Creating a computer game - any ideas?

I am a 2nd year Software Engineering student and I am planning to make a computer game. However, I want it to have value as a portfolio item therefore I am looking for detailed ideas from outsiders, who will be treated as clients. And, of course, you'd get the game :) No promises though...

If you have an idea for a game and you are willing to provide detailed description (could include sketches, but mostly textual) and occasional feedback I would love to hear from you! There are a couple of requirements though: the game must be 2D, multiplayer and not too complex (although feel free to send seemingly complex ideas too, might be simpler than it seems :) ). Also, don't go in too much detail right away - wouldn't want to reject something you put a lot of effort into and I can only accept one idea...

Good stuff:
-> Would run on Windows, Linux AND Macs (I think O_O not tested yet)
-> I already have working Graphics, Sound, Input and Networking libraries
-> I also have a couple of artist friends who would be more than willing to provide sprites as well as sounds :)

The dark side:
-> For multiplayer online (as opposed to LAN) you'd need to create a VLAN with Hamatchi, Evolve or such
-> Chances are it will not be exactly as you described, I'm just one student after all...

Just to give an idea, I considered remaking this game with new graphics, maybe new mechanics and multiplayer (Team Deathmatch, Maybe some co-op, Free For All).

A shame no one replied, but I figured it out. Not sure how to destroy this thread though.

Good luck with your game ~
If you make it multiplayer, maybe try to have a custom level generator in the game, so that people will create levels for each other and then compete in them. that alone can make a game very popular and super fun ~

@belzebubukas: what's your idea? there's lots of old 80s / early 90s games i can think of that would be a good candidate to remake

@Macutchi: I have made a rough description, just copy pasted it. I have not done much game-specific, so if you have any good ideas or have any ideas how to improve mine, I'd be happy to hear it :)

Map:

• · tile based
• · tiles can be built on (barricades, towers,…).
• · All objects are not static (ARE destructible, placeable, also affect pathfinding…).
• · Objects can span multiple tiles on both X and Y axes.
• · Has starting positions for players and civilians.
• · Has “no build zone” to prevent full-on path blocking with barricades.
• · Should support (reasonably up to) 32 dinosaurs and 8 people
• · When playing, roughly 4 to 1 dinosaur / human ratio should be maintained

Playing as a human:

• · Goal: kill dinosaurs and protect civilians
• · Controls:
  • o You can run and walk
  • o Also can roll (Ermagerd Dark Souls!)
  • o To use weapon / place structure or unit use LMB; RMB to rotate
  • o Use numbers to select weapon / structure / unit
• · Abilities:
  • o Weapons:
    • § Spear
    • § Bow + Arrows (limited)
    • o Buyable Abilities:
      • § Sleeping dart
      • § <Need more ideas>
    • o Buildings (can only place when no dynos around!):
      • § spike barricades (directional; does damage if someone runs into it from that direction)
      • § towers (for archers to be less vulnerable)
      • § <Need more ideas>
    • o Troops (can only place when no dynos around!):
      • § Spearmen – charge dinosaurs
      • § Archers – shoot dinosaurs
      • § You can order them to move / man towers
• · State:
  • o Health – having less gives penalties
  • o Stamina – used for sprinting, rolling and using weapons; regenerates

Playing as a dinosaur:

• · Goal – kill everyone in town
• · Can get bonuses by, for example, killing n humans, reaching some HP, etc.
• · Need to feed: carnivores on humans and herbivores of shrubbery. Also speed up healing.
• · You can select one of a few (mechanics differ):
  • o Triceratops – ability to charge and destroy buildings
  • o T-Rex – lots of HP, beautiful 1 hit kills
  • o Velociraptor – fast, agile, can dodge arrows, good for hunting down runners
  • o Pteranodon – flying dyno capable of reaching archers in towers
  • o <Need more ideas>

Game goes like this:

• · 1+ humans set up the camp (how much time to give?...)
• · Dinosaurs try to get in and kill everyone, with humans defending.
• · If anyone dies – permadeath (no respawn)
• · Humans get resources per time unit * alive civilians, so dynos should not waste any time
• · Civilians will attempt to run from dinosaurs

@crazyaga: true story, was going to do that :)

@belzebubukas: so it's a small team of humans defending a village / town against a large team of attacking dinosaurs? sounds like it could have potential as an extremely lite total war style game where you strategically plan your attack / defence based on the types of dinosaur you have and what weapons / defences the villagers / village have. although i can't quite picture how it'd look in my head.

if you can make attacking / defending equally fun and diverse enough to keep the players' attention over, say initially, a dozen different scenarios / locations, and allow moves to be combined to encourage and reward creativity and strategy then you could have something fun on your hands. playing against another player could be fun too. depends on your programming ability i guess. i imagine even something with a simple premise like this would be very difficult for one person to do well. good luck with whatever path you choose for it anyway