WorldPlay

The New and improved Kickstarter page.

Lauren Fyfe & Steven Wells

WordPlay: Play, Create, Share, Explore

We are giving real life play a game structure, using the physical world as a gamespace.

For Project 3 we decided that we wanted to create a game that could possibly really be made. We were inspired by games such as Little Big Planet, Geocaching, and Four Square. We were drawn to these games because they encourage the player / user to be creative, as well as encouraging them to be explorative and aware of their surroundings. WorldPlay gives the gamer the tools to not only play games, but it also gives them the power to be creative and the freedom to explore their own actual world.

Worldplay is essentially a database of mini-games. This database would be accessed as an Application (App) that you can play on any portable technological device that can use Apps, such as Smart Phones and Tablets. This database will be a collection of pre-loaded games that come built-in to WorldPlay itself. These 'play-anywhere' style games will be generic, but fun, games that could potentially be played anywhere and anytime. This gives the user a basic understanding of what kinds of games could be generated, and is a kick off point for their creativity.

The main focus of WorldPlay is user generated content. WorldPlay will make it easy for the user to log-on and start creating, browsing, and playing games. Gamers will be given a set of tools that will allow them to transform their world into a gamespace. These tools will allow for a variety of games that the gamer can create. What separates the tools of WorldPlay from games such as Little Big Planet, is the nature of handheld devices and its apps. WorldPlay will allow the creator to use apps that are found on smart devices and use them in their games. For instance, a creator may use the QR reader in their game, so that they can leave QR clues throughout their 'level'.

Another feature of WorldPlay is the GPS capability of smart devices. GPS technology allows WorldPlay to adapt to your surroundings. WorldPlay actually searches the world around you for games in real time as you move throughout your surroundings. The game will use the map application found in smart devices to physically show you what games surround you. As you change locations, the games change as well. The GPS game locator is an essential part of WorldPlay and is the basis for the Play, Create, Share, Explore experience that WorldPlay is. The GPS allows the creator to construct specific games for specific locations, and allows other gamers to share this experience. Location based gaming is the core structure of WorldPlay.

Gamers will be able to create a user profile, that can be linked to their facebook account, that will serve as a hub for all their WorldPlay Information. The user profile will be used to link players together and help create an online game community, in their actual world community. Information on the user profile will be: User name, user bio, games created, games played, trophy/achievement information, gamer reputation, gamer level, as well as links for ratings on the users games, and friends list. Users will be able to share their locations and favorite game in those locations. Through the user profile the gamers of Worldplay can connect and learn more about the people around them.

Rewards

Exploring your world is fun, but beating your friends at a game is better. WorldPlay will consist of arcade style high scores that will be automatically synced with your profile, which will then be linked to leader boards on the WorldPlay server. After completing a game on WorldPlay the gamer's high score will be synced automatically and the gamer will be given options for rating, recommending, and sharing the game that they just completed. There will also be the possibility of real world rewards. Businesses will be able to create games on WorldPlay, and through the user profiles, things such as coupons, gifts, and savings will be possible rewards for the gamer. This gives gamers incentive to explore new places, and businesses the opportunity to reach new customers in a fun and exciting way.

Game creators have the ability to create achievements to allow rewards for their players. A variety of ways to approach the achievements will be given in our tool set to the user creating the game. These allow for creative ways to to earn game gamer reputation, as well as increase your game score.

The target audience for Worldplay is anyone who owns a smartphone or tablet. People who enjoy playing games on their smartphone will find this a new way to experience their reality. This game also targets the person who likes to explore, adventure, and experience new things in their surroundings. With the addition of business profiles and participation the person who enjoys discounts and coupons at businesses will also enjoy the gaming experience of WorldPlay, as it encourages them to play and win. Because of the variety of reason to play WorldPlay we intend on this being targeted to a wide age-range audience.

How do you get better at the game?

There will be tutorials for creating your very own game, this walkthrough will familiarize you with the toolset, and hopefully start the spark of imagination that helps you create your own game world. Since this is a collection of user-generated content, the learning curve for each game will be different. WorldPlay will incorporate a difficulty scale that will be set by the creator, but will then be reinforced from feedback from the players of the game. WorldPlay will thrive on feedback from the community.

With WorldPlay we want to create an online community composed of your community. You will play new games generated by this community, you can create your own game, you can share this game with the community, and you will explore the world around you.