Posted

Dec 29th 2007

Star Fox
RACER
All-Lylat Grand Prix

I’ve been toying about lately with an Idea for a Star Fox-based air racing game. While it would have little to do with the actual Star Fox storyline, it’d happen in the same universe during a (short) period of peace, post Command. The characters would be Lylatian, and the main (unlocked at the beginning) 15 racers would be completely new, other than the fact that I plan on including Star Fox II characters Miyu Lynx as a pilot and Fay Howell as a mechanic.

Storyline Overview

In the primary story mode, (Campaign mode?) players take the role of rookie racer Tanner Speedwing, an incredibly talented female hotshot of a vixen who has yet to learn the required patience for competing in the top level All-Lylat Grand Prix series. The player follows her throughout a season, as she races against the legendary Darryl Airhardt and the aggressive Ken Nettoro, eventually finding herself in the race for the legend’s honor.

Tanner’s mentor and team owner is Kevin Tsu, a former racer himself who was gravely injured in an accident, some say involving then-rookie Nettoro. Tsu serves a balance for Tanner’s hot temper, and his top-notch team gives Tanner a fast, reliable steed for her races on Sunday. Tsu also owns a second racer, piloted by former military pilot Miyu Lynx. Miyu is like an older sister to Tanner, often helping out a bit on the racetrack. Fay Howell, Miyu’s best friend, works as a mechanic on the Tsu Racing team.

Tanner also becomes very interested in another rookie racer, a certain Darin Clipwing. At first she finds him a little odd: he seems less preoccupied with winning and more worried about a group of other racers, former outlaws who went pro recently. Unfortunately, Tanner gets herself involved, and, aside from learning what it’s like to race in the underground Outlaw leagues, starts to fall for the handsome and somewhat mysterious Clipwing, despite his strict mentality.

Gameplay

There are a few modes I’m tossing about for inclusion. Required is Story mode, where you follow Tanner through an 8-race season on several different planets, even the Meteo Asteroid Belt. There’s also a free race mode, where you can race as any of the 15 characters in the story mode, as well as some special unlockable characters. Online and local machine multiplayer racing is also a given, though I may include a character creator on this one, depending how complex I want to get with the character models and such. Another “Perhaps” mode is a multiplayer combat mode similar to other combat modes featured on Star Fox games: This would be the only time the racers would carry weapons. Also in the “Perhaps” column is a “Season” mode, where you could play through the story-mode races in order as any character.


Notice that I’ve been avoiding using the term “Fighters” to describe the aircraft: that’s because, while these aircraft might resemble Lylat fighters, they are actually pure racing machines. The actual races themselves are held on courses marked out with floating “Gates” that the pilots must fly through, connected by boundary lines, to form a “tunnel” of sorts, although it can be broken out of as long as the gate is passed through. The concept is similar to Burt Rutan’s “Rocket Racing League,” though the concept is carried out to its extreme, racing down valleys, between city buildings, and around asteroids. Races are in three dimensions, and the aircraft are fully controllable (for the first time in any Star Fox based game) in roll, pitch and yaw. Finally, no need to hit a button to “DO A BARREL ROLL!!!”

Story mode races are generally missions: finish this place or higher, place ahead of this character, etc. During part of the story, Tanner races (for pinks, at least once) against outlaws, in a type of racing that involves following a rival through a series of gates that appear behind him or her, as they try to lose her. Passing the rival, she must then try and outrun them, or cause them to miss a gate. There are also pro-style “Gated” races, like in the normal championship, and this format would probably used for the “Pinks” race.

The race craft are designed with speed in mind, so there’s no weaponry, very little, if any, armor, and pilots must wear a fully sealed flight suit and helmet with oxygen supply, since there’s no pressurization in the cockpit. The racers have very heavy duty acceleration compensators, though, due to safety needs. Racers don’t explode on impact with the ground, thanks to special construction techniques and advanced crash technology, but they do tumble quite violently, flinging parts and bodywork everywhere, hence the need to protect the pilot during such a wreck – and they do happen. Often. One requirement is thick armoring surrounding the cockpit, to keep the pilot safely encased during a crash.

