Social network - visualisation of data - concept

I've already done quite successful social network - it's a virtual gallery of fine arts and design - www.VisibleArt.net. There are 600 users and 8000 artworks in my gallery. People can discuss, add ratings, favorite artworks, etc.

I will visualise various data in modules for users and/or administrators:

• relationships between artworks ("people who like this artwork also like these:" -> similar favorite artworks list)
• relationships between users (for admin to identify fans, friends, enemies and groups)
  
• activity of users on the timeline
  

My flash game - programming notes

top-down 2d map:

• as the list of objects (islands & events) on the "sea" background
  (i considered also classic 2d-tile-map approach, but it's not that suitable for lower numeber of vector round objects - islands)

player (ship):

• will be always in the centre of the screen (everything else will be scrolling)
• player will uncover the 2d map (the map is black and only the area around the ship is visible), player always knows where is his homeland (circle), he is heading west in the start.
• player will click on the screen (sets the direction for the ship), his ships starts moving that way
• if the ship hits an island or event, time freezes, a window appears and player can choose an action from the actions list (for example: You meet the poor tribe. Do you want to:
• - Attack them -> 50% chance to get a Korn, chance to get some sailors (0-2) killed
• - Offer them some cheap jewelry -> 40% chance to get a Korn
• - Leave them)

time limit:

• game starts January 1489
• game ends January 1492
• time ticks (+month) every 10 seconds of real-time (so you have 6 minutes time limit (of real-time movement mode))

My flash game concept

The game i would like to make:

Quick and funny exploration game

top-down 2d-map-exploring game with seas, islands, ships and various events, interactions and treasures

• you are an explorer, sailing his own ship with sailors, you have to find some new islands and come back home with some news and new stuff (potatoes, korn, silver, gold, ...)
• quick game full of interesting and funny choices, you should explore, get some new stuff, fight some sea monsters, improve your ship, fight the weather and come back with treasures
• it's done in 10 minutes and you can try again :)
• it will have a map generator, so every game will be different and the game will have some replayability

you will face choices:

• do you want another cannon or a faster ship?
• do you want to travel through the storm or avoid it?
• do you want to fight the native tribe or make these people your friends?
• the sailors are desperate, will you travel further and risk the revolt or come back home?
• do you kill the sea monster or let it be?
• do you really want that treasure from the skeleton island?

this game will be successful, because:

• it's full of interesting choices and combinations (interesting = various, non-repetitive, thrilling, adventurous)
• threats vary and every threat requires different tactics
• it has a good replayability factor - the map changes every game, there is far larger number of possible events than number of events in a single game (there is always something new), you can try to beat the high-score

Flash games review - the good & the bad one

The good & successful game:

Canyon Defense
http://www.miniclip.com/games/canyon-defense/en/

It's highly addictive, excellent realtime strategy game. You have to build turrets to destroy enemy waves of attacking vehicles and jets. There are many types of turrets, upgrades and other buildings.Your opponents vary quite a bit - some can fly, some are fast, some have shields, etc. You can try new approaches and combinations of turret types and placements, so there is also a big replayability factor. Also, there are three maps to play on, and each map needs a very different strategy, so it's quite a challenge.

• there are interesting combinations of turret combinations and their effects -> the game always keeps you interested if there is some better solution
• you are facing various enemy types, your base has to be prepared for various kinds of threats, this keeps the game fresh and changing
• there are 3 maps to conquer with different canyon shape which requires very different strategy approach, you really have to re-think your whole strategy
• good and simple audio/video - you always know what's going on, and it looks good

This game is so addictive, because:

• you have to think both in strategy and in tactic level of playing (you should know what do you want to build in long run, and adapt your plan for next few seconds as well)
• there are different approaches to dealing with enemy and you can even combine these approaches (there is always something you want to try next time)
• the game gets harder, but you get rewards for good playing and you are able to build more, upgrade and build new kinds buildings with new effects on the game (so you have more options)

The bad game:

Alien Attack
http://www.miniclip.com/games/alien-attack/en/

It's an arcade shooting game, where you have to shoot the alien jets appearing on the screen. There is only one type of enemy ships (that you should destroy) and one type of friendly ships (that you shouldn't). The game becomes boring almost instantly. After 5 seconds of playing, you've seen everything and even those 5 seconds are not enjoyable. There is no real challenge, no real fun and there are lots of similar but better games.