Written by Eric "Scoop" Eckstein
eric@gamepen.com
http://www.gamepen.com

Reprinted by the Seattle Washington Autoduel Team, March 03, 1999
Updated August 05, 2000

Recently, I came to the realization that it's going to be a while before I could even hope to become a game designer. My programming skills rival my knowledge of 18th century French poetry, my own capital couldn't employ an intern much less an able body of competent artists and programmers, and no company would look at me and say, "Hey, want to give us your ideas and lead a development team on how to do it?"

This column is dedicated to people like me and those others who sit around at night thinking, "Wouldn't THIS be a cool game? Too bad I
can't make it." The series will both focus on companies and the individual games. None of these ideas are based on any inside knowledge of current development of such game. I encourage any and all developers to poach any or all of these ideas and implement the games. That's the reason this exists. ;)
 

Origin Systems, Inc.

Origin is probably one of those companies I loved the most as I grew up. They brought us Ultima III, my first computer RPG, Wing Commander, the first game to provide a Star Wars experience without being Star Wars, and Autoduel, a classic that speaks for itself to those who've heard of it.

It was back in September of 1994 that Origin posted something somewhere that they were looking for writers or game designers. I didn't know what that meant exactly, but I sent in my two cents anyway. Just for a laugh, here’s part of the query letter I had sent to Origin way back when:

I have been an intense game player since the days of old, practicing my talents on an old IBM PC Jr. (don't ask what I did to it!). Since then, I've developed a better taste in computers and an even improved taste in games. I know what people want to play because I'm one of them, and I have the ideas to prove it. [SNIP] I know that story isn't what holds onto so many game players, no matter how innovative it is. The key is to make the game fun, which also means that it should be new and original, as well as permitting the player a reasonable amount of freedom. I can provide these fresh ideas, intertwining it with a compelling story and characters, which will help create entertaining games. Too many times have I thought up an interesting concept behind a game only to have nowhere else to go with it because I was not a programmer. Fortunately, thanks to your call for arms, I have been able to present my viewpoints and given a chance to do something about it.

Autoduel Commander

This was the game I pitched to Origin in my query letter. While I'll save a lot of plot and game elements, the basis was the following:

Autoduel Commander will be the newest product in the Commander series. Instead of taking to the skies or space, the player embarks on a journey navigating windy roads, dark tunnels, and up rocky mountains with all four wheels on the ground. The main character can travel wherever he or she wants, taking missions that they desire.

The map should be relatively free for the character to roam about, with the chance of stumbling upon precious resources. Whatever's left of national highways still exist, as do old dirt roads that may cut your time in half during a cargo run, lead to an enemy camp, or off a cliff into a raging river. The key is to let the player have the freedom to travel and trade, so that he/she can build up their automobile.

Like Privateer, trade is accomplished by taking in inventory and delivering it somewhere else. This can lead to contraband material
(drugs, guns) and if travelling a main road or entering a city, there would be checkpoints that the character can either stop for or blow
through at 110 mph!

Weapons and other armaments are available in many of the towns, though the choice weapons are hard to find and afford. The weapons would be along the same lines as the original Autoduel. Flamethrowers, rockets, machine guns, and mines, but of course some non-weapons will be available, such as radar, turbo, a radar jamming console, and maybe even an electronic device that can interfere with the other cars, the sky's the limit if the player has got the dough. These price requirements can be overcome by taking missions or racing in the Arena.

The Arena is a ten car free for all where everybody tries to take out the other. The last car left wins the measly pot, and whatever they can salvage from the automobile junkyard. As in the original Autoduel, there are multiple types of tournaments from novices to aces.

Missions on the other hand pay A LOT! Certain town mayors may need the player to run a letter or protect a truck that is leaving for another town, somone may want aid in an ambush of a lone transport vehicle, or the main organization itself may want to assault an enemy camp. The choice is up to the player.

This would lead to multiple viewpoints of the plot. By running missions for the main organization, they're willingness to recruit the
player rises, involving him/her in more high stake missions that would help the overall plot. The player may choose to help the other sides, or if the player likes, they can be a car-for-hire, taking the side that pays the most.

While through many of the missions the player will drive alone, other important missions would include escorts. A fuel tanker needs to make it to Austin, and the main organization puts on two of its best drivers to accompany the player. The player picks the route, judging it on the amount of time, the proximity to friendly towns (for fuel purposes, remember gas makes the world go 'round), and overall terrain. Some missions will be assaults of enemy camps, where a town will employ the player to lead some of its drivers into combat against a local  problem.

The missions will also vary since the Earth is a fairly unpredictable place. Snow storms, heavy rains, strong winds, or moonlit nights can all affect the level of difficulty the player must overcome to accomplish a mission. By only having limited data on weather reports, the player will have to rely on knowledge accumulated during prior assignments in order to base his/her decision.

Through Wing Commander, Privateer, and Strike Commander, the one limiting factor was that once strapped into the respective vehicle, that was as far as the game would go. In Autoduel Commander, if the player runs out of gas in the middle of nowhere, there is no game over or easy way home. The player would actually be required to get out of the car and walk, on foot, to the nearest town.

Not only will this new perspective add more realism to the game, but will affect certain mission requirements as well. The player will need to leave the protection of their vehicle to enter buildings. Within these buildings, the player can deliver packages, steal money, perform assassinations or protect VIPs. It all depends on the mission that the player initially chooses.

Just like Privateer, once the plot is uncovered and the player completes it, the game's not over. The whole country is there to explore. Unlike Privateer, there is more than one plot. The next time around the player who won as a main organization driver may choose the life of a mercenary, choosing assignments here and there in a search for riches. Plus, who's to say there aren't mini-plots throughout the entire story: a driver who disappeared needs to be found, a dying town that needs to discover local resources to stay alive, maybe even a treasure map to legendary gold.

Still, the idea of mixing Privateer II and Interstate '82 should have most people drooling. Co-op driving assignments, an entire gameworld to explore, cargo routes, the works. Sounds too good to ever be true. Pity it's yet to be done.