Not just a Toy: A Video Game Producer Quest

[X] 1986, January 1st: Super Mario Bros. has recently been released in America, nearly singlehandedly reviving the video games industry in North America.
[X] USA
 
[X] 1996, September 26th: The Nintendo 64 is released in America. The console wars will soon come to an end.
[X] USA
 
Update 1 January 1, 1986
It looks like 1986 for the year and USA for the location have won pretty handily. Voting closed.


Turns will go by in bi-monthly increments.

There are some stats you'll want to keep in minds. As a quest writer, I'm more interested in seeing the creative properties you guys come up with and how your successes will impact the history of video games than running a perfectly realistic simulation, so the stats will be rather abstract, even for items that could be represented more objectively. There's only two stast that follows you past any one video game made (at least for now) and that's savings: The amount of money in the bank you and your business have. If this number reaches 0 expect very bad things to happen and Worker Satisfaction: How happy your staff are under you. You can spend points in either of these to increase the quality of your game stats) (among other things)

For the video games themselves you have these stats:

Worker enthusiasm: How excited are your staff for this game, and how much effort are they willing to put into the game without starting to resent you. The lower this number is, the more you will have to spend in savings and worker satisfaction for the same amount of increased game quality. This number is fixed for the most part (can be increased through omakes) and is dependent on factors such as how ambitious or unambitious the game is and how much of the games are based on chasing trends, vs. how much of them are composed of original ideas. While it may seem like the logical solution is to create grand and experimental games only, too much of this will cause your employees stress and resentment towards their boss for expecting them to create revolutionary masterpieces 100% of the time. The key is moderation in all things.

Game story: How memorable the story of the game is

Graphics: How advanced/aesthetically pleasing the graphics are

Soundtrack: How memorable the game's music is

Game design: How fair the game is/feels to the players

Game novelty: How many new and interesting things are in your game. A game with a low game novelty score reuses assets and music, and has little if any real variation between levels.

You can pour money and worker satisfaction to increase these stats. Choose wisely though. Depending on the genre of the game/expectations of the consumers, some stats are more important than others. A RPG with great graphics but a bad story might perform worse than a similar game with a better story and lesser graphics.

Game pitches: The questers will submit game pitches to determine what games they will make. A game pitch is composed of:

A title:
Genre:
Story Summary (If any):
Game Summary (What do the players need to do to progress through the game? In Super Mario Bros., the players need to have mario beat levels by jumping on enemies while avoiding getting hit or falling down pits.)
Notable Features: (When people talk about your game, what will they mention? Notable features of Super Mario Bros. include using mushrooms to grow larger and gain an extra hit, the world 1-2 warp pipes, and having to run under Bowser to get to the axe at the end of each world. In Final Fantasy 7, game features include Cloud's big freakin' sword, various story elements (including you-know-who's death), and the Active Time Battling System.

Voting time:

[] Name of your Company (I probably should have put this in the first vote. Oh well)
[] Your name and how you got into the business. (Write-in)
[] Game pitch (You won't be able to vote on this until we get some pitches obviously.)
 
[x] Red Bird Gaming
[x] Jack Condor: It was 1982, you were some snot nosed punk just trying to make some money and working for Atari as a glorified garbage man. Well technically your job title was sanitation, but whatever. Anyways the big boss Ray has a shit ton of ET carts that ain't shippin', and he needs them disposed of. He gives you an undisclosed amount of money to take those carts and bury them out somewhere in New Mexico. Now you could have done that, instead you did the smart thing and just recycled that stuff for like 4 grand. Took that money and actually used it to invest in other areas of the world when the writing was on the wall about the video game market. Now it's 1986, and the world of pixelated graphics is calling your name again.

[x] Gray Slate Games
[x] Lisa Crow: You told them. You f%#&ing told them that the ET game blew massive whale crap, but none of them listened to you. You were just the intern, why would anyone even bother listening to anything you had to say? And then, when the whole damn market crashed and Ray and Atari were stuck with nearly a million copies of a shitty movie tie-in game? They had the nerve to act like there was no way this could have been foreseen. Idiots. You packed your bags, spent the next four years working over in Japan where the crash never even happened. You made connections, you made friends, you made ENEMIES. You also say way too many penis festivals like holy crap.

