WW1 video game advice needed

[Morar Andrei]

I have an idea for a new Turn Based Strategy game for mobioe platforms, different to the ones already existent. Here's the basic idea: on the one hand, it's the campaign mode. Here I have the following ideas:
- Western Front (1914-1918), with playable countries Germany, Belgium, France, England
-The East Front (1914-1923) with playable countries Germany, Austria-Hungary, Serbia, Romania, the Tsarist Russian Empire and the Bolshevik Revolution 
-the Italian front (1915-1918), Italy, Austria-Hungary and Germany 
- Balkan Front (1914-1918), with Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, Otoman Impact, England, France 
None of the levels will have a limited number of turns for realism, or maybe 40-50, but if you get over that number, the enemy may have a little advantage. 
There is also a "Headquarters" section, where you can upgrade units (I'm not sure if I want to add generals to buy them with ingame currency, considering them a bit OP in the EasyTech games, but I can change my mind). Upgrades work as follows: instead of upgrading a single unit by improving its stats, you can unlock new units (new types of infantry, more advanced, modern combat equipment, new planes, etc.). You start with 1914 level technology and get to the 1918 type (I'll explain later how the tech tree will work). 
There will also be a Conquest mode in several ways. There will be: the western front 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918 and 1923, same years for the eastern front (or perhaps a huge map of Europe, very accurate with many towns, correct borders between countries and natural enviorenents that can give a buff or nerf to certain unuts, for these years). All countries in Europe are playable. The prize will be medals or research points. No number of turns decided yet, but it could be somewhere between 300-400 (the purpose would be, as it was in the real war, to win as fast as possible, but not having the pressure of doing that on a certain number of turns). The two major factions would be the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) and Antanta (England, France and England), but the neutral countries can also create their own factions. The rest of the countries can choose which one they join or they can stay neutral.
Follows the tech tree:
- From infantry you can search: infantry 1914 / basic (old-style), infantry 1916 (new model), assault infantry (1917), SMG infantry (1918)
- armored vehicles: armored cars (basic), tanks (1916), light tanks (1917), advanced tanks (1918) 
- aviation: early planes (base), fighters (1915), bombers and triplanes (1916), fighters 1918
- artillery: (1880-1890) field artillery, (1914) field artillery, (1914) siege howitzer, howitzer (1915), field artillery (1916), rail artillery (1916), heavy howitzer (1917), siege howitzer (1917), field artillery (1918), rail artillery (1918)
Back to the Conquest Mode:
In Conquest 1914, you can recruit infantry 1914 (old), armored cars (1914), early planes (1914), machineguns, cavalry (dragoons and lancets), infantry (1914 including chaseurs / jägers), field artillery (old model), siege howitzer (old model), and a few other things I'll decide to add
In Conquest 1915, you can recruit same as previous, but there are added fighters (1915), howitzer (1915)
Conquest 1916 brings more same as before, but a bit more stuff: field artillery (1916), rail artillery (1916), infantry 1916 (new models, represented by a different unit skin), tanks (1916), bombers, triplanes (1916)
New elements for Conquest 1917: heavy howitzer (1917), siege howitzer (1917), light tanks (1917), assault infantry (1917)
In Conquest 1918 and 1923 you have same things fromm previous years, but with new elements: rail and field artillery (1918), SMG infantry (1918), advanced tanks (1918), fighters 1918
*Note: countries that never used tanks in WW1 will not be able to produce them, unless the conquer a factory where they can be built. In that case, the will can produce tanks similar to thei allieds'. 
*Note: infantry category is classified in 5 kinds you can create: rifle/line infantry, chasseurs, assault infantry, SMG infantry and machineguns
* Note: cavalry avaible is by 4 kinds: lancers, dragoons, hussars and mounted infantry (avaible by 1916 tech)
*Note: artillery classification: field artillery, siege howitzer, (field) howitzer, heavy howitzer, rail artillery
*Note: armoured units avaible: armoured cars, armoured trains (looking the same for all years), early tanks, light tanks and advanced tanks
*Note: planes avaible: reconaissance planes, fighters (biplanes), triplanes, bombers
All countries will have different unit skins, for a larger diversity, not all will look the same.
I'm waiting for different suggestions, what can I add, what can I change or improve. If there is anyone who can help me with this idea or is intetsted in creating/modding games, he can use this idea. I just want to see this thing coming alive. Thank you very much and happy holidays!

