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\layout Title

The Ysagoon Game
\layout Author

Gabriel Walt & Stéphane Magnenat
\layout Date

Creation : 27.
 02.
 2002 - Modification : 06.03.2002
\layout Standard


\begin_inset LatexCommand \tableofcontents{}

\end_inset 


\layout Chapter

Introduction
\layout Section

What is the Ysagoon Game ?
\layout Standard

The Ysagoon Game is just a generic term to speak about a game that hasn't
 yet a name.
 In this paper, the term Ysagoon Game is used to speak about the continuation
 of Globulation2.
 The name Globulation2 is only used to talk about the actual state of Globulatio
n2.
\layout Section

The aim of the Ysagoon Game
\layout Standard

The aim of the Ysagoon Game is to create a game that satisfies the following
 two points :
\layout Enumerate

The game must have a strong ambiance in which the player is merged.
\layout Enumerate

The game must have a subtle game-play that makes the strategies more complex
 (without making the game interface more complex).
\layout Section

Why this paper ?
\layout Standard

The development of a first playable version of Globulation2 comes slowly
 to an end.
 Thus, we realize that some the basic game-play decisions that were made
 are problematic.
\layout Standard

This paper tries to summarize these problems in order to deduct which parts
 of the game-play should be changed and which parts could be kept.
 In a second part, it suggests a new direction that could solve most of
 these game-play problems.
 Finally, there is a more technical approach that speaks about the issues
 of this new direction.
\layout Chapter

Analyzing Globulation2
\layout Standard

The objective of Globulation (version 1 and 2) was to create an ant simulation.
 This goal is successfully achieved in the actual state of Globulation2.
 The problem is that this doesn't mean that Globulation2 complies with the
 aims of the Ysagoon Game.
 In fact, none of the two aims (strong ambiance and subtle game-play) are
 satisfied...
\layout Section

Why is there no strong ambiance ?
\layout Itemize

The globules are too abstract in order that the player could identify himself
 with them.
 The player event can't feel pity on his units.
 The units just do what they are told to do, without useless but nice animations
 in between.
 The fact that units just disappear when they die also doesn't add depth
 to their existence.
\layout Itemize

The buildings seem dead, because they have no animations.
\layout Itemize

The environment is flat, without animations and has no character.
 But the resources grow and evolve, which is great and should be kept.
\layout Section

Why is there no subtle game-play ?
\layout Itemize

The only way to win is to kill all of the opponents.
 Thus, all the strategies should lead to create a more efficient and powerful
 army.
 But there is only one unit that can fight, and one building that can defend.
 And these units have no subtleties : they can only be at different levels
 of linear upgrades.
 Furthermore, the necessity of the units to eat makes the battles boring,
 because of their fuzzy control.
\layout Itemize

There are almost no strategic choices to make in the upgrades, because they
 are all perfectly linear.
 The only choices are to choose which building should be upgraded first.
\layout Itemize

The rush strategy works perfectly well.
 If one mainly builds warriors and rushes the enemy, the opponent has no
 chance.
 And if both players rush, both die.
\layout Section

What are the good and original ideas that should or could be kept ?
\layout Itemize

The units have a persistent existence that is very realistic and coherent.
 They need to eat and rest, to be nursed, and they individually need to
 learn to be upgraded.
 This point is interesting, because it works well and adds depth to the
 game.
\layout Itemize

The resources are evolving, this adds depth and life to the environment.
 That's also a strategic constraint, because it is not interesting to collect
 as much resources as fast as possible.
 The problem to keep in mind is that the player should not be slowed down
 because the resources don't grow fast enough.
 The player should have enough other occupations that prevent him to fall
 asleep while waiting for the resources to grow.
\layout Itemize

The units receive no direct orders, all orders are passed to the buildings
 (or to the flags).
 This allows an original game interaction that lets the computer do the
 micro-management.
\layout Itemize

The GUI is easy to use and consistent.
\layout Chapter

New direction
\layout Section

A new start
\layout Standard

This chapter defines a new start for Globulation2.
 This means that we should temporarily forget the actual state of Globulation2,
 otherwise it will not be possible to think in an innovative way.
 That's why the generic name Ysagoon Game will be used instead of Globulation2.
 This generic name will of course be changed as soon as possible to a real
 game name.
\layout Standard

This chapter will speak about the Ysagoon Game as if it would be a completely
 new game.
 No allusions will be made to Globulation2 neither negatively, nor positively.
 This forces everybody to rethink everything.
\layout Standard

None of the ideas presented in this chapter are definitive, some of them
 even have a few coherence problems.
 Thus, this chapter should be considered as a compilation of ideas that
 still need to be strengthened.
\layout Section

