Dokkodo Games Pitch

8/12/2019 Dokkodo Games Pitch

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Games Concepts Games Pitch

1 Tony Murphy & Nicholas Murray

Dokkodo The Way of Walking Alone

Games Pitch

Elevator Pitch

Loosely based on the legendary life of

the Japanese Sword-Saint Miyamoto

Musashi and set in the feudal era of

Edo Japan; Hiro must find the kidnapped

Princess Chiharu, rise through the

ranks of the lands Daimyos, achieve

greatness in battle and prove his worth

amongst his peers to take his place

amongst the lords of the land-perhaps

even to the exalted height of Shogun.

Player Motivation

As a lowly samurai with little income, no prospects but an

eagle eye with his sword and bow, Hiro

must work hard to promote himself to

his lord and friends while still

keeping his honour intact. With Japan

fractured by constant internecine wars,

Hiro will have opportunities aplenty to

keep his eye in. The player must find

the missing Princess, gain experience,

increase their various skills and widen

their sphere of influence to become a

candidate for fame. The game contains battle elements,

political intrigue, and moral quests that will challenge


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the players choices of duty and loyalty over their greed

and personal ambition.Target Customer

The game is designed for all ages but

is ultimately geared for the male

market within the age range of 16

25. As the game primarily deals with

elements that mostly appeal to male

players, this has become the target

audience. The game may be adapted in

the future to contain elements that

would lend itself to a female

audience.

Target hardware.

The game is designed to be played across the three main

console markets; Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and the Nintendo

Wii. Smaller, more basic packages will be offered to the

Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS with an app also available for

Android and Apple devices. Cross play between the devices

will be encouraged as any upgrades or changes the player

makes in the app versions will be updated to their game on

the Consoles to extend the games playability and lifespan.


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Game Genre.

The games genre is third person shooter. Hiros attacks

will consist of his archery skills, shuriken/kunai

(throwing star and throwing knife)

and his CQC (Close-Quarter-Combat)

strikes.

Competition.

Other games of this type exist but

they are for the most part past

their prime. Probably the most

well-known is Shinobi but as

this is set in the modern age and

has a ninja as its protagonist, it

has reached its zenith in terms of

competition.

Unique Selling Points

While many games are set in the

feudal era of Japan, none will

have the authenticity and original

flavour Dokkodo contains. The in-

game dialogue begins in Japanese

and as the player progresses and

discerns objects, places and

people, the English equivalent

becomes revealed. The players decisions will be based on

the language he has learned through play. The game will

also contain historically accurate political change as well

as legendary and political figures of their time.


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Back Story

Born in 1584 and raised by his Father after his Mother died

in childbirth, Hiro was taught the warrior arts until his

Fathers death in a dual with the

Ashioka sword school at the age of

seven.

His uncles, both warrior monks took

in Hiro and raised and taught him as

best they could but Hiros natural

ability and inner rage at the loss

of his Father quickly outstripped

their faculties of patience. When

Hiro was still only 13, he

challenged and beat a ronin

senseless for insulting him.

Finally, his uncles decided that a life in the services of

the local Lord might temper his fire.

The Daimyo, Lord Akibo hearing of Hiros natural talents

decided to make him a ward of the court and employed him as

a playmate and last protector of his

daughter, Chiharu.

Growing up in the constricting

atmosphere of the court was

torturous to Hiro but Chiharus

patience and grace ameliorated his

ire until finally he found a

workable compromise. Hiro became a

constant companion and her fiercest

sentinel.


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When Chiharu reached 16, she was betrothed to another Lord

to strengthen Lord Akibos various alliances. Hiro was

heart-broken but had learnt enough self-discipline to hold

his tongue as she left the castle.

Left without his charge, Hiro was moved into the soldiers

quarters and expected to become just another part of his

Lords retinue.

After a few

weeks, the

drudgery of

his

position

started to

grate and

Hiro began

to lapse

into bad

habits

again; fights, drunkenness and duels became commonplace

around him. Lord Akibo, who had come to like and respect

Hiro, was at a loss as to what to do with him but found an

answer when messengers brought him the news that his

daughter had been kidnapped and her new husband and his men

had been slaughtered on the road. When Hiro was summoned

and told, he went berserk, needing to be restrained by the

guards to stop him rushing after Chiharu. After he had

calmed down, Lord Akibo sent for him and unnecessarily

requested that he find his daughter.

The next morning, with the sun rising at his back, Hiro set

out to find Chiharu and bring bloody vengeance to her

kidnappers.