Damage depends on mode. Story mode, if you wreck, race is over. You have to start from the beginning. On the other hand, in free race mode, the aircraft respawns. I’ve decided to make an option to turn respawn off for online, LAN, and single machine multiplayer racing. I know people get ticked off at idiots who go around wrecking everyone. Combat mode gives pilots a set number of lives to deal with, and a certain amount of damage that can be taken. For old time’s sake, I might simplify the models, and disallow the cockpit view in this mode: it’s not intended to be all that serious.

Despite the best efforts of the teams to make the vehicles as fast as possible within the rules, the racing is very close and NASCAR-like. The racers have the ability to boost at up to five seconds at a time, though the engine requires cooldown after this. There is the need to refuel and repair the aircraft mid-race, making pit strategy important. A pilot pits by flying through a “Pit” ring, where automatic control takes him or her over to a refueling depot and performs the service automatically, then automatically guides back out onto the track. Because the track is made up of “Gates,” the pilot must stay between their boundaries, (which are marked out on the HUD) or, if he or she misses it, the racer shuts down to it’s slowest forward speed until the pilot flies back onto the course, having probably lost a position.

I’ve given much, much thought to controls, and I’m probably going to use the Classic Controller on this one. It’ll just be a whole lot easier, and it’s similar to the PS Dualshock series controllers anyway, so I’m kind of familiar with how it works. Pitch and roll on the right stick, throttle, and braking, on the left. Perhaps Yaw, too, but I dunno. Buttons control the overboost, view-change and such, like weapons in Combat mode. In fact, the control scheme would be simplified in Combat mode, primarily to free up buttons for things like, say, rapid rolling to deflect laserbolts.

I also had the thought of cooking up a PC-type flight sim stick and throttle setup. I could package the game with this, or could even also offer a wheel and pedal setup for other games, offer the stick/throttle setup with it, and allow certain pieces to be interchanged (Hand throttle with wheel for an F-Zero game?)

Another idea stolen (and run with) from Gran Turismo is the first-person view. During a race, players will have the opportunity to experience things from the pilot’s perspective, even (possibly) hearing their heartbeat if things get too exciting. The hands and arms should be animated, visible from time to time. I’ve been throwing about the idea of having the pilot’s heart rate tracked and used as a gauge of how well they fly during the race; get your pilot overexcited, and you could start to notice that your aircraft is beginning to overcorrect and become harder to fly! After the race, you can enjoy a replay from the sidelines or from any pilot’s cockpit, with two cameras in each, one aimed at the pilot, one over the shoulder looking ahead. The replay onboards will take information from the race and create fairly realistic reactions for the visible pilot. How much animation in this view depends on how much the Wii can take.

Now, traveling online, I’ve decided to try something different. You see, all the ships are made of different parts, and, in different race modes, you get certain amounts of “Race Points” to spend on building your very own ship. You unlock parts by unlocking ships and characters. It’s the same concept used in F-Zero GX. In fact, you can go beyond simply an emblem with a full Forza 2-style Paint Shop, possibly even pulling images and logos off the internet, using a USB device or the Wii Browser. Furthermore, you can use the basic 3D models of any of the characters to create your own. Changes will be limited to colors and a couple types of costume, though the colors and logos change with your ship.

Character list thus far

Tanner Speedwing (Fox, Female, #9, Tsu Racing: Lightning)
Tanner is the main character, a Rookie racer with incredible talent, but a bit of a short temper and little patience, a product of her quick rise to the top. She’ll learn greatly in her first season. She gets involved with fellow racer Darin Clipwing, who, for some reason, seems unwilling to drag her into a mess he’s in…
Her fighter is a brand new design, the Tsu Lightning, a full monocoque designed specifically by Fay for superior handling characteristics, and a high top speed.

