A GoogleMaps Game Idea

[Atvishees]

Hello, dear Forum.

 

Recently, I was toying with an idea for an intricate real time strategy game for use on maps provided Google Maps, particularly when utilising their road, building and traffic information:

A police tactics simulator, much in the style of both the Police Quest and Emergency series, and further inspired by things like the Class 3 Outbreak Simulator, Prison Architect and Sim City.

 

 

Much like in an Emergency game, you get to choose a building HQ on a designated coordinates of (preferably urban) terrain, from which you can patrol the streets on foot, car and air, respond to call-outs, execute warrants, organise raids and searches, handle hostage takings and public threats, surround buildings, cordon off areas, evacuate areas, participate in chases (both on roads and through pedestrian zones), set up road blocks, divert traffic, set up checkpoints, surveill and/or protect sensible locations, implement security zones, organise convoys and secure transports, police the traffic, police demonstrations, control large crowds, commence manhunts and rescue search operations, and even do some serious investigative detective work.

All of it randomly spawned, all of it playable anywhere in the word on real life locations. The possibilities are - quite - endless in gameplay regards.

 

The game would be designed to be either birds-eye view or (better yet) isometric; it would be 2- (or 2.5-) dimensional, with units, characters and effects consisting of 2d-sprites (themselves probably flash-based). There would be both a wide array of emergency units and civilian units randomly moving around the map on the roads and paths.

Personally, I'd be really excited if such a complete game ever came out.

 

There is one vital problem, however - I have little to no game development or coding experience. I don't know how to implement games like those on Google Maps (again, think of Class 3 Outbreak), nor do I know what game engines I could utilise to lay a basis for this kind of game.

 

That's why I've decided to ask here:

Can this sort of gaming concept popular? Could it take off? In how far would this be a sensible choice?

And what engines or programmes can be used to make such a game a reality? How did other games implement Google Maps as a basis for their gameplay?

Has this idea already crossed somebody's mind? Is anyone even remotely intrigued by this concept?

Are there any games like this one out there already? Are there any in development?

 

Thanks in advance for any tips, opinions and stimuli!

[seeker]

omg you could have made Pokemon go!!! 

Check out ingress, made by google

https://www.ingress.com/

It uses real time, geofencing, tribe mechanics and more. Fits nicely into your idea

I think the Police Tactics Simulator idea sounds fun too.

 

[bruno_]

Google maps licences are very expensive. Try to know prices before building. The free version may not be enough.

See also alternatives, like open street map.

Good idea, hope to see your games soon.

[jkohler]

i think it depends on how much users you plan to have.

anyway, i'm working on an OSM (Open Street Map) project, where i use http://leafletjs.com/

[seeker]

for solo dev like me, i use OSM too. 

[bdekk]

Perhaps you can take a look at Next Land (a game which has been posted in the showcase part of this forum recently). He/she uses OSM (Open Street Map)-data and Three.js to visualize a real map in 3D. (http://demo.next.land/).

 

About your concept. Would it be multiplayer? What would the scope of the project be? After all, you cannot recreate every "event". Could you make it a bit more explicit? To me, it seems like a version of non-firstperson GTA using real-world map data.

[RenStimpyShow]

@bdekk found a list of games using Open Street Map. Could be of use.

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Games