[Morar Andrei]

Merry Christmas everyone!

[MBrockway]

A game is not the best route to remember the Fallen in my opinion 

[Morar Andrei]

Well, it may not be the best route to remember the fallen, but a WW1 themed turn based strategy game is by my opinion needed. They absolutely lack on the market, nobody having the idea (or wish) to make, concentrating more on the WW2 area. It may be because of nationalisn, or I don't know, opening old wounds or so.

 

Here is also idea for the German tech tree, as an example:

Germany Tech Tree
a) Infantry
 - 1914 rifle infantry uniform (the one with the spike-helmet)
- 1914 jägers (they remain same for all years, but in 1916, may get the stallhelm)
- 1916 rifle infantry (stallhelm and grey uniforms)
- 1917 assault infantry (storm troopers)
- 1918 SMG infantry
- machinegun: MG08 Spandau

Artillery
- 1880-1890 field artillery: 77mm M.1896
- 1914 field artillery: 75mm Krupp M.1903 (it may also be used by Romania), or I can replace it with the 
- 1914 siege howitzer: 420mm "Big Bertha"
- 1915 howitzer: 150mm M.1913
- 1916 field artillery: 105mm Leichte Feldhaubitze 16
- 1916 rail artillery: 380mm Langer Max
- 1917 heavy howitzer: 210mm Morser 10
- 1917 siege howitzer: 280mm Haubitze L/12
- 1918 field artillery: 150mm Kanone 16
- 1918 rail artillery: the "Paris Gun"

c) Armoured vehicles
- 1914 armoured car: Ehrhard E-V/4
- 1916 armoured car: Bussing
- 1916 tank: the germans didn't produce any of their own until 1918, but the can have the "Beutepanzers" (captured British tanks - Mark I or Mark IV)
- 1917 light tanks: none
- 1918 advanced tanks: A7V
* I haven't decided yet if there will be both "male" and "female" tanks, but if I'll do so, the "male" will have a larger firing range, and the "female" will have an anti-infantry bonus

d) Cavalry
- 1914 hussars
- 1914 lancers
- 1914 dragoons
- 1916 mounted infantry (same look as the "dismounted" 1916 version)

e) Aviation
- 1914 scout plane (with little attack capability and low HP and damage): Aviatik B.1
- 1915 fighter: Fokker Eindecker
- 1916 bomber: Zeppelin (universal looking fir most of the factions) and Gotha G. IV
- triplane: Fokker Dr.1
- 1916 fighter: Albatros D. III
- 1918 fighter: Fokker D.VII
*There will also be anti-aircraft artillery, represented for Germany by the 88mm Flak 16

 

For any suggestion, please leave a reply.

[MBrockway]

Is your proposal for a commercial game that will be sold for real money?

[thetrenchrat22]

Isn’t there WW1 games already on PlayStation 

[Morar Andrei]

1) My wish was for a free to play game, or to be not very expensive

2) About PlayStation, I don't know about any such game there (It may be, but I don't have one and have no idea). Also, the intension of the game was for mobile phones. Hope to get it right and find someone who can actually turn it into reality.

[Biggles]

On 25/12/2017 at 23:03, Morar Andrei said:

1) My wish was for a free to play game, or to be not very expensive

2) About PlayStation, I don't know about any such game there (It may be, but I don't have one and have no idea). Also, the intension of the game was for mobile phones. Hope to get it right and find someone who can actually turn it into reality.

There's Battlefield I on playstation, isn't there?  Steam has a few, Verdun, Tannenberg,  but they all cost money.  

Are you talking about a first person shooter style game?

 

Cheers mate,

Caleb

[Morar Andrei]

You are right with the games mentioned. My initial thought was for a kind of turn based strategy game, something combining elements from the Hearsts of Iron series and the TBS phone games realised by EasyTech (check European War 4 and the World Conqueror series on Google Play or IOS).