((Note: #9 Comes from the Evernham cars, Lightning comes from Lightning McQueen, who Tanner’s slightly inspired by))

Miyu Lynx (Lynx, Female, #19, Tsu Racing: Interceptor M)
Miyu is a former Cornerian Air Force pilot, who also even had a brief tour with Star Fox. While not the oldest racer on the tour, she’s has a great deal of experience for her three seasons and helps Tanner deal with the top level.
Miyu was offered the Lightning by Fay, but she declined, keeping her heavily modified Arwing Mk II-In, the Interceptor M, which is still competitive with the new breed of “pure racers.”

((The Arwing Mk II is basically the original Star Fox craft, and the –In variant was Miyu and Fay’s Interceptor version in Star Fox II. Mk III is 64, Mk IV is Adventures, and Mk V is the final, Assault version.))

Kevin Tsu (Panda, Male, Owner Tsu Racing) [UNLOCKABLE: #86 Tsu Racing: Hachiroku]
A former racer, he lost use of his legs in a controversial crash involving a stubborn rookie named Ken Nettoro. While his legs were replaced by bio-robotic prosthetics, he decided it best to hang up his suit and focus on owning a race team instead. He’s Tanner’s primary guiding light.
Unlockable is Tsu’s race ship, the Hachiroku. Light, with an incredibly powerful engine for its size, it takes some skill to master, and punishes mistakes hard.

((Tsu is loosely based on Keiichi Tsuchiya, and the Hachiroku is named after the AE86 Toyotas, hence why it’s light and absurdly fast))

Fay Howell (Spaniel, Female, Mechanic Tsu Racing) [UNLOCKABLE: Tsu Racing #91: Interceptor F]
A childhood friend of Miyu and distinguished pilot in her own right, Fay is the primary mechanic for the Tsu Racing team. She is an enthusiastic, happy young woman, and well versed in what makes things go fast: Even Tsu-Sinsei is impressed by her tact.
Fay’s modified Arwing, the Interceptor F, Is unlockable. Fay has given her aircraft an emphasis on handling, where Miu’s is based on outright speed.

((Fay’s an unlockable, since I wanted her to be a mechanic in the storyline))

Ken Nettoro (Raccoon, Male, Avenger Starship Products #34: Blitzen)
A veteran of five years, Nettoro still lacks the patience many other racers feel he needs, but he’s still a brilliant racer and a force to be reckoned with. After an embarrassing defeat to Tanner, the two become archrivals.
Nettoro’s racer is an Avenger Blitzen, one of the first pure racers to arrive on the tour. The Biltzen is a fast, forgiving ship, matching Nettoro well.

((Okay, his personality is based on Chick Hicks, but his number and aircraft, as well as his name, are based on Ken Nomura and the Blitz ER34 Skyline))

Darrel Airhardt, Sr. (Coyote, Male, Space Dynamics Service Division #3: Intimidator)
With seven championships, Darrel’s after his eighth for one last try before retiring. A wily racer, and well known for his intimidating flying style, Airhardt has one of the few Space Dynamics Works ships, and he’s very fast.
Airhardt was instrumental in designing Space Dynamic’s first Pure Racer, the Intimidator. The craft takes a practiced, patient hand to fly, but is very rewarding in the hands of an expert.

((Yes, a tribute to the late Dale Earnhardt, no, he doesn’t get killed in a crash, thank you very much.))

Maria Lopez (Jaguar, Female, Girl Racer #69: Silvia)
Maria flaunts her feminity at every turn, and is rather popular with male fans for her attractive figure and the fact that she shows it off as much as possible. She’s even had her flight suit tailored to fit her tighter. She tends to be a bit vain, and some think she only became a racer to get famous.
Her ship, an Avenger Silvia, is considered one of the most attractive ships on the tour, with it’s curving bodywork. It’s no slouch, either, especially on tight, fast courses.