The ambiance
\layout Standard

The aimed ambiance is a village community, because this naturally focuses
 on the inhabitants of the village.
 Less units and buildings gives visually the impression to fly lower, thus
 it helps the immersion of the player.
\layout Standard

The units that the player controls have all the same race.
 This race is cute and nice, in order that the player cares about them.
 They have a human-like body (tow feet, two arms, one head) and a human-like
 head (two eyes, two ears, one mouth, one nose).
 The appearance of each unit should be slightly different (taller, smaller,
 different clothes if there are any, ...), each unit could even have his own
 name.
 There should also be different animations if they transport different materials
 and if they work on different things.
\layout Standard

Each unit has a realistic life : it sleeps and eats, goes to the hospital
 when needed and learns to be upgraded.
 This adds even more depth to the existence of the units.
\layout Comment

If the units really have a strong personality, then it should be possible
 to rise them from death.
 A solution would be to rise only the leaders from death (for instance in
 the leadership school).
\layout Standard

The environment looks very alive too : it has different heights in which
 the resources (like the corn, the trees, ...) evolve.
 The users have the possibility to interact very strongly with the nature
 by harvesting or by replanting the resources and by heightening or by digging
 the ground.
 The water is simulated realistically with rains, rivers, lakes and oceans.
\layout Standard

On the ground are placed different random elements like rocks or flowers,
 they would just add a 3D feeling to the flat environment.
\layout Section

The game-play
\layout Standard

The aim of the game-play is to avoid to fall back in a classic RTS system.
 This means that the main strategic objective is not to create the best
 army.
 It must also be possible to win by destabilizing the enemy's surrounding
 nature, for example by changing the flow of a river.
 Other winning strategies should still be developed.
\layout Comment

There are not yet enough other interesting ways to win, the war is still
 predominant!
\layout Standard

All units are the same: there is no definite specialization as warrior or
 worker.
 If a unit goes in a shield factory XOR
\begin_float footnote 
\layout Standard

eXclusive OR: the first or the second, but not both.
\end_float 
 in a basket factory, this means that it has an increased shield XOR an
 increased transport capacity, but a unit with a shield is able to work,
 as well as a unit with a basket is able to fight.
 The unit may return in a shield or basket factory, but this means that
 it looses it's previous tool.
\layout Comment

Define more precisely how units are managed with this system.
 How can units return in a factory?
\layout Standard

The units could also win some experience points.
 A unit that worked or made war or during a long time could respectively
 gather the resources faster and punch the enemy harder.
\layout Standard

It is possible to increase the walking speed of the units.
 To do this, they must go to an ostrich farm that breeds these animals.
 For each ostrich that comes out of this farm, you must find an ostrich
 egg.
 If you take all the ostrich eggs out of the ecosystem, there will be no
 more wild ostriches, and thus no more ostrich eggs...
\layout Standard

The units do not directly receive orders, all orders are given to the buildings.
 This means that the player says what he wants to be done, and the units
 do their best to satisfy the player's wishes.
 In spite of that, there some orders can directly be given to the units.
 This exception has been introduced in order to be able to move units where
 no building exists yet.
 This is for example needed in order to change the shape of the ground or
 to move an army.
 But only the units that went to the long and expensive leadership school
 are able to receive such orders.
 A leader that comes out of this school is also able to tell to a desired
 number of other units to do the same as he does.
\layout Comment

If most of the orders are passed to the buildings, this means that the intellige
nce algorithm of the units must be very good, otherwise the game becomes
 really unpleasant to play.
\layout Comment

Is it possible to attribute the units to different buildings? This would
 mean that there would be one order that could be passed directly to the
 units.
 The benefit is that there is no frustrating algorithm that badly distributes
 the units.
 It would also add depth to the existence of the units.
\layout Standard

The town is surrounded by a fence which is easy to defend, and hard to attack.
 At strategic places of the fence must be placed a tower in which units
 must be placed.
 Each section of fence is defended by the units of the two towers that are
 located on both sides of this section.
 The fences naturally create the frontier of each player.
 The life outside of these frontiers is rather insecure, and each working
 unit should better be accompanied by a soldier.
\layout Standard

There are different wild animals, that freely evolve.
 Some of them may be useful.
\layout Section

The resources
\layout Subsection

The natural resources
\layout Itemize


\series bold 
Water :
\series default 
 The water can be found in the sea, in lakes, and in rivers.
\layout Comment

Two kind of water: salt water and fresh water?
\layout Itemize


\series bold 
Fish :
\series default 
 The fish must be catched in the water.
 As for the bread, it is used to feed the units, as well as the bread.
\layout Itemize


\series bold 
Seaweed :
\series default 
 The seaweed can be found in the sea.
 It is used to create oil.
\layout Itemize


\series bold 
Tree :
\series default 
 There are naturally two kind of trees.
 The trees are located on the grass.
 This resource is mainly used for the constructions.
\layout Itemize