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Games Concept Design

Character Definition Sheet v1Name: Hiro

Species: Human

Gender: Male

Appearance: Japanese samurai circa1600

(Twin Swords, Enamel Armour, Longbow)

Current Occupation:

Ashigaru (Spear carrier - lowest echelon ofSamurai hierarchy.

Previous Occupation (s)

Student

Personal and occupational goals:

Avenge the death of his father, discover the kidnappers of the princess Chiharu and rescue same.

Become greatest living sword-saint of the age and a legend in his own lifetime.

Skills:

Excellent skills within warrior class, hand to hand combat, close quarter combat, thrown weapons,bow, sword and equine combat.

Likes:

Swordsmanship, Princess Chiharu, freedom andthe mountains.

Dislikes:

Rules, Restrictions, Ashioka Sword School,Bad Manners.

Friends, family & relationships (present)

Ward of Lord Akibo and fostered to his two Warrior-Monk Uncles. Best Friends with Lord Akibomissing daughter, Princess Akibo.

Friends, family & relationships (past)

Mother (deceased) Father (killed in a duel with the Ashioka Sword School) Hiro grew up withoutpeers his own age, which was perfectly fine with Hiro as his Father encompassed all he needed asfar as he was concerned. (See below)

Key childhood or early experiences

While Hiro grew up never knowing his Mother, his Father became his whole world. A respectedSword teacher, he lost his life in a duel with the Ashioka Sword-School. While the duel wasconsidered fair, Hiro will never accept it. With the death of his beloved Father, Hiro lost hisguiding light in the world and rebelled. It was only the patience of Lord Akibo and the grace ofPrincess Chiharu that allowed Hiro to attempt to come to terms with his inner turmoil.


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Character Definition Sheet v1Name: Lord Akibo Itto

Species: Human

Gender: Male

Appearance: Daimyo Fuedal Lord

(Overmantle, Kaori, Twin Swords, War Fan)

Current Occupation:

Daimyo Fuedal Lord of Harima province(150,000,000 koku fief [koku - amount ofrice required by one person per year.])


None


Preserve the peace of the land. Honour the Emperor.Skills:

Lord Akibo is an exceptional politician and a skilled orator. His disposition has kept warfare awayfrom his lands for many years.

Likes:

Peace, solitude. His daughter Princess Chiharuand Hiro.

Dislikes:

War, conflict. Anything that causesproblems for his people or his realm.


Princess Chiharu, Hiro, various castle retainers.


Wife (deceased)


As the son of the noted general, Akibo Daigoro, Lord Akibo had very large geta to fill. While he

loved and revered his Father, Lord Akibo had always preferred the political method to counterconflict rather than a military one. That being the case, Lord Akibo has never shied away fromdecisive action if the need requires it.


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Character Definition Sheet v1Name: Daitengu Sojobo of MountKurama

Species: Tengu - Deity

Gender: Male

Appearance:

A white bearded mountain hermit with anenormously long nose.

Current Occupation:

King of the TenguTengu Mythical mountain/Forest deities


None


Defeat all challengers who appear on his mountain, maintain the peace amongst the various kami

(nature spirits) in the land. Teach his combat techniques to the worthy.

Skills:

Unequalled in combat. Excels in all forms of warfare, martial arts and weaponry.

Likes:

Personal combat

Dislikes:

Cowardice


Other Tengus from the mountains of Japan, Kami


None


The Tengu, formed from the heavenly spear stirring the void, are ageless. They have alwaysworshipped the mountains and forests and the peace that is found there. With the arrival of man,

they have only tightened their hold in the wilderness and dislike mans disturbance of those areas.

While not openly antagonistic, they will attack and destroy anyone who disrespects their lands orthe denizens that dwell within. Very few humans meet the Tengu and walk away. DaitenguSojobo is no exception but will turn a blind eye to brave and honourable warriors who trespassupon his mountain providing they meet his challenge.


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Game Play and key features

The forests dark path

unrolled towards the blood

red moon that had slowly

risen just above the pine trees.

Something dark and ancient

was awakening amid the

roots.

Hiro dropped to his haunchesand glanced ahead, his view

through the twisted trunks dim and unclear but his sharp senses detected movement

against the wind; where a branch moved with the breeze, the limbs he could see did

not. He breathed deeply but silently. His hand went to his waist, feigning the action

of climbing to his feet again. In one motion he twisted on one foot, ripped his sword

from the scabbard and leapt into the undergrowth, his sword outstretched, his body

like a knife

This is the opening sequence of the game proper with the

backstory played out as a cut sequence when the game first

loads; starting from Hiro being trained by his Father up to

the decision by Lord Akibo to send Hiro to rescue Princess

Chiharu. The opening menu will only allow the player to

change various options in the game such as the control

settings, sound etc.

