{Alpha Predator}

{Game Idea}

Game Concept

Thesis:
Third-person action game, take control of an alpha predator in the exploration of a mythic island where Man and beast wage war for control of the wilderness.

Settings:
Sandbox open world environments that serve as hunting & battlegrounds for the various packs of alpha predators. Near future / hi-tech civilization, terra planet, humanoid population encroaching on the jungles in the search for knowledge & harvest of natural resources. The island is inhabited by ancient species making up a vividly realized and extremely volatile ecosystem. Each of the predators and other animals in the forest have their chosen regions and domains. The humans reside within scattered settlements and outposts, conducting research, hunting animals, and seeking to explore / exploit the island’s resources for their assorted nations back on the mainland.

art source

Playable character:
Take control of one of a variety of fantastical / alien high-powered alpha predators, suited to a variety of environments – forest / jungle / plains / mountain / tundra / swamp / aquatic

Gameplay:
Game progression involves growing the creature into adulthood over time while scavenging for food, fighting for dominance of the jungle with the other animals, and hunting humans that enter your domain.

Endgame:
Learn the ways of the wilderness – survive, adapt, evolve / Rule the jungle / Form clans and wage war against the other predators for dominion / invade the human regions

Design / Systems / Mechanics

Wolf	runner tracker pack hunter	5 / 3 / 3
Cat	stealth, climber, night stalker	4 / 4 / 4
Bear	endurance, mass killers, dual hunt	3 / 5 / 3
Reptile	hyperintel, water dwelling, trap-set	3 / 3 / 5
Ape	tools, language, civ	2 / 4 / 5

Each alpha predator has special abilities and methods of coordination with packs or the environment. The wilderness environments and human structures are procedurally generated, complete with a day / night cycle. Over time, as your predator grows into full adulthood and eventually advanced stages of evolution, the human presence will expand more and more into the natural habitats, increasing their contact with the alphas.

Systems:

• Human scientists — gather experimental evidence in the lab and outside of it, little combat ability

  

  

  

• Human security — job is to protect the scientists, reactive to alpha predator attacks, wield basic weaponry and tactics
  
• Human hunters — special operations soldiers whose job is to hunt the predators proactively, special weapons and tactics, cybernetic predator companions
  

  

  
  

• Other NPC animals — variety of herbivores, carnivores and omnivores which live within their environments and fight / flight based on intelligence & awareness. Some animals are easier to hunt than others, some provide more or less nutrition for your predator, some will attack you if threatened or given an advantage, some will help you, inadvertently or otherwise, in your battle against the humans.
  
• Other NPC alphas — your relative equals in battle for dominion over the regions of the island. Will come up against ambushes, cross-purpose hunting, and challenges on a semi-frequent basis. The alpha predators’ high degree of intelligence makes them the most dangerous foes in the wilderness. Choosing to hunt or engage with other alphas is the highest risk / reward proposition in the game for gaining experience & resources. Additionally, given certain conditions and objectives met, alliances can be formed among alphas to hunt together.

Mechanics

Attributes:
Dictate each predator’s prowess in battle and in the hunt:

• Speed: How fast the predator can move, most NPC animals have a speed of 3-4, humans have speed of 2-3.
• Power: How physically strong the predator is. Power influences how much they can destroy the environment, human weaponry and vehicles, and how much damage the predator does in its attacks on other creatures.
• Intelligence: Measures the situational awareness and cognitive abilities of the predator. A more intelligent predator is given a wider HUD to locate enemies, and is capable of seeing environmental anomalies, such as potential dead ends, traps and new enemies entering the area. An intelligent predator can anticipate the patterns necessary for a successful hunt, set its own traps and move through the jungle with a better plan of attack.

• Attacks burn energy. Each predator has attacks unique to their naturally / artificially endowed weaponry in addition to their inherent abilities.
• Energy is rejuvenated over time passively, when movement slows, when enemies are killed / eaten / when objectives are met, like catching an enemy scent, being challenged to an alpha duel, working with your packmates and/or conducting successful hunts.
• Health begins to be depleted when energy is gone. When health reaches zero, the predator perishes and its game over. Can re-load the last save. Thusly, when energy is gone, a predator can still sprint or use high endurance abilities, but health will be depleted over time. Similar to energy, health is restored over time passively and when a predator eats.
• Predators can also choose to eat plants, such as fruits & vegetables, to regain energy / health. However, none of the predators can subsist on plants alone.
• Each predator has a hunger meter which indicates how long it has been since feeding. If a predator goes without a successful kill and feed for too long, energy is depleted faster and rejuvenates slower. This makes it more difficult to hunt. Once a predator has fed, the hunger meter and drawbacks return to normal.

