Overview:

Switchtosis

Concept statement:

Switchnosis is a rhythm based game, where you are flying through space fighting off aliens that wish to board your spaceship. Fight them off throughout the use of a futuristic weapons system that only fires on time of a beat.

Genre:

Rhythm

Concept creation process:

The mechanics are mainly influenced by two rhythm games: 

- The use of the 'JKL;' keys in OSU!mania.

- The use of the arrow keys in Friday Night Funkin.

The 'switch' function will make the user switch between these two controls mid game.

The concept of switching between the two controls was created because the only way most rhythm games increase their difficulty was throughout the use of increasing the rate and amount of notes, while keeping the same controls throughout the game. This leads to a restriction to rhythm games, where the higher difficulties are just spamming notes on the same controls and the player is locked in on those 'controls' (depending on the game) throughout the whole game. 

The switch controls game-mechanic forces the user to switch out of those controls that they are locked in to,  and makes them 'refresh' their muscle memory for the new set of controls (going from arrow keys to 'JKL;'), which adds a higher skill ceiling.

Audience and competitive analysis:

This is mainly targeted towards rhythm game enthusiasts looking for a way to test their ability to actively switch their focus between different controls. As stated in the concept creation process, this also introduces the potential for a higher skill ceiling for controlling muscle memory between different keys.

Game treatment and concept art:

The main themes will include:

- Space Sci-fi.

- Pixel art.

- Characters in a Felix colgrave style.

Switchnosis is a rhythm based game, where you are flying through space fighting off aliens that wish to board your spaceship. However, the ships manual that stated the futuristic weapons system was controlled by a beat by the song that is currently playing. Blinky is your companion, there to teach you on handling the weapons, how they can switch mechanisms, and to judge your alien killing skills (Different expressions dependent on how on time the note was hit). 

The weapons have two different firing modes that can "switch" firing mechanisms at any time. Score in the form of 'alien essence' will be collected. The ship features a health system, for each alien that is not destroyed, the amount of power to the ships shield will go down, failure to defeat the aliens may result in them boarding your ship, finding your gaming rig and stealing your GPU to resell it on eBay (Game over scene). 

The character Blinky's style will be heavily based on this character from Felix Colgrave's short film 'Double King'.

References:

Colgrave, F. (2017). Double King. https://felixcolgrave.myportfolio.com/double-king