[X] Jackpot Games
[X] Jaqueline "Jamie" McLoughlin
-[X] A boisterous red headed Irish-American woman from Boston. Lacks the short-fused temper normally associated with the stereotype, though her language among close associates and friends would make a sailor blush. Dresses oddly plainly for someone with such a vibrant personality. Trademark outfit being a plain white button-up shirt accessorized with a pocket protector, tan slacks, and a flat cap.
-[X] You were one of the game developers underpaid and under-appreciated at Atari. Though where others joined up to found Activision you went your own way. Mostly because you were annoyed at seeing men and even other women getting respect while you were being patronized.
 
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[X] Name of your Company: New World Development
[X] Huey Hampton
-[X] An African American man born in Durham. A child of the civil rights movement, many of his earliest memories relate to past activism.
-[X] An avid futurist, he followed the story of the 1983 videogame market crash, and the subsequent resurgence of the industry due to the efforts of Nintendo. While he found videogames to be an interesting new artform, it seemed irrelevant considering the amount of funds he had access to. This changed when during an Anti-Reagan rally you brought up your belief in videogames as a new medium to just the right people. Next thing you know, a group promoting a greater involvement of minority voices in the arts has helped you start a developer.
-[X] Unfortunately, you're not sure experienced in this area, but you're humble enough to recognize this, and people tend to like you too. Hopefully you can make this work.

I thought it would be interesting to have a non-traditonal voice in gaming. Especially since the modern videogame industry loves to play it so safe. There are also like, zero major black voices in game development.

PS: Are we supposed to put game pitches now?
 
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[X] Jackpot Games
[X] Jaqueline "Jamie" McLoughlin
-[X] A boisterous red headed Irish-American woman from Boston. Lacks the short-fused temper normally associated with the stereotype, though her language among close associates and friends would make a sailor blush. Dresses oddly plainly for someone with such a vibrant personality. Trademark outfit being a plain white button-up shirt accessorized with a pocket protector, tan slacks, and a flat cap.
-[X] You were one of the game developers underpaid and under-appreciated at Atari. Though where others joined up to found Activision you went your own way. Mostly because you were annoyed at seeing men and even other women getting respect while you were being patronized.
 
[X] Jackpot Games
[X] Jaqueline "Jamie" McLoughlin
-[X] A boisterous red headed Irish-American woman from Boston. Lacks the short-fused temper normally associated with the stereotype, though her language among close associates and friends would make a sailor blush. Dresses oddly plainly for someone with such a vibrant personality. Trademark outfit being a plain white button-up shirt accessorized with a pocket protector, tan slacks, and a flat cap.
-[X] You were one of the game developers underpaid and under-appreciated at Atari. Though where others joined up to found Activision you went your own way. Mostly because you were annoyed at seeing men and even other women getting respect while you were being patronized.
Oh I love this.
 
She's basically the fusion of James "AVGN" Rolfe and Sean "Jacksepticeye" McLoughlin in a feisty redhead. I even have he basically wearing the AVGN's clothes! Though I may adjust her personality to be that she has a bit of a temper that she suppresses because of sexist double standards of the time.
Yeah she really sticks out. feels like one of those people that'll stick out like a Jack Thompson or a Ed Boon.
 
Yeah she really sticks out. feels like one of those people that'll stick out like a Jack Thompson or a Ed Boon.

The reason why she got other designers to follow being her boisterous "one of the guys" personality.

Hopefully closer to Boon than Thompson given that that man lost his career in his mad quest against video games.

EDIT: nice art, btw. That's exactly what I was thinking!
 