Abilities:

• Hunting in packs allows them to equalize numbers with many of the humans. You can coordinate with your pack, giving orders to the others to attack at certain times. (Can pause screen and giving general to specific orders to your packmates)
• The wolf’s speed means it can easily catch a human running at full speed. (Speed meter can be activated to give the wolf a boost in running speed for temporary period of time.)
• Using scent, can track human movement through the jungle better than any of the other predators (Tracking meter allows for wolf to “see” an animal or human’s trail.)

• Fast, powerful and intelligent. All purpose predator (Fast moving, strong and intelligent. The Cat can hunt a variety of ways and still be effective.)
• Stealth based solo hunter, patient in its game, stalks in the night (At night, all abilities are enhanced. Vision is increased, HUD widened, stealth kills are more successful. Is unable to be seen easily even by night vision.)
• Can climb anything and strategically position itself (Can climb onto trees, structures, and even boats.)

• Most powerful predator, is capable of knocking down trees, destroying vehicles faster, and even throwing animals or humans as high-speed projectiles. (Frenzy meter generates power for successful attacks and damage taken. When in frenzy, the Bear’s destructive abilities are enhanced.)
• Slowest speed but most resilient predator; highest endurance and health. Can sustain the most damage. (Slows down with more damage taken on, but will never actually die – just fall asleep.)
• Hunts alongside its mate. Can team up to form a powerful duo on the field of battle. (Can switch control between the mates, with the other being AI controlled with an offensive/defensive/stealth setting to direct the dual attack.)

• The most intelligent predator by far, the reptile hunts alone and uses its mind to control the battlefield and outsmart the prey. (Hyperintelligence allows for increased situational awareness, HUD is expanded and is given a greater understanding of animal/human/technological weak points. At low levels, capable of hypnotizing enemies; at high levels, capable of psychic intrusions and control.)
• Capable of climbing trees slowly and dwelling within aquatic environments. (Can swim at highest speed of all predators, can climb trees slower than Cat.)
• Using its understanding of the environment, can identify and create traps for prey. (Can build and set off traps within the environment, using itself or psychic henchmen.)

• Can use tools with opposable thumbs. Either through scavenging from humans or gathering branches and rocks, can use them as weapons or to construct shelter, traps, or armor.
• Due to their high intelligence and using a rudimentary form of language, the apes can speak to one another and coordinate learning and attacks better than any other predator.
• The apes, being closely connected to humanity in a genetic sense, possess the inherent potential for their own united and non-barbaric civilization. They hold the power to overtake humanity as the dominant species on the island, and the entire planet.

Experience, Instincts, and Evolution:

• Wolf learns of human-domesticated dogs, can call out to them in human settlements and lead them into the jungle where they can be allied among the pack.
• Cat learns of Egyptian civilization and humanity’s inherent admiration of the species. Cats, by choosing not to kill certain scientists can gain favor among them; they will stop security from firing on cats if spotted and may bring food into the wilderness as offerings to the cat, some scientists might go mad with their worship and wander into the forest to be eaten or used for leading more humans into traps
• Bears can choose to hibernate during especially harsh climates, over days or months. They gain additional energy and health for their next hunt.
• Reptiles, being cold-blooded, can learn the art of camouflage and can appear as though they are dead / no heartbeat.
• Apes can glimpse a future in which they rule the entire world… (expansion game?)

Gameplay

1. Scavenge – find plant food, supplies for nest, human food
2. Reconnaissance – scout out surrounding areas, noting points of interest to explore and human activity presenting danger & opportunity.
3. Small time hunt – hunting smaller prey within the jungle, learn stealth / hunt / tracking / scent / environmental mechanics
4. Big time hunt – hunting larger prey within the jungle, including humans. More challenging and combative.
5. Alpha Duel – duel between alpha predators 1v1. New mechanics surround duels.
6. Alpha War – fight between clans of alpha predators. Large battle.
7. Invasion – a planned / coordinated attack on human settlements, solo or among the predator clan(s)

• Wolf — instantaneous transmission, wild companions, tap the spirit realm
• Cat — invisibility, fear the reaper, voidwalk
• Bear — indestructibility, dual frenzy, mega throw
• Reptile — psychosis, Hydra, control tech
• Ape — human systems interaction, civ building, consciousness

Other modes: