Here is my first attempt at visualizing the gem cart! When the brakes are applied, some of the panels raise up as the gem goes down inside, and some of the panels flare out to the ground, stabilizing it.

App: ArtRage Studio Pro 3, Original image link.

Starting Somewhere

These are the very first sketches for an upcoming game I plan on designing and making a concept video for. I'm not really sure what I want it to look like yet, so for now I'm starting by referencing things I love like Wind Waker, the Castle in the Sky guardian robot and the visuals in Journey.

I don't know how to code, and I really have no business making a game, ha ha. I thought it would at least be a fun hobby of sorts though, since I love games and really want to someday make art/animation for them.

Story

A dark force of monsters has taken over the land. The survivors have been driven deeper and deeper into caves. While exploring for food and shelter, a small group of miners finds a large, fragile gem that seems to enrage but hurt the monsters if its attacked. The miners tie their hopes to the gem's power and put it on a shielded cart on rails and begin a slow journey towards the light!

Pretty basic stuff. Its definitely not a narrative-centric adventure. Its more about the sense of personal achievement you get advancing the cart of survivors to the light at the end of the tunnel.

Gameplay

I imagine Gem Cart as a pseudo-real-time strategy game on rails, geared for one hand control. You start with a small number of miners that you need to keep alive all the way to the end of the game. I'd like for it to have permadeath… but only if thats adds a fun kind of tension.

Your group all travel together on rails, so basic movement is chosen by the level design. There is fog of war, and as you roll along, the level and the enemies are revealed. Enemies advance towards the cart once they see you, and can either be slowed and weakened or killed on the field. You send characters out to attack or gather resources, and have them retreat back to the cart to reinforce its defenses during a monster attack, and also recharge their strength for the next battle. Its a constant back and forth flow between offense and defense. The action is paused while you select your moves, but other than that it plays in real-time.

Your miners are male or female and each have a unique name. There is a class upgrade path for them, but they can also continue to level up within their current class.

Miner ^ Swordsman (basic grunt) ^^ Brute (slow, strongest)

OR

Miner ^ Archer (distance attack, weak) ^^ Gem Mage (magic, strong)

Those are the core ideas of my game! I'll try to continue writing and posting art as I make progress.

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