Posted August 27, 2023 by Jabbowok
Back Line
Game Concept
Rugby backline running is like a game of chess, if you can react to the defence and make the correct play, then Back Line is the game for you! You will need to utilise your arsenal of play to create openings and exploit the weaknesses of the coming defence.
Genre
My game is a 2D retro sporting game. I chose this genre because the top-down aspect of 2D design is ideal for seeing the running lines and moves play out while also being able to see the makeup of the defensive line. I chose the retro styling because I like the aesthetic and it suits my abilities.
Concept Creation Process / Area and Influences
I got the idea from playing rugby and touching grass. I have also played some of the rugby games that have been created by companies like EA, who does a FIFA-like version. There are many other 2D rugby games which play out the whole game of rugby. I thought I would break my game down into a more specific part of rugby, which I enjoy the most, running back moves and beating the defence of the other team. This is the best part of rugby for me.
Audience and Competitive Analysis
The audience for this game is going to be people who enjoy rugby, those who understand how back line play works will enjoy this game the most, though anyone could enjoy the game for its pattern recognition. Rugby has traditionally had a mostly male audience, but that has been changing, so my game is targeted to both men and women. Back Line is also an educational game for rugby players who are trying to get a feel for backline moves and which choices they should make.
As I have mentioned, there are many other games based on rugby. EA made a FIFA-like rugby game, and another company called Blue Ant studios are releasing a similar game based on the upcoming Rugby World Cup. These are much bigger in scale projects that have been wildly successful, which show an interest in the concept of rugby games and suggests there is a preexisting audience who may be interested. A smaller and closer game to Back Line is a 2D top-down rugby game called Rugby Sevens 23 on Steam by Lombard Games. All these games cover the entire game of rugby and do not narrow down on the back line aspect, where my game removes the clutter of the rest of the game and focuses on backline moves which are the flashiest and most visually entertaining part of rugby.
Game Treatment
In Back Line you are in control of a full moving backline charging at a defensive line, you will have to think fast and choose the right play out of three options (short pass, long pass out the back, or run the ball yourself) depending on the shape of the defence in front of you. Based on the choices you make, you will either fly through a hole in the line or be stopped in a bone crunching tackle. The defence will shadow your back line and commit to certain attackers, leaving holes for other attackers to run through, the idea being to make the choice that puts the attacker through that hole. These choices will be made by each attacker you control, so as you pass the ball, you gain a choice for the new attacker, and so on and so forth, until the line is broken, you are tackled, or you run out of space and hit the sideline meaning you fail that level.
The player will have to make these choices faster and faster as the level and speed of the defence increases (Level 1 Easy – Level 10 Hard), meaning the defence will push up and close the space faster at higher levels, where in lower levels the defence will move forward slowly, giving you plenty of time to see what the right choice should be.
Key Features
Concept Art