Refinement and Elaboration

One of the main problems I find is my ideas sound falsely amazing, simply for the fact they are so sketchy; the mind simply fits in the impossible blanks with enthusiasm and delusions. This post is me trying to refine or deepen my understanding of my own idea.

Let's start simple;

It shall have a background.
The background will be as tall as the screen, and as wide as the level needs to be ('X'); If X is wider than the screen you will be able to move your mouse over buttons to the sides to scroll along to the extents either way.

It shall have an 'Inventory'

The inventory will most likely be at the bottom of the screen - It will contain an icon (or something similar) of a selection of items available at the beginning of each level. These inventory items can be placed on the background and interact with other placed inventory items and objects already placed on the background at the start of the level items can be removed from the background again and put in inventory. Items already placed on the background will be locked in place, whereas inventory items can be dragged about/rotated and such. (basically the only difference between the two)

It shall have 'Function Box' items

A large majority of the pre-placed items and inventory items will be objects which act as function boxes; they will have input(s) and output (s). As a general rule, In order for the outputs to be functional, all of the inputs must be filled/met. for example; if a function box has two inputs, and one output; both inputs would have to be connected to something in order for the output to work. There will be different types of function boxes which will have different functions; there might be a splitter, which allows two outputs from one input, and a joiner which allows the opposite. from there it depends what you could have function boxes doing; for instance, you could use colours; which would allow function boxes to change colours of inputs/outputs, or you could use input strengths. colours I foresee being more straight forward for players.

It shall have 'Wires'

Wires will act much like electrical wires; connecting different inputs/outputs of function boxes and transmitting information. Wires will be included (unconnected) on the function boxes; this will allow players to simply join/disconnect the end which isn't connected to somewhere it is needed. Wires will have set lengths (whether it is per function box, or just one global set length); creating an extra constraint needed to be overcome by players. wires will automatically snap back if not connected to anything.

It shall have a 'start hub(s)'.

The starting hubs will provide the 'power' in each level, they will have one or more powered outputs (possibly of different colours/types if needed) and will be a static already placed item.

It shall have a 'end hub(s)'

The end hubs will be how the game is won - they will have one or more inputs, which once all are activated/connected correctly, the level will be complete. As with the starting hubs, the inputs can be of different colour/type requirements if needed.

Other possible funky things

• Different energy transferral; e.g. from 'electricity' to lasers to 'electricity' again
• Obstacles - means you would have to position function boxes better to allow wires to reach.
• More stuff here.

So yeah, I'm quite happy with the plan so far... What d' you think?