 

Here is another tech tree realused for a country:

 

Romania Tech Tree

a) Infantry
- 1914 rifle infantry (old style)
- 1914 vânători/chasseurs
- 1916 rifle infantry 
- 1917 assault infantry
- 1918 SMG infantry
- machinegun: Maxim

 

Artillery

- 1880-1890 field artillery: 75mm Krupp M1880
- 1914 field artillery: 155mm De Bange
- 1914 siege howitzer: 210mm M1888/1891 Krupp
- 1915 howitzer: 150mm M1912 Schneider
- 1916 field artillery: 75mm Krupp M1904
- 1916 rail artillery: none
- 1917 heavy howitzer: 155mm M1917 Schneider
- 1917 siege howitzer: 120mm M.1888/1891 Krupp
- 1918 field artillery: 75mm Puteax (upgraded)
- 1918 rail artillery: none
- anti-aircraft artillery: 76,2mm Putilov autocanon
*If you conquer an enemy town with the facility to produce rail artillery, you can recruit (as Romania) French or Austro-Hungarian one (not decided yet)

 

c)Armoured vehicles
- 1914 armoured car: Renault Auto-Mitrallieuse
- 1916 armoured car: Austin Mark III
- 1916 early tank: none
- 1917 tank: none
- 1918 advanced tank: Renault Ft.17 (Romanian marks)
*In case of conquering a tiwn with acces to tank industry, Romania can also recruit the French 1916 tank Schneider CAI1

 

d) Cavalry
- 1914 hussars
- 1914 lacers (Roșiori)
- 1914 dragoons (guard cavalry)
- 1916 mounted infantry (same look as the 1916 "dismounted" version")

 

e) Aviation:
- 1914 scout plane: Bleriot
- 1915 fighter: Aviatik C.I
- 1916 bomber: Farman 40
- triplane: none
- 1916 fighter: Nieuport 11
- 1918 fighter: Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter
*Romania doesn't have acces to zeppelins (they didn't use any during the war, just scout baloons)

[Biggles]

2 hours ago, Morar Andrei said:

You are right with the games mentioned. My initial thought was for a kind of turn based strategy game, something combining elements from the Hearsts of Iron series and the TBS phone games realised by EasyTech (check European War 4 and the World Conqueror series on Google Play or IOS).

 

Here is another tech tree realused for a country:

 

Romania Tech Tree

a) Infantry
- 1914 rifle infantry (old style)
- 1914 vânători/chasseurs
- 1916 rifle infantry 
- 1917 assault infantry
- 1918 SMG infantry
- machinegun: Maxim

 

Artillery

- 1880-1890 field artillery: 75mm Krupp M1880
- 1914 field artillery: 155mm De Bange
- 1914 siege howitzer: 210mm M1888/1891 Krupp
- 1915 howitzer: 150mm M1912 Schneider
- 1916 field artillery: 75mm Krupp M1904
- 1916 rail artillery: none
- 1917 heavy howitzer: 155mm M1917 Schneider
- 1917 siege howitzer: 120mm M.1888/1891 Krupp
- 1918 field artillery: 75mm Puteax (upgraded)
- 1918 rail artillery: none
- anti-aircraft artillery: 76,2mm Putilov autocanon
*If you conquer an enemy town with the facility to produce rail artillery, you can recruit (as Romania) French or Austro-Hungarian one (not decided yet)

 

c)Armoured vehicles
- 1914 armoured car: Renault Auto-Mitrallieuse
- 1916 armoured car: Austin Mark III
- 1916 early tank: none
- 1917 tank: none
- 1918 advanced tank: Renault Ft.17 (Romanian marks)
*In case of conquering a tiwn with acces to tank industry, Romania can also recruit the French 1916 tank Schneider CAI1

 

d) Cavalry
- 1914 hussars
- 1914 lacers (Roșiori)
- 1914 dragoons (guard cavalry)
- 1916 mounted infantry (same look as the 1916 "dismounted" version")

 

e) Aviation:
- 1914 scout plane: Bleriot
- 1915 fighter: Aviatik C.I
- 1916 bomber: Farman 40
- triplane: none
- 1916 fighter: Nieuport 11
- 1918 fighter: Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter
*Romania doesn't have acces to zeppelins (they didn't use any during the war, just scout baloons)

So, are you making your own game?  Very cool tech trees by the way!

