Picking up where my previous post left off, I believe there is a absence of a modern DCCG (Digital Collectable Card Game) that follows traditional rules. When I first set out to start this project I knew I wanted to create a game that I would want to play and could not get elsewhere. Originally I came up with the basic concept of fusing the RPG and CCG genres together to create something unique. I have seen many RPGs that have some CCG elements mixed into them but never a traditional DCCG with RPG elements. This concept remained the focal point for some time but now that Crea has had time to mature I have come to realize Crea’s true potential.

My vision for Crea is that it fills this aforementioned void. I was at an IGDA meeting two weeks ago and the speaker, Darrell Gallagher, said that when designing a game you need to grab onto a core idea (can be feature/character/anything) and have it define your game. He went on to say that there should be accompanying ideas that help reinforce the core. He called these additional ideas “supporting pillars”. Together they make up a pyramid.

Modern DCCG

This is the identifying concept behind Crea. Boiled down to its core, this concept means creating a game that stays true to traditional CCGs while providing players with a full experience that games have to offer today. Through development we have taken this concept and made it our design philosophy.

Progression

This is referring to the original concept, the fusion between the RPG and CCG genres. CCGs consist of separate, individual matches that have no effect on each other. RPGs, on the other hand, consist of characters progressing through multiple battles, the outcome of each having a lasting effect on the character. It is this concept of character progression that I have taken and injected into the CCGs genre. The underlying design has seen many iterations to ensure the correct balance between the two.

Progression for Crea is not limited to characters; it is just one example. Another example of progression is seen with quests. Players are able to take on quests that will typically span multiple matches. In the end, progression will give players a much grander picture to look at rather than just individual matches.

Accessibility

This word, “Accessibility”, has two meanings for Crea – both boiling down to allowing more players to enjoy Crea more.

The first meaning is to make Crea accessible to players on mobile devices. I believe that as mobile gaming matures we will it begin to supplement console games more and more. For Crea this supplement would likely be in the shape of a small mobile app that enables players to perform the majority of the out of match features such as buying from the auction house, composing decks, or trading with a friend.

The other meaning is to keep Crea reasonably priced and accessible to any player that wants to play. One of the major problems with CCGs is that they can be very expensive and this has stayed true for most of the DCCGs with micro-transactions. It is true that Crea’s business model is based off micro-transactions but the methodology is quite different. Collecting lots of cards and creating your desired decks will not cost a leg or your first born child – it will be free if you really want!

Interactive World

With few exceptions, DCCGs focus on multiplayer competitions rather than single-player story mode. To stand out from the pack, Crea removes the separation of game modes and unites them in a seemless experience. This seamless gameplay will encourage players to tryout all aspects Crea has to offer. In addition to the RPG staples (towns, dungeons, and quests), Crea will have a large focus on bringing life to the mythos that will be heavily alluded to in the flavor text for each card.

Playing through the main story, exploring dungeons and taking on quests wont just be a single player experience though. Players will be able to team up with their friends to complete quests or go through dungeons. The goal is to provide players with an interactive world and keep the players always connected with each other.

Writing and reading over this fills me with excitement. Crea has a clear direction which is necessary given the relatively large scope of the project. I will admit that this is an extremely ambitious project; however, design decisions are made with this in mind. I wont go into details here as this is an entire post of its own.