware. I really, really, really would be interested to know how well it sells. I'm not kidding. Get a pulse on the market/world/popculture so to speak. I hate weed. This game looks very interesting to me. I have a sneaking suspicion it would do really well.

[igame3d]

Oh how very dissapointing.
No pro-legalization?
Maybe you should study up on the subject.

Nothing stupid and risky about growing cannabis.

People who are suffering and dying need it, its the only thing that make their lives liveable. That is why state after state (13 so far) and country after country is changing the way they look at this plant.

For 25 million Americans it is prefered over alcohol and other chemicals.
Alcohol after all is involved in 90% of all homicides.

More people die from over the counter medication daily than have ever died (directly) from cannabis. I say directly, because stupid people die and cause the death of others drugs or no drugs.

70,000 people are in US prisons right now because of laws against this plant that are entirely based on lies, greed and racism. The US has the world's largest prison population thanks to the war on drugs, a war that steals property, and keeps the poor in their place.

Cannabis in New York City is currently more expensive per ounce than Gold. Whats the US dollar valued on? Gold..or maybe its the street price of weed???!?

"Legal Tender" is the term used since Cannabis was required payment as part of our taxes, back when the United States was founded by Cannabis Growers and Smokers!

Please do read up on this topic:
The best book on Hemp/Cannabis (http://www.jackherer.com/chapters.html)

[reubert]

Please no more comments on politics to do with the topic of the game. The game is about pot. end of story. I'm really only interested in comments about the game itself.

Hope this isn't a sign of whats to come.

I suppose I should have expected it - it is a controversial subject.

[igame3d]

Controversial game. Controversial topic.
Yes you can expect much of the same from both sides of the fence when released. You can expect publicity pro and con from both sides as well.

This isn't the "as seen on tv, everyone has a gun, and society is numb to it" kind of game. This issue is very important, to millions of people across the globe

[AnotherJake]

Well, wait a second, I have no idea what igame3d is talking about other than ??? Yeah, the game is about pot. This is obviously a very hot topic. Maybe too hot? I just posted to another forum that got locked ( good, thanks osc ). Maybe a little moderation here would be appropriate? I'm up for discussion of the game as well but maybe it would just turn into flames very quickly. What to do?

[OneSadCookie]

I will say this. iGame3D, you're out of line. If you want to discuss Cannabis politics, you can start a thread in Free Talk if you must, but I'd prefer you didn't ;)

Reubert has said the game is non-political and he doesn't wish to discuss politics with respect to it. Please respect his wishes.

I don't want to close this thread since that would be depriving Reubert of feedback, but I will delete further political posts to this thread.

[isogonic]

Looks good and seems to be a very original idea, and a one that might make for some very interesting play...

Is the gameplay conducive to longer more intensely played time units, or smaller segmented [time units], virtual pet style play?

[reubert]

thanks OSC

Is the gameplay conducive to longer more intensely played time units, or smaller segmented [time units], virtual pet style play?

I'm not sure exactly what you mean. But about the use of time:

Basically similar to 'the sims'. You can speed up and slow down time, or pause it. If you leave it on the default 'play' speed the whole time a day passes in just over a second, so a whole plant's life cycle passes in under a minute. You can keep yourself reasonably busy for that time, but fast forward if you want to, or once you get a little better. At the moment pausing is particularly useful around harvest time when everything happens at once.

[eekaydee]

Reubert
Nice graphics!
Sounds fun, but in my opinion it might get old. I think it would be a good idea to give a greater goal. Maybe you try to create the best plant and win a competition or get paid by a manufacturer to get money. Then with the money you could buy better lighting, soil, move to a place where the ground is more suitable, etc. The goal could be to get as much money as possible, or to win the biggest competition. Though I've never heard of a marijuana competition, I think it would be funny.
Hmm, you said you didn't want it to be a financial sim, but I think the addition of money would make it more fun.

[reubert]

The game does have money, but it isn't the focus. You have to pay a certain amount each month depending on your light usage, and can make money by selling, but this increases risk, and eventually you get busted. I might also make light bulbs run out of life as another way of spending money.

