Idea for varying game play and developing story

There are a lot of awesome games out there that can excel purely on game play. There is not much of a story because there doesn’t have to be. The game is THAT good, it doesn’t require one because the game environment already put you into one. But I would like to create a game that has both exciting game play and a good story (charming and/or identifiable). And it is always cool to have the story develop game play and vice versa.

Here is a game that is quite basic, but also very awesome (thanks Ivone)

http://adamatomic.com/canabalt/mega/

-Why is he running away? I don't know and I don't really care, but it is sure an addicting game. Perhaps if this was in our game universe, our hero would be running away from bullies or trying to get to class on time.

Right now, I’m trying to push our game for a coming of age story. So here where I am at and what I have in mind:

For the first half of the game, you are either the nerd running away from bullies or you transform into the rock star to stand up and fight back against the bullies. At first, the nerd is very self-righteous and sees his rock star side as evil and undesirable. But eventually, the nerd starts to take a liking to the rock star because c’mon! who doesn’t want to live life in the fast lane as a rock star?

Developing the story…

Girl invites nerd to the big party (biggest one of the quarter). The nerd believes that he’ll be no fun unless he transforms into the rock star. At this point, he doesn’t find his rock star self to be so bad + he wants to impress the girl by being the life of the party.

The climax…

Nerd starts drinking (drinking alcohol turns you into a rock star, of course, right?). At some point, he thinks he turns into the rock star, but what?! He didn’t drink enough (b/c he pussies out?), and ends up not transforming and staying as the nerd. OH SHIT right? Not really because now the nerd can truly be himself (without anxiety) thanks to the alcohol and self-deception. For the rest of the night, he is the life of the party as an intelligently hilarious, ironic, and charming nerd; instead of a dumb obnoxious rock star (not all rock stars are like this, but you know what I mean).

Here’s a youtube video of something what the nerd would do at the party. Just a hilarious guy that makes people laugh :]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utaWZT5N-tQ (IT'S HILARIOUS, WATCH IT!)

Unlike Jeckle and Hyde & Bruce Banner and the Hulk. Sorry I don’t know too much about either, but my impression is that Jeckle and Bruce Banner always had to just deal with their dark side. But instead, in our story, the nerd eventually comes to appreciate his rock star side and wants to work together with him. At the start of the game, you are either the nerd running away from bullies or the rock star shredding his guitar and/or fighting through adversaries. But now, you two work together and get the best of both worlds. With these new abilities and advantages, the game has to become more difficult as well to compensate. Perhaps this is the point where there no longer needs to be a gauge or power-ups required to be a rock star, you can now change at will and choose what you think would be the best strategy for getting to the next stage.

The story is not over yet, although he was the life of the party, he thought he was well-received and liked only because he transformed into a rock star. So for the rest of the game, he still needs to find his voice. “Find his voice” -> game play options?

Basically at the start, we have opposite dual personalities working against each other, but eventually, they find it most beneficial to join forces and work on each other’s strengths and use their expertise to advise the other side. So now you have a nerd that can shred the guitar and a rock star that can solve puzzles (lol). The end product should be this great personality that is an intelligent, hilarious, charming, ironic nerd with a rock star mentality and attitude who wins over the girl. Hooray for self-acceptance, no more self-conscious nerd, you either love me or you don't, if no, you can shove it.

Nerd + Alcohol = Trumpets?! (watch video to understand context)

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Hey Ivone and Migdia,

I'm too fixated on nerd/rock star character and story development. I'm trying to incorporate too much Bruce Wayne (nerd), who probably doesn't have a good place in our game world. Ivone, your ideas rock, lets take out the nerd and do the -> typical (baseline) rock star and fired up hyper rock star dynamic. Game play wise, it seems most viable. I'm hopping onto Ivone's boat now :]