Search This Blog

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

5 Finger Discount (NaGaWriMo Day 27)

Day 27 of National Game Writing Month! These game concepts are silly one-offs that will never be considered for production. If you’re inspired by one, feel free to use it, but it would be nice if you told me!

You are a thief. A master thief that can steal anything you want. You intend to support yourself on that talent. Not being greedy, just using stealing and reselling as your primary means of gain.

The first half of the game will happen in grand heist movie style; laying out the plan, choosing the team, scoping the building, the moment to moment rush of action and unlawfulness culminating in the high tension, high stealth actual heist. If everything goes according to plan you should have successfully stolen the world’s most expensive diamond. You will never have to worry about money again.

Except, everyone is now looking for you and the diamond. You have become the world’s most wanted criminal. There is no way you can resell it now without being caught. You have no way no money and rent is due.

The second half of the game is you attempting to just manage living day to day. It would be nearly impossible for you to get a job and even if you did the only thing you are good at is stealing. So you move on to petty theft; cans of food, wallets, chump change in comparison. The world’s greatest thief reduced to shoplifting. Challenge in this portion of the game comes from the wait. Can you handle it? Can you keep your cool and not get busted? Can you resist the temptation and live in poverty until the diamond is safe to sell? Will it ever be safe to sell?

5 Finger Discount pits the player against themself. Forcing the player to confront their internal desire for greed and susceptibility to temptation. Is it still worth being a thief if you can never gain from your stolen goods?

Want to do your own NaGaWriMo? It’s fine if you start late. It’s a made-up challenge. Write a good one and include the hash-tag!

No comments:

Post a Comment