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[X] Jackpot Games
[X] Jaqueline "Jamie" McLoughlin
-[X] A boisterous red headed Irish-American woman from Boston. Lacks the short-fused temper normally associated with the stereotype, though her language among close associates and friends would make a sailor blush. Dresses oddly plainly for someone with such a vibrant personality. Trademark outfit being a plain white button-up shirt accessorized with a pocket protector, tan slacks, and a flat cap.
-[X] You were one of the game developers underpaid and under-appreciated at Atari. Though where others joined up to found Activision you went your own way. Mostly because you were annoyed at seeing men and even other women getting respect while you were being patronized.
 
[X] Name of your Company: New World Development
[X] Huey Hampton
-[X] An African American man born in Durham. A child of the civil rights movement, many of his earliest memories relate to past activism.
-[X] An avid futurist, he followed the story of the 1983 videogame market crash, and the subsequent resurgence of the industry due to the efforts of Nintendo. While he found videogames to be an interesting new artform, it seemed irrelevant considering the amount of funds he had access to. This changed when during an Anti-Reagan rally you brought up your belief in videogames as a new medium to just the right people. Next thing you know, a group promoting a greater involvement of minority voices in the arts has helped you start a developer.
-[X] Unfortunately, you're not sure experienced in this area, but you're humble enough to recognize this, and people tend to like you too. Hopefully you can make this work.
 
[x] Red Bird Gaming
[x] Jack Condor: It was 1982, you were some snot nosed punk just trying to make some money and working for Atari as a glorified garbage man. Well technically your job title was sanitation, but whatever. Anyways the big boss Ray has a shit ton of ET carts that ain't shippin', and he needs them disposed of. He gives you an undisclosed amount of money to take those carts and bury them out somewhere in New Mexico. Now you could have done that, instead you did the smart thing and just recycled that stuff for like 4 grand. Took that money and actually used it to invest in other areas of the world when the writing was on the wall about the video game market. Now it's 1986, and the world of pixelated graphics is calling your name again.
 
[x] Red Bird Gaming
[x] Jack Condor: It was 1982, you were some snot nosed punk just trying to make some money and working for Atari as a glorified garbage man. Well technically your job title was sanitation, but whatever. Anyways the big boss Ray has a shit ton of ET carts that ain't shippin', and he needs them disposed of. He gives you an undisclosed amount of money to take those carts and bury them out somewhere in New Mexico. Now you could have done that, instead you did the smart thing and just recycled that stuff for like 4 grand. Took that money and actually used it to invest in other areas of the world when the writing was on the wall about the video game market. Now it's 1986, and the world of pixelated graphics is calling your name again.
 
[X] Jackpot Games
[X] Jaqueline "Jamie" McLoughlin
-[X] A boisterous red headed Irish-American woman from Boston. Lacks the short-fused temper normally associated with the stereotype, though her language among close associates and friends would make a sailor blush. Dresses oddly plainly for someone with such a vibrant personality. Trademark outfit being a plain white button-up shirt accessorized with a pocket protector, tan slacks, and a flat cap.
-[X] You were one of the game developers underpaid and under-appreciated at Atari. Though where others joined up to found Activision you went your own way. Mostly because you were annoyed at seeing men and even other women getting respect while you were being patronized.
 
[X] Jackpot Games
[X] Jaqueline "Jamie" McLoughlin
-[X] A boisterous red headed Irish-American woman from Boston. Lacks the short-fused temper normally associated with the stereotype, though her language among close associates and friends would make a sailor blush. Dresses oddly plainly for someone with such a vibrant personality. Trademark outfit being a plain white button-up shirt accessorized with a pocket protector, tan slacks, and a flat cap.
-[X] You were one of the game developers underpaid and under-appreciated at Atari. Though where others joined up to found Activision you went your own way. Mostly because you were annoyed at seeing men and even other women getting respect while you were being patronized.
[X] Jumpin' Jack

Working under the assumption that only one game can be voted for. See below.

