at left, original drawing by