Background and Previous Projects
I am a technically inclined amateur developer, somewhat lacking in the art department. I have a full time job and also go to school but I sometimes find a great deal of time to build games in Unity. This is my third major project (ignoring several early abandons) after a somewhat complete 2D space game Orbital Traversal and a project called ShipWright which I have currently shelved in favor of this new project which I am calling SailCruise. A great deal of the early assets used in ShipWright will transfer well to this project.
The Inspiration
As it may be obvious, I'm heavily interested in anything ship/boat related. I love the idea of living aboard a vessel whether it's a spacecraft, sailboat or whatever. The idea of being able to travel anywhere and live aboard a vessel has such an incredible sense of adventure to me. Every day has a new set of challenges, sites, experiences and dangers. You need nothing except your heavily outfitted sailboat and some open water. You are separated from the rest of the world and free act on a whim. To travel on a sailboat you have to maintain a laundry list of onboard systems, maintain an inventory of food, fuel, water and navigate the relentless and uncertainty of weather all with the accompaniment of your beloved boat . The diverse skill-set possessed by a seasoned sailor and the ability to solve inevitable problems and carry a vessel through bad weather is one of the most bad ass things I've witnessed.
Project Goal
This project, SailCruise (maybe a better name to follow?) is meant to capture all of the above described adventure, freedom, independence and and overall feeling. My ultimate goal is to make a 3D game based on this idea and not completely unlike a sailing version of the lovely game 'My Summer Car'. But for now, a 3D open world sailing sim would be overly ambitious. If I can complete this 2D project and capture a fraction of the experience I will be happy.
Why make this game?
I have no direct intentions of becoming a full time professional developer or making any substantial profits from game dev. I want to do this so that I can make the experience of cruising on a sailboat accessible to anyone with PC or mobile phone. This includes making the feeling and adventure of that endeavor more regularly accessible to myself.
Basic Game Mechanics
In contrast to other 2D sailing sims, this game will focus on side on rather than top down. This is meant to emphasize the cruising/boat management aspects of the game. The default scene will be the side view of the boat making way with several view modes which cut away the ships hull to manage/view internal systems and resources. The primary mechanic will be managing the boats sails/engine to maintain a top speed and avoid damaging the boat. Additionally, the player will need to monitor all boat systems (radio, galley, fresh/waste water systems, electrical, engine etc. ) There will be a GPS type mini map which can be expanded in order to change course and plan voyages.
The player will earn money by completing voyages from different locals at which they will be able to fill up on supplies, make repairs and upgrades at marinas.