After the start button is pressed, the above forest

sequence will play out. Hiro will come face to face with


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the Tengu King who defeats Hiro but respects his courage

enough to hear his story. The dialogue, while all in

Japanese, will have English (or whatever appropriate

language) subtitles.

The Tengu King will then start the

tutorial for gameplay and also

teach Hiro a new technique to use

in the game. He tells Hiro to

start his search in a nearby bandit

campsite which allows the player to

try out the combat methods in the

game. As the game is a third

person shooter this is mostly bow

and throwing knives but to make a

more unique game, swordplay is

included for close quarter combat.

As Hiro infiltrates the camp, the moral options become

available to the player; does Hiro stealthily steal his way

to the bandit chief, question him and kill him or does he

bellow his war cry and wade in a on a tide of rage? Both

options will weigh towards what kind of hero the player

wishes to become. Other options later in the game further

blur this line. An Honour/Dishonour Bar will be part of

the players HUD and will dictate what actions a player can

take later in the game.Whatever the player decides, the bandit chief is the first

levels Boss character. The end of level challenges are

always played out using the sword as the primary weapon and

only the successful use of the techniques learnt through


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each level will ensure victory. This challenge becomes

progressively harder with each level as the player has to

integrate techniques together for successful strike

combinations or combos.

The battle will always end with a new clue to Princess

Chiharus location as well as a monetary award and a new

weapon.

With the end of the first level, the map opens showing the

four Japanese

Islands and

showing the player

the locations they

have knowledge of

and clues to new

locations and

missions. Duels

and challenges as

well as other

mystical creatures

who can teach Hiro

new techniques

will also be available from the map screen.

Villages and towns can be visited and items, resources and

even services can be purchased such as blacksmiths, sword-

makers and farms. The services increase Hiros sphere of

influence which can be used to increase his money and

social standing, raising him through the ranks in the land.

As new ranks are awarded, more political options are opened

where Hiro has to contend with dealing with the people

under his control and the jealous, power-hungry Lords


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around the borders of his land. This element of the game

will develop slowly to allow the player to enjoy all

aspects the game has to offer.

The conclusion to the game will see Hiro, now a Daimyo,

reunited and allied with Lord Akibo on the field of battle,

both racing to the Demons Keep to rescue the Princess

Chiharu. Lord Akibo will die in the final fight with the

Demon, his final request for Hiro to marry his daughter.

All this is of course dependent on a morally good

character. Hiros end game will play out according to the

players choices through the game. The good ending will

see Hiro as a high ranking Lord of the land, an unbeaten

warrior, with the realm at his feet and his childhood love

by his side. The bad ending will be variations on this

theme; Chiharu dies or is possessed, Lord Akibo goes to war

against Hiro, Hiro is feared as a force of evil through the

land instead of respected, Hiro ends his days as a

wandering ronin. The choices are many and varied.


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Why Play?

The story will span the life of Hiro, from his early

childhood to a respected Sword-Saint.

While there are numerous enemies, from lowly ronin to

mighty samurai and ninja, there are also the demons of

Meifumado, the Oni and the Tengus from the mountains that

Hiro must defeat to obtain new techniques. The end of

level (or end of Era bosses) will all be characters from

Japanese mythology or historical enemies from the life of

Musashi.

Over 80 hours of exploration, interaction and combat!

History, legends, battles, people and weapons all

painstakingly researched and brought to life!

Experience the Japan of history and legend.

Graphically created to reflect the artwork from Japanese

history, the environments are sumptuous feasts for the

eye, based on the artwork of Hokusai and Ikegema. Past

masters unified with modern illustrators will create a

Japan that will appeal to all who wish to experience the

Japan of imagination.

As the player has multiple choices within the game, there

are a variety of plot routes that can only be played once


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per game. For the player to experience all the

possibilities that Dokkodo offers, they must play through

the game a number of times. The game will offer unique

challenges and rewards with each play that will make each

time playing a new occurrence.

Use the Wii remote, the Playstation Move or the Xbox

Kinect for full interactive warfare experience!

Solo play or join in the Skirmish mode online.

Dueling and survival modes.

Are you going to be a respected Sword-Saint feted across

the length and breadth of Japan or a demon on the road to

Meifumado, merciless to all who cross your path, YOU

DECIDE!


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Appendix

Dokkodo Games Pitch

Documents

Transcript of Dokkodo Games Pitch