Patrick Curry’s Thoughts on Game Design


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August 20th, 2006

Game Idea #34: Gunslinger

Been working a bunch lately. Thanks to everyone for all the great comments!

High Concept:

Gunslinger is a classic light-gun shooter with a twist: it’s played with a stylus! Set in the classic backdrop of the Old West, you play as a young gunslinger thrown into the middle of a terrible conflict. Defend your name, your town, and your friends with your lightening-fast reflexes. Prove you really are the fastest “draw” in the West!

Platform:

Nintendo DS

Why it needs to be made:

I love light-gun arcade games. There’s something about the quick reflexes they require that gets my blood going. But they’re also an extremely accessible genre. While modern first-person shooters have a huge learning curve, just about anyone can pick up Duck Hunt or Virtua Cop and have fun immediately. Gunslinger brings back this style gameplay, but to the portable world of the DS.

Description:

Gunslinger is a classic western that pits the “good” cowboys against the “bad” cowboys. Of course the bad guys have taken over your town, and it’s up to your and your friends to win it back. You do this with your trusty six-shooter. And here lies the play mechanic. Tap on the screen to shoot a single shot, or draw between points to pick out your targets. Since you only have six shots at a time, you need to make each shot count… and make sure you’re somewhere safe so you can reload.

Like classic lightgun games, Gunslinger gets much more interesting when played with a friend. Link up to take on the bad guys together, covering each other as you move, and watching each other’s back. In singleplayer mode the top screen provides a map and secondary information… but when you play with a linked friend it shows his point of view. Plot a course through town together that gives you the tactical advantage!

Why it will be fun:

Gunslinger is what I call a “pure gameplay game.” There’s no fluff here… no cinematics to skip… no puzzles to solve. As soon as you open up your DS you’re in the middle of a classic Old West shootout, shooting bad guys, dodging whiskey bottles, and saving saloon girls! Throw in coop play and it’s all the fun you could want.

Final thoughts:

I find myself playing my DS a bunch lately. Between the long hours and the travel it’s almost all I have time for these days. Gunslinger is very much a game I wish I was taking with me on my trip to Games Convention. Maybe we’ll see you there!


2 Responses to “Game Idea #34: Gunslinger”

  1. Todd Ostermeier commented:
    posted August 27th, 2006 at 9:33 pm

    You might try Point Blank DS (http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/932378.asp) for light-gun-like action on the DS. I haven’t played it, but the functionality sounds exactly like what you described. It’s not an old west setting, though.

  2. Patrick commented:
    posted September 4th, 2006 at 1:52 am

    Looks cool. I’ll have to check it out.


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