I am going to have 'make as much money as possible' as the goal after you have finished all the levels, and hence the game becomes a 'try to make the highest score' type thing. Only available after registering, of course... ;)

I like the idea of a competition, hadn't though of that. Will have to make one or more competition levels.

[Dr. Light]

It really does look neat. I mean, I would have picked daisies or tulips or something, but hey, no worries, right? ;)

I haven't actually played the game, but I suggest a split screen two player mode. It could be a "fast paced" grass growning competition! :lol:

[flipflop]

At first glance I thought this game was a different version of the old Lemonade Stand game I used to play on an Apple IIe. I guess the old saying holds true, "You can't judge a book by it's covers." The graphics look great though I can't stand the metal look-n-feel (On any of the Apple products for that matter, not just yours. I know, personal preference! ;) )

- How many plants can a user grow at once? Are they limited to the static size of the window or can they scroll left or right as they plant more plants?

- What other ways can the player getting busted?

- I'm assuming the setting is at the seed company. Or is it at the players home? I'm not sure if this would really matter in terms of game play though... have Mom walk in and freak out? :p

I too like the idea of competition... I'm thinking more like the game Buzz Aldrin's Race into Space where you need money for research and development to create a rocket to get the first man into space or the first man on the moon before the Russians.

Perhaps having the player making genetically altered plants for medicinal purposes and competing with another company trying to do the same... OK, not where you wanted to head but just throwing out ideas... ;)

Best of luck! Looking forward to trying out a version when you are ready for testing.

[death_himself]

I agree with eekaydee, it does need to have management of resources and money and so forth, I mean it already has it, but, bleurgh. I'd like it if it was set in your room, and you could sort of rotate the camera around to look at the rest of the room, it could still be in 2D, because if you're just rotating you don't actually need to create real 3D, and it could keep the same visual style. And the point of it being in your bedroom? Well, I were thinking perhaps you could allow the player to buy things for their room :) ...like in Sega GT on the xbox. Sorry, pointless idea? I just think it'd be a nice touch.

How are you going to do this thing with selling it being risky? Would it be that just the more times you sell the greater the chance of being caught? The thing is, I'm not too happy about that, I think it perhaps needs to be a bit more complex, I'm not talking about going out on the streets and actually selling. How about gaining a reputation in the drugs community? It could all be menu-driven. And you could have customers come to your room (perhaps just draw them a little face to make it a bit more realistic) and you could give them samples, and then, perhaps if they're stupid and want to buy a whole load at once, have the ability to trick them and give them your lowest-quality weed (presumably higher quality weed would require say more nutrients in the soil, which cost more...I dunno much about this)...of course, they won't be coming back and they might tell other people...but then again, you might reallly need the money to impress a very special customer who's about to come round. I'm not saying make that a huge part of the game, I mean, just a way of gaining reputation points, you don't have to talk to everyone you sell to, just 'special guests' who increase or decrease your reputation and thus increase or decrease your sales per month. Sorry, crappy idea? I know I'm going waaay off track and don't expect my crappy ideas to be used...but I have nothing better to do :) .

I take it disease will be a factor? Ie. making disease resistant plants so that the seed can be sold on to poor mexican farmers?

[igame3d]

Originally posted by eekaydee
Though I've never heard of a marijuana competition
Cannabis Cup (http://www.hightimes.com/htsite/cup/)

[Dr. Light]

I like the 3D in 2D room with the buy-stuff-for-it-idea. Maybe you could hide stuff whenever you here footsteps comming.:ninja:




Ouch, I got edited!(didn't mean iDev though the first time, meant iGame) Hey, they must have a special alert for when I post something immediately after iGame. "All Mods at battle stations! All Mods at battle stations! iGame3d and Dr. Light detected on forum!"

[reubert]

wow some great ideas here, thanks people!

I suggest a split screen two player mode. It could be a "fast paced" grass growning competition!
Perhaps having the player making genetically altered plants for medicinal purposes and competing with another company trying to do the same... OK, not where you wanted to head but just throwing out ideas...

I like these ideas, but man it'd be a lot of work, I think I'll pencil in competitive mode for version 2. At the moment the frame rate still slows to about 5 or 6 fps at times, so this would have to be improved drastically for split screen mode. Network play could be cool though... definately an idea for version 2.

