* Core Gameplay:
Explore vast open-world wilderness: walk, climb, swim, spelunk.
Photograph rare wildlife, plants, and cultural landmarks.
Earn Points (or “Preserve Credits”) from discoveries and milestones.
Trade Credits at ranger outposts/general stores for:
Supplies (clothing, food, gear)
Cabin-building materials
Books or maps (to unlock lore or hidden locations)
Upgrade your cabin or gear.
Help or team up with other players.
* Game World:
Massive handcrafted world:
Old-growth forests, mountain ridges, glacial lakes, hidden caves.
Biomes change with altitude and region
Dynamic weather & seasons:
Blizzards, fog, lightning storms, heatwaves.
Day/Night cycle affects behavior of animals and visibility.
* Multiplayer:
50–60 players per server
Text and proximity voice chat, with robust profanity & harassment filters.
Optional solo server or invite-only sessions for quiet players.
In-world radios or “signal towers” for global server-wide communication.
Player rescue system: radios, flares, or whistles to request help.
Campfires as social hubs — players gather, share photos, and chat.
* Progression & Achievements:
No XP, no violence — just badges and milestones:
Miles hiked
Species discovered
Peaks summited
Caves explored
Items found (arrowheads, fossils, etc.)
Optional leaderboard that emphasizes positive actions.
Players can journal their discoveries with in-game notes or pictures.
*Wildlife & Ecology:
Every animal, plant, or feature is based on real-world science.
Endangered animals might only appear under specific conditions.
Optional photo identification mini-game: match your photo to species data.
* Customization:
Clothing for all weather types: rain gear, boots, snowshoes, climbing ropes.
Cabin upgrades: solar panels, rain collectors, cozy furniture, art made from found items.
Backpack inventory management, but lightweight and non-stressful.
* Real-World Tie-Ins (optional):
Partner with wildlife orgs like WWF or National Geographic.
Weekly challenges: “Find and photo a Northern Spotted Owl” etc.
Proceeds from game could support real conservation.
Weekly challenges: “Find and photo a Northern Spotted Owl” etc.
Proceeds from game could support real conservation.
* Engine & Accessibility:
Unreal Engine 5 for top visuals, but scalable to run on mid-range systems.
Support accessibility: colorblind mode, dyslexia-friendly fonts, text-to-speech.
Controller-friendly, possibly with cloud save support.
* Social Media & Community:
Player profile pages with their badges and in-game photos.
Weekly ranger reports: “Top explorers” and “rarest discoveries this week.”
Optional “ranger roles” for moderators in-game to assist and monitor.