GOONBOAT

GOONBOAT

Background

In the words of protagonist Janky Brine …

‘All,

I have been lost at sea with nothing but goons for company.

Situation: one boat stolen, one load of folks wanting it back.

Now the thing you're riding is a terrific modification of a punt actually, with big rotary wheels at back. Kinda like a paddle steamer only it's lacking for steam, though never for speed.’ 

Image 1: Typical Game Environment

Image 2: Game Elements

ABOUT GOONBOAT

• GAME
  • Player controls a highly modified punt comprising speed lever, sturdy gun and dependable paddles.
  • Objective: Get Goonboat, seen on the horizon, to depart in the least amount of levels. It moves right-to-left (LOOPS below for explanation.) A Game Won screen is presented upon successful completion.
• GAMEPLAY
  • Joystick Left-Right for gun movement. 
  • Joystick Trigger: Goons are best dealt via strafing (immobile approach won't necessarily score a hit, depends goon type).
  • Joystick Up for Mid Zone targeting, Up again for Far Zone targeting, Up again (or Down) to resume Near Zone targeting.
  • Joystick Down for Punt Speed.
  • Game Select switch to enter Hot Shots mode. Here required goons will drop with your next gunfire, granting best opportunity to clear the level and reup on Fuel and Health.
• LOOPS
  • Hitting Near Zone goon precisely ('bright hits' - aim for its centre) eventually generates Far Zone supply crate.
  • Hitting supply crate illuminates current bonus.
    • Bonus is immediately applied.
  • Achieving required goons advances a level and restores fuel, health and required values within a random range. Any bonuses are reset. Hot Shots are replenished sparingly.
  • Goonboat departs when positioned far left of screen, winning the game. 
  • Goonboat progressively moves on Mid Zone clearances—these only when the next wave is of a different type. 
    • If Mid Zone waves aren't changing type quickly enough, shooting the Near Zone goon eventually stirs a difference when registering brightest red, i.e., direct hits.
    • To force Mid Zone type swaps, Lever Back for a random duration, release. Back, release, etc. Cost is fuel and time.
    • Some Mid Zone types are easier to hit than others. Managing types assist clearing levels when low on fuel / health.
• GRAPHICS
  • Faux 3d shooting from Mid Zone goons, punt wake effect, usual ocean effects, day-night cycle (sky coloring only), twinkling stars.
• SOUND
  • Alerts for low fuel and critical health. A beep sound whenever the Mid Zone clears to new type, moving Goonboat one position left. Jubilant sounds for transiting a level (truncates on player involvement).
• INPUT
  • Joystick Trigger fires the gun.
  • Joystick Left, Right for gun movement.
  • Joystick Up for Mid Zone targeting, Up again for Far Zone targeting, Up again (or Down) to resume Near Zone targeting.
  • Joystick Down for Punt Speed.
  • Game Select switch to enter Hot Shots mode.
• GAME START
  • You’re stuck with an intro. It goes away and game actual commences.
• RESTART
  • Hard switch.
• GAME OVER, LOST
  • The screen will show no progress on the animation front. A dismal association between a) the screen and b) you the player is quickly encountered. Carousel UI defines what ended your game and shows level obtained.
• GAME OVER, WON
  • The screen will change to a Special Presentation. It represents (with some imagination) a dias and … you’ll need win to find out.
• OBJECTS
  • Boat on the horizon = Goonboat.
  • Goons on jet skis firing towards you.
  • Other creatures, stuff, fire towards you.
    • Rubber Banding of Mid Zone types: each successive new creature gets added, stretching the band. It also comprises the last creature before snapping back to recommence the current lineup. Transiting a level improves elasticity. In this way you’ll discover 16 or so different creatures as you progress through the game.
  • Player controls a punt.
  • Lever controls speed.
  • Gun provides shots.
  • Crates supply bonuses.
• SYMBOLS UI
  • LVL: Current level.
  • R: Goons Required this level.
  • Fuel Bowser for fuel remaining.
  • Heart for health remaining (NB., visually, health is gauged by punt color - red is your concern. Heart UI only shows on game over where critical health was the player’s demise).
  • Shield protects against deck goons.
  • Dashes: Hot Shots remaining
    • when red, indicates Hot Shots mode enacted. Required goons will drop on next gunshots by the player.
    • when grey, indicates Hot Shots remaining. Post transiting a level these either decreased (if were red), increased on a rare random allocation (so you can forget about that decreased situation I just mentioned) or have remained the same. Come to think of it, just forget you ever read any of this.
• SYMBOLS BONUS ICON
  • When glowing …
    • Fuel Bowser fills fuel.
    • Heart restores health.
    • Shield prevents goons from climbing on punt deck.
• GOON DECK
  • A goon can climb onto your deck leading to a rapidly decreasing health situation. It immobilizes your gun, too. To fix, power away using lever (i.e., when you see your gun restore color).
• HELPERS
  • Deck turns red on poor health.
  • Beep high on health low.
  • Beep higher on health critical.
  • Beep high on Mid Zone goon refresh = type swap.
  • Mid Zone goons flash indicating type swap process commenced, intensifies color on flash indicating duration until change nearest.
  • Gun flashes and immobilises when a goon is on deck.
  • Engine sputters when low on fuel.