\series bold 
Corn :
\series default 
 There are two kind of corn.
 The first is natural, the second is breeded.
 The corn grows on the grass.
\layout Comment

It is not clear if and how the breeded corn will interact with the natural
 corn.
 Will the breeded corn freely grow, or will it be restricted in a building
 or an area?
\layout Itemize


\series bold 
Stone :
\series default 
 The stone may be located everywhere but in the water.
 There are two kind of stones: the normal stone is used for the constructions,
 and the stone that contains metal is used by the foundry.
\layout Comment

The stone is a very important resource for building, thus it should be found
 in abundance.
\layout Itemize


\series bold 
Ostrich egg :
\series default 
 The ostrich eggs can be found on the ground, where wild ostriches live.
 Eggs are needed to breed ostriches.
\layout Subsection

The secondary resources
\layout Itemize

Oil : The oil is a combustible that is needed by many buildings.
\layout Itemize

Bread : The bread is used to feed the units, as well as the fish.
\layout Itemize

Metal : The metal is used to build shields that are used during the wars.
\layout Comment

Actually, the metal is only used by the shield factory.
 If it stays like that and no other building needs metal, then the foundry
 and the shield factory should be merged into one building.
\layout Section

The buildings
\layout Itemize

House : The units need to regularly go to these buildings to eat and to
 rest, thus this building needs bead or fish.
 This building allows also to create new units if there is enough food available.
\layout Itemize

Hospital : This building repairs the wounded units, and needs oil and water
 for that.
\layout Itemize

Wooden Fence : A good fence.
\layout Itemize

Wooden Tower : A good tower.
\layout Itemize

Stone Fence : A very solid fence.
\layout Itemize

Stone Tower : A high and very solid tower.
\layout Itemize

Stock : A building that allows to temporarily stock any resource.
 But take care, the enemy can steal them!
\layout Itemize

Corn Field : A field where breeded corn grows.
 Some water shouldn't be far.
\layout Comment

It is not clear how the water goes to the field.
 Do the units need to bring the water in buckets, or does the proximity
 of water decide of the productivity of the field, or both?
\layout Itemize

Oil Factory : Extracts the oil combustible out of the seaweed.
\layout Itemize

Bakery : Creates bread from water and corn.
 The bakery also needs oil.
\layout Itemize

Foundry : Heats the stones up to a very high temperature, until the metal
 comes out.
 The foundry also needs oil.
\layout Itemize

Ostrich Farm : For each ostrich breeded in this farm, a wild ostrich egg
 must be found.
 This farm also needs corn and water to feed the ostriches.
 Ostriches allow your units to move much faster.
\layout Itemize

Basket Factory : This factory needs wood and builds baskets, they are useful
 to transport more resources.
\layout Itemize

Shield Factory : This factory needs metal and builds shields, they are useful
 for a better protection during the war.
\layout Itemize

Leadership School : For some religious reasons, this school needs oil and
 water.
 It also needs a lot of time for the units that go to that school, and there
 are only few units that may be at the same time in that school.
 Once a unit comes out of this school, it has become a leader and is able
 to receive certain direct orders.
\layout Section

The technology tree
\layout Standard
\align center 

\begin_inset Figure size 190 841
file yg_tree.ps
height 3 100
angle 90
flags 8

\end_inset 


\layout Chapter

Issues of the Ysagoon Game
\layout Section

Artwork issues
\layout Standard

There are many artwork issues that will lead to different code choices.
 The first choice that must be done is to decide between 2D or 3D graphics.
 Another important question is the level of realism used in the dynamic
 environment, like water simulation.
\layout Standard

An interesting idea for getting more realistic and diversed graphics, is
 to describe each building geometry by a grammar.
 Thanks to this, it would be possible to have different graphics of the
 same building, for instance the placement of the windows could be sightly
 different for each displayed building.
\layout Section

Programming issues
\layout Standard

The code design is not really done yet and all the following informations
 are highly subject to change.
 The basic idea is to have a clean object hierarchy in game, named the GOM
 (Game Object Model), in an analogy to the DOM used in DHTML.
 The GOM will be fully reflected in a script, probably ECMA 262, aka Java-Script.
 The script will also have full access to the GUI and the widgets will be
 written in C++ and used from script.
 This will allow high level of flexibility.
 A subset of CAP2 from Sebastian Gerlach will probably be used to provide
 object garbage collection, serialization and identification, as well as
 an aid to the GOM interface construction.
\layout Standard

Networking will be implemented using TCP/IP and UDP broadcasting will only
 be used to find LAN game servers.
 A meta-server, named YOG (Ysagoon Online Game) will be used to find Internet
 games.
 This meta-server already exists and is working.
\the_end