nerva

this project is a proof of concept demo for a "truck simulator meets a visual novel somewhere in a cyberpunk dystopia in space" developed with libretro-lutro for the raspberry pi zero w with the retroflag gpi case running recalbox.

if you want to play this game on pc, download the .lutro file from the github release page of this repository, and run it with retroarch.

screenshot:

i am happy with how this demo turned out, and i have moved on to other projects. if you like this project and want to work on it, i would be happy to return to this project and to develop a story-driven space game with you.

vision

nerva will could be a story and text based game, in which you play as a truck driver (m/f/d) in space, trying to avoid obstacles (asteroids), gangsters and the police along the way, meet fantastic people, and customize your truck engine and interior.

the look and feel (vibe) of the game should be cowboy bebop episode 7 as a pc98 game, with the dialogue (and bits of customization) of va-11 ha11 a, a rick and morty-style universe, need for speed like-customization, and the dialogue and radio-feauture of cyberpunk 2077.

the gameplay takes form in several different states:

• state: cutscene

  • a cutscene plays, like in an jrpg or dating sim. this means most of the screen is covered with an image of the scene and action currently happening, with a text box below in which dialogue and storytelling are displayed. the player can choose between different dialogue options like in cyberpunk but it actually changes the run of the game.

• state: driving

  • the player sits in his truck with a pov camera, driving the truck in space. gameplay consists of steering to stay on track and avoiding obsicles, police, and gangsters.
  • controls are
    • turn_up
    • turn_down(for_what)
    • turn_left
    • turn_right
    • accelerate
    • break
    • interact (with interior)
      • smoke
      • change radio
  • the player can choose a radio station. the radio stations are either streamed from the internet, or custom made, 15-30 minute long themed "radio-like" soundtracks.
  • a bit like the all in one japan train simulator

• state: customizing

  • the player customizes the truck (and interior) in a need-for-speed like fashion. NOTE determine customizable features of truck

• featue: mini-map

  • sprite based planet to planet view with edges

other notes

• sims/pokemon like baba like talking in dialogues
• many good quotes in radio (like the dude in the radio in cyberpunk) and from interviews/dialogues -> radio-like transmissions with fellow truckers
• pre-render backrounds for space / planets / spaceship-states and make sprites
• take a look at scott pilgrim vs the world sprites for inspiration -> own art style
• parallax effect

lore ideas

• at the start: the player has debts

• earn money through deliveries (smuggling / weapons transprotection)

• avoid the space police

• story gets cut in to missions (maybe even a "relatively" open world with choose your own path, depending on which missions you take)

• choice to smuggle or deliver normal packages

  • smuggling: more money, higher risk (police)
  • normal: less monay, less risk

• reputation system

  • if bad reputation with police -> more fines / punishment
  • if bad reputation with gangsters -> more ripoffs / attacks / punishment
  • vice versa

in flight encounters

• in one or some trips the player gets a choice to pick up a hitchhiker -> the hitchhiker sits and talks to the player -> from there on out everything can happen (good/bad/etc)

• in one or some trips the player gets pulled over by police or gangsters, the player then needs to handle the situation per dialogue

• the engine could break down -> maybe repair it or call a repair service or sth -> maybe the hitchhiker can fix it and the player saves money if he chose to pick up the hitchhiker