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History of the Design Doc

This is a brief explanation of the history of this document.

Version 1.0

Just the basic game idea and the reasons for making it. No implementation or engine considerations.

Version 1.10

Version 1.10 is our first change to the design doc in some months. The outline for the game rules has been created as well as the basic steps for generating a procedural city.

Version 1.11

Started filling out the very basic ideas for each of the game rules. All these sections will be specified in much greater detail in future.

Version 1.12

The final major details on game rules and the how to play section. Gang warfare, the political and legal system, and victory conditions will be completed.

Version 1.20

Filling in all the lists / details for the game. Determining art assets. Finalize Design Doc.

Common Questions

What is the game?

Sprawl is a procedurally generated city simulation where the actions of the player greatly influence how the city functions and behaves. Initially players will take control of a fledgling organized crime ring. Focus is on running criminal enterprises and controlling different black markets in order to become the most powerful criminal enterprise in the city. The game is played in a multiplayer environment where competing gangs vie for the control of the city. The game is won with a variety of victory conditions, such as when one gang takes control of the city or eliminates all competition.

Why create this game?

We are creating this game because there are no games like this, the PC-simulation genre in recent years has been lackluster, for fun / education. In addition, Spore was such a disappointment with procedurally generated game play that we wanted to prove that “we could do this better”. And the only game Jack has ever loved is Drug Wars on the graphing calculator.

Where does the game take place?

The game takes place in a fictional city much like any major American metropolitan area.

How many characters do I control?

The player only has direct control over their character. This character will not actually be modeled in the game world, but their actions will affect the city and all gang members around them. The player will exert control over the city by issuing orders to their gang members.

What's the main focus?

The main focus is on the aspect of controlling a crime ring in a city environment.

What’s different?

The major difference between Sprawl and other crime simulations is the heavy focus on simulation, procedurally based content, and real world economic models. Everything in the game will try to have a very realistic economic and statistical model behind it. Sprawl will combine multiple features from different game genres to bring new life to simulation games.

What are the major design principles?

To keep the players choices varied and fun, but not tedious.
Not force the player to micromanage and repeat the same tasks constantly.
Offer multiple and very different ways to play the game.
Not allowing for one dominant strategy. Balance, balance, balance.
Multiplayer only. Is played with other people over the network.

What's exciting about the feature set?

Procedurally generated cities.
Real world economic models.
Multiple, different and original ways to run your gang.
Strong UI and graph components.
Exciting and vibrant art work.

The Procedural City

Games of Sprawl are played on procedurally generated cities made up of multiple components and layers.

See The Procedural City.

How to Play

Playing a game of Sprawl involves players balancing resources, battling for control of various criminal enterprises, manipulating the legal and political system, and fighting gang wars with their opponents. This section details all the specific details of how Sprawl will actually work and be played.

Hosting a Game

See Hosting a Game.

Player Resources

There are three resources in Sprawl which players use to act in the city. Two of these resources are numerical; money and manpower and the third resource, reputation, is a text only resource with the actual reputation number hidden from the player.

See Player Resources.

The Heat Counter

See The Heat Counter.

Picking Player Traits

See Player Traits.

Gang Policies

See Gang Policies.

The Passage of Time

See The Passage of Time.

Key Gang Members

See Key Gang Members.

Special Abilities

See Special Abilities.

Auctions

See Auctions.

Running the Gang

Gang operations in Sprawl will revolve around three key areas; the drug trade, gambling and loan sharking, and violent crimes. Our goal in developing Sprawl is that a player can play through the game focusing on only one of the three areas or all three. Also, players will be able to be just as competitive with one another even if they are active in only one of the three game play mechanics. Our final goal is that each of the parts of gang operation offer very different and unique game play mechanics to one another.

Controlling Neighborhoods

See Controlling Neighborhoods.

Gang Warfare

See Gang Warfare.

The Political System

See The Political System.

The Legal System

See The Legal System.

Victory Conditions

See Victory Conditions.

End of Game Awards

End of game awards will be little stats and awards. These will be decided upon later in the project when we know exactly what stats will be tracked.

Design Doc