Help me Joypads, I need advice/opinions!

I have an idea for a video game, one I've posted elsewhere when I first joined. This video game idea is an affectionate parody of video games and gaming culture, with each level is based on a different game genre (Gloomy survival horror level, colourful platform level, JRPG level, etc) full of the typical characters and items. The basic plot is that a virus named Z-NoX has taken over the main computer of a games company and is invading the games. It's up to the player to restore order, facing both the challenges within each game as well as Z-NoX's cronies.

All it needs is a hero. My initial plan was to use two characters called JC & Stan, the main protagonists of an obscure pizza delivery game similar to Crazy Taxi. However, after seeing footage from upcoming MMORPG Guild Wars 2 reminded me that there are a lot of enjoyable games where half the fun is creating a character from scratch and building them up (Fallout 3, Fable II, Soul Calibur come to my mind).

On the one hand, from a narrative point of view JC & Stan could be engaging; two obscure characters finally get their day in the limelight. From a game-play point of view, action would be similar to games like Banjo-Tooie and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, where you need to use both characters and their newly acquired skills to progress - not to mention the obvious co-op mode.

On the "player-created character" side of the argument... I suppose that speaks for itself. Players could tailor their character to suit their personal preferences (or for the really lazy, make Captain Ersatz versions of other characters), unlocking different costumes from each level. In both cases the game-play would remain relatively the same.

What sound more appealing to you?

Why not have the player-created character have costumes from different gaming characters? It'd be a nice way to tie them in.

Although, for your other idea, playing as already existing characters is a very good idea, although it might be better if it's from two different games.

I'm probably not being helpful, I'm not the decision-making type, just some feedback. Game sounds amazing though.

RawkHawk wrote:Why not have the player-created character have costumes from different gaming characters? It'd be a nice way to tie them in.

Two words: copyright infringement . However, seeing as the levels and characters are a parody of typical video games, the costumes for the player character would be very similar to famous gaming icons ("Overalls" and "Plumber's Cap" would be available, for example). In most of the levels you'd find matching costumes, like knight's armour in the medieval fantasy level.

I can see how your other idea might work, having the two heroes be from different games: imagine a character like Kirby having to team up with someone like Kratos!