 

Cheers,

Caleb

[Morar Andrei]

Thank you! Does anyone know someone who can help me create the game/programme it?

[MBrockway]

You could hire a games programmer.  Current day rate here in the UK is approx £450.  To get a reasonable prototype as a proof of concept would be at least 5 man days.

[Morar Andrei]

It looks very expensive. In Romania at least, 450£ is the equivalent for 2348 lei, the average salary for 2 months. Is there not any way to learn by yourself how to do that? Thank you very much for answer, that still is a good idea.

[KIRKY]

Would be very dificult to match Battlefield 1,

Tony

[MBrockway]

It is well paid because it is in demand and it is not easy to become skilled, but it is entirely possible to teach yourself. 

 

Or you could take a course - expensive but the payback would be reasonably quick if you can achieve the UK day rate.

 

I think we had all assumed when you started the topic, that you already had the capabilities to develop your game and were looking for opinions on the gameplay design.

 

What platforms and technologies were you intending to write for?

 

Since it is mutli-player turn-by-turn, presumably you are also planning on central servers.  What plans do you have for hosting these? 

[Morar Andrei]

I want to be honest: I'm just 15 and this year I got to the highschool. I have no knowledge in programming. My intention was for a free to play game, similar in style with the European War series from EasyTech. I don't have the pretend to be as popular as Battlefield. I have ideas about the content of the game, how would these campaigns units and levels look like. You opinion is also very useful. The main platform of this was intended to be mobile phone. I don't have yet the capacity to actually produce it, but is a plan for future, when I'll have the resources needed. It should be a single player game, but a multiplayer function can be added later. Is there anything else to ask? Remember that I'm just a child with a plan for future. Happy New Year!

[Biggles]

9 hours ago, Morar Andrei said:

I want to be honest: I'm just 15 and this year I got to the highschool. I have no knowledge in programming. My intention was for a free to play game, similar in style with the European War series from EasyTech. I don't have the pretend to be as popular as Battlefield. I have ideas about the content of the game, how would these campaigns units and levels look like. You opinion is also very useful. The main platform of this was intended to be mobile phone. I don't have yet the capacity to actually produce it, but is a plan for future, when I'll have the resources needed. It should be a single player game, but a multiplayer function can be added later. Is there anything else to ask? Remember that I'm just a child with a plan for future. Happy New Year!

Hey mate,

 

I'm sixteen, and something like that would be awesome.  You should download steam, and buy Verdun, it's 60% off right now on steam.  It's about AU$12.00.  I prefer using a laptop for gaming (not that I game much anyway), since it has a larger screen.

My best mate, is pretty good at programming.

Oh, and how are you going with your Honved uniform?  I do reenacting as well, it's good fun.

 

Hope you find what you're looking for.  Happy New Year, mate.

 

Cheers,

Caleb

[Morar Andrei]

About the Honved uniform, I got a possible source of infirmation. I just got the contacts of a person who works at the National Archaives from Bucharest, also a great fan of the Great War. Hope to contact him after holiday. Another posdible source would be at the local church from their village, Cuciulata. In the old Romanian villages, many archaives and infirmation are kept at the church. Thar would also good source, just to get there. It's at 35km from my town. Happy new year all!

[Bean tool]

Happy new year mate

 

Dan

[Morar Andrei]

This  is the kind of map I would like to use in the game, with some little improvements and adding the mechanic that after you conquer the region any army from different factions that crosses it will not affect its colour, creating a so-called "border gore" (very usual in such games when you have different coloured nations) . The photos are from European War 4: Napoleon. I'd like to keep the concept of the map, but to increase it, convert to the regions mechanic and add more cities.

Edited 14 February , 2018 by Morar Andrei