The levels will be time based, so its a race against the clock to try to complete the goals.

- How many plants can a user grow at once? Are they limited to the static size of the window or can they scroll left or right as they plant more plants?

7 plants. No scrolling. The genetic variation is enough that space for any more plants would probably not get used much anyway. 7 seems to work quite well, but I guess it is kinda limiting...

- What other ways can the player getting busted?

I spent last night adding a risk bar. There are two elements to the bar. The first element is a coloured 'progression indicator' that rises quickly when you sell a bag of weed, and lowers slowly over time. It also rises if you have lots of smelly plants.(You can breed plants to not be smelly if you want) The other element is a line that represents the point on the risk bar that you get busted. This lowers (makes it easier to get busted) as you have more bags of weed on site, or lights are turned on.

The ways that change it are still a bit up in the air yet, so this could change.

also death_himself, you mentioned that this whole risk/selling thing could be more complex. I like your ideas. Not sure how much I want to incorporate the 'Dope Wars' style of gameplay here, but certainly there is the scope to do that. I will work on this when the game is a bit more complete if I feel it will add to the game.

A few of you have mentioned setting, and its relation to what you could spend money on. I think I was sort of looking at this as a basement in someone's home. I like the idea of buying stuff to make your room look nice and possibly decrease risk. Will give it a bit more thought.

I take it disease will be a factor? Ie. making disease resistant plants so that the seed can be sold on to poor mexican farmers?

Thanks, I had this in my original game plan but had completely forgotten about it. Will get to work on it soon.

I can't stand the metal look-n-feel

Funny, I've noticed a bit of division on this, I find standard aqua to look bland in games, but I might post a vote thingee later with a screenshot of the game in each window mode, to see what everyone thinks.

Its funny, when I had spent about a week on this game and had a single plant growing on a black background with no player interaction I thought - 'wow thats the big part done already - now it should only take another couple of weeks to do the rest.' Now 6 weeks or so later, I'm thinking I might have about 2 months to go. Perhaps I should learn from the past and plan for a year! It will be interesting to know.

Thanks for the ideas and support, I need to code more to try to keep up.

[igame3d]

The smell of plants can be neutralized by an air ionizer which costs $60 and is available in any department or drug store.

Your more likely to get popped by infra-red camera's on helicopters, or in police vans. But we've outwitted those with ultra bright, super cool bulbs.

Something to put on the "Shopping List" when the money rolls in.

[reubert]

I have uploaded a new screenshot here:

[edit - deleted]

It shows the new risk bar and a few plants bred in different ways, close to a few extremes. They were all planted at the same time. The small green ones were sown with the seeds you get given at the start. I've spent the last couple of days working on leaf colour, and recessive / dominant leaf colour genes and such.

I should have an alpha release ready in a week or two. It will be the basic game without polish or levels, and without all the bugs that I know of, so you guys can hopefully find any others.

igame3d - I think I will have various types of ozone generators that you can buy to decrease the risk from smelly plants. Also maybe paying for increased security measures will decrease the risk from selling.

the idea with the lights increasing risk is that if your power bill is consistently high the power company might alert the cops.

also I have defined the concept of the risk bar a little bit more in my mind. The Busted line represents how much the cops have an eye on you, and the bar represents what you are doing that is risky. Still a bit vague I know. More thought required. Also I think that when the risk bar goes over the busted line there will be a random amount of time before you get caught.

A lot of what I will have to do for a while now will be working on fine tuning the risk system, and how it interacts with money. I like the idea of a two-part risk meter but it's trickier than I thought it would be to figure out. Any ideas on this?

[reubert]

another screenshot:

[edit - deleted. see next post]

[reubert]

I have set up a website: http://www.majicjungle.co.nz/
This will be where I host the file and screenshots and info, but at the moment I don't really know what it's doing. If you visit it and see I've written anything stupid please let me know. Will start marketing it some time soon.

Have removed the links to the old screenshots, there are two more here though:

http://www.majicjungle.co.nz/mj1.jpg
http://www.majicjungle.co.nz/mj2.jpg