Game Pitch(es)

Title:Jumpin' Jack
Genre: Platformer
Story Summary: The titular Jumpin' Jack is set to climb the tallest building in the world, the gem of the City of Light, the reason? At the top is the penthouse suite of the world's first Trillionaire, the evil Doctor Steel, who in a fit of pique and jealousy has stolen Jack's sweetheart, Daisy. Jack is here to climb The Tower of Light and get her back, and tear Doctor Steel a new behind along the way.
Game Summary: A sort of cross between Mario and Megaman. Make it to the end of each level while avoiding pits and jumping on enemies. With added death spikes, fires, etcetera. But with more complicated mechanics to add to the jumping gameplay. Double jumps, wall jumps, maybe even a slide.
Notable Features: The enhanced movement mechanics to show Mario who the real Jumpman is.

Title: Dancin' Daisy
Genre: Rhythm Game
Story Summary: After being dissed by a snobby princess type, the titular Dancin' Daisy is out to prove that she's the best dancer in the futuristic City of Light. In a series of chaotic and unlikely situations Daisy goes against wild and eccentric characters who all challenge her in a game of rhythm. From beatboxers, to loud military types with a squad of backup dancers, and to snobby ballerinas with a god complex.
Game Summary: With an emphasis on music this game challenges the players reflexes and sense of rhythm as they mash the correct buttons in time with the music track playing. (Sort of like Friday Night Funkin')
Notable Features: It's a rhythm game, likely the first major one most audiences will see in this point of time. Unique in that it has a focus on music, and attention drawing, hopefully memorable, characters. Daisy herself should be just as wild.

I wanted to come up with a third game but couldn't come up with anything that sounds like it could work on late 80s technology.

Jumpin' Jack is a direct challenge to Mario since it's popular, and then one-upping it with some fancy mechanics like wall jumps to steal the show. Let's show him who the real Jumpman is!

Dancin' Daisy is probably fairly unique and that's what I'm aiming for here. Something our audience and buyers likely haven't seen before or even thought about. A full ten-ish years before even PaRappa the Rapper.
 
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[X] Jackpot Games
[X] Jaqueline "Jamie" McLoughlin
-[X] A boisterous red headed Irish-American woman from Boston. Lacks the short-fused temper normally associated with the stereotype, though her language among close associates and friends would make a sailor blush. Dresses oddly plainly for someone with such a vibrant personality. Trademark outfit being a plain white button-up shirt accessorized with a pocket protector, tan slacks, and a flat cap.
-[X] You were one of the game developers underpaid and under-appreciated at Atari. Though where others joined up to found Activision you went your own way. Mostly because you were annoyed at seeing men and even other women getting respect while you were being patronized.
 
Still unsure if we can only vote for one game to start with, but I'll stick with the main one for now.

Speaking of games, anyone like the two I came up with as our first games? Direct counter to Mario and a unique musical experience?
 
[X] Jackpot Games
[X] Jaqueline "Jamie" McLoughlin
-[X] A boisterous red headed Irish-American woman from Boston. Lacks the short-fused temper normally associated with the stereotype, though her language among close associates and friends would make a sailor blush. Dresses oddly plainly for someone with such a vibrant personality. Trademark outfit being a plain white button-up shirt accessorized with a pocket protector, tan slacks, and a flat cap.
-[X] You were one of the game developers underpaid and under-appreciated at Atari. Though where others joined up to found Activision you went your own way. Mostly because you were annoyed at seeing men and even other women getting respect while you were being patronized.

I'm sure I can come up with a few game pitches, but I need to eat lunch first before my brain will brain properly
 
[X] Jackpot Games
[X] Jaqueline "Jamie" McLoughlin
-[X] A boisterous red headed Irish-American woman from Boston. Lacks the short-fused temper normally associated with the stereotype, though her language among close associates and friends would make a sailor blush. Dresses oddly plainly for someone with such a vibrant personality. Trademark outfit being a plain white button-up shirt accessorized with a pocket protector, tan slacks, and a flat cap.
-[X] You were one of the game developers underpaid and under-appreciated at Atari. Though where others joined up to found Activision you went your own way. Mostly because you were annoyed at seeing men and even other women getting respect while you were being patronized.
 
If you have an opinion on it, make sure to also vote for which of the two pitches currently available will be worked on.
 
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