((Because every game like this has a female sex kitten.))

Lucas “Capitan Peregrine,” Thomas (Falcon, Male, Blue Peregrine Racing #07: Blue Peregrine)
Lucas Thomas is a bit of an oddball. He acts like some sort of superhero, and has been known to, at times, get into fistfights with other pilots. He’s a bit of a privateer, his odd personality making it difficult to find sponsorship.
Thomas’s ship is as eccentric as he is. Based on a ground-based G-Zero racer, the Blue Peregrine looks a bit like a flying hovercar…and is faster than one would think it is.

((Yep, Capitan Falcon wannabe.))

Darrel Airhardt, Jr. (Coyote, Male, Dale Airhardt Inc. #8: Intimidator Jr.)
“Junior,” as he’s often called on the racing circuits, is a rookie who started racing for his father’s team at the same time Tanner started racing. He shows much of his father’s skill.
His ship is a less demanding version of his father’s Intimidator, though some say it’s also slightly slower on the straights and slightly faster on the turns.

((Earnhardt Jr., anyone?))

Terrance “The Gentleman” Oak (Squirrel, Male, Ash Bros. #21, Royale)
A polite young man, and ever a crowd favorite, Terrance Oak is thought to be a distant relative of a once-powerful family, which Terrance often denies. He’s known as “The Gentleman” for his ability to keep calm on and off the track.
His ship, the built by the legendary Ash Bros, is the Royale. He proudly has painted it in navy, white, and gold, family colors of his. The ship is well balanced in all regards, much like Terrance.

((Yes, he’s supposed to kind of/sort of be of the royal house of Acorn. You know, like Princess Sally and her family? The “Ash Bros,” and #21, come from the famed Wood Bros, and their famed #21 Fords))

Darin Clipwing (Arctic Fox, Male, Cornerian Air Force #16: Snowbird R)
A rookie pilot as well, Darin is a former Cornerian Air Force pilot, who, in reality, has become a secret agent, investigating a possible plot to kill racer Dash Bowman, a former Androssian soldier. He’s also found himself becoming attracted to Tanner, and may not return to the Air Force after the mission’s over!
Darin was born on Fichina, so his ship is a modified version of the local fighter, the Snowbird. Darin had the skis taken off his ship, and modified the engine and chassis to take the extra speed and forces generated by racing.

((The Snowbird comes from a drawing I drew of DeviantARTist Savagebinn’s character Chill the Arctic Fox.))

Dash Bowman (Monkey, Male, Venom Aerosport #48: Monkey Arrow)
A former Androssian soldier trying to turn his life around, Dash made great strides by fighting off the Anglars, and has now turned to racing as a way to turn things around. However, he made a deal with a pirate group to build his ship for the Anglar conflict, and they want payback…or his head.
Bowman’s ship is his Monkey Arrow, Racing-modified for the circuit. It retains it’s maneuverability, but lacks some top speed, and Bowman does best on the tight, short tracks.

((Originally, I thought about making up a character to fill this role, but Dash was there, and he’ll probably never be seen after Command.))

Shakira (Wolf, Female, Lobo Performance #58: Seductress II)
Formerly a bounty hunter, she supposedly quit after falling for one of her captures, rumored to be Wolf O’Donnell. Shakira’s past makes her a prime suspect in the plot against Bowman, but she seems clean…
Her ship, the Seductress II, is a fast, powerful, machine, which, while stable, doesn’t turn as quickly as others. Her “Wangan” style, based on experience weaving down highways, suits the longer, faster tracks.

((I had to put her in. I just had to. Besides, I needed suspects.))

Dominic Forenzi (Bear, Male, Forenzi Racing #02: Red Streak)
Forenzi is an Outlaw League racer who got his GP license and races his Outlaw racer in the GP series. An Ex-convict with pirate connections, he seems a prime suspect in the plot against Bowman, but he claims that part of his life is over…
His ship is an old RX-1 starfighter, with it’s distinctive crossed-foils, and it’s high-powered rotary turbine, made more powerful by seemingly grassroots modifications. However, it’s somewhat unstable and doesn’t turn well, depending on powerful boost and high speed to keep up.

((Based on Fast and Furious character Dominic Torretto, and the ship’s based on the Star Wars X-Wing and the Mazda RX-7 from F&F.))

Shaun Kahn (Tiger, Male, JDM Speed #00: Supertuned)
Kahn is the owner of a speed shop, JDM Speed, and is a former outlaw racer himself, and rival of Forenzi. He claims to be out of illicit businesses, but there are rumors that he once had connections to the powerful pirate organization Talon, before it was broken up by Star Fox. He might also have had a hand in the rebuilding of ships…like Bowman’s.
Supertuned is a sleek, black pure racer Kahn built himself. It’s well built and light, though hard to handle, and while it has powerful boost its top speed is rather low.

((Shere Kahn from the Jungle Book? Combined with Johnny Tran of The Fast and the Furious? Hm. Wonder who the real villain could be?))

UNLOCKABLES

Fox McCloud (Fox, Male, Space Dynamics Team Star Fox #1, Arwing II Racer)
Fox broke up Star Fox after an incident with a pirate organization after the Anglar War. With nothing better to do, he converted his Arwing into a racer and started racing. He even picked up factory sponsorship.

Krystal McCloud (Fox, Female, Space Dynamics Team Star Fox #2, Cloud Runner)
Krystal married Fox McCloud after he disbanded Star Fox. She converted her ship, the Cloud Runner, into a racer, and races alongside her husband on the Space Dynamics Factory Team

Falco Lombardi (Falcon, Male, Star Falco #4, Sky Claw R)
Falco started his own team after Star Fox broke up, named Star Falco. At current, only he and Katt are on the team, and, without danger, the two decided to convert their spare fighters into racers.

Katt Monroe (Black Cat, Female, Star Falco #5, Cat’s Paw R)
Katt is the only other member of Falco’s team so far, and has been known to make strong advances on Falco. She’s been trying to get him to like her, and he may slowly be softening up…

Slippy Toad (Frog, Male, Aquas Performance #6 Bullfrog Special)
A former member of Star Fox, Slippy has been kept busy by his wife, Amanda, but he competes infrequently in races, having modified his Bullfrog into a racer

Wolf O’Donnell (Wolf, Male, Star Wolf/Lobo Performance #85, Wolfen Racer)
Former Pirate and leader of Star Wolf, he was forced to break up the team after the bounties on his and his teammate’s heads skyrocketed. Rumor is that he was captured by Bounty Huntress Shakira, and fell for her…

Leon Powalski (Chameleon, Male, Red Star Racing #87, Rainbow Delta R)
Leon Powalski was recently released from prison, and built his own racer, painting it in the ancient scheme of a MiG Fighter. He’s surprisingly calm, given his past record.

Panther Caruso (Panther, Male, Caliente Racing #88, Black Rose Special)
Often regarded as having the “largest libido on the grand prix circuit,” Caruso is a renowned skirt-chaser and aggressively pursues several women on the tour. (Including, unfortunately, Tanner and Miyu, which got him a swift kick in the pants from Tsu’s bionic leg.) One would think Ms. Maria Lopez would be right up his alley...

James McCloud (Fox, Male, Star Fox #01, Arwing Mk. I Racer "Little Wyvern")
A mysterious fox signed up for the midseason Venom Grand Prix last season, and handily won it, but never showed up to claim his prize. He flew a battered old Mk. I Arwing heavily modified into a ship dubbed "Little Wyvern." Could it be that Fox's Father is alive after all? Do you believe in ghosts?

So, that’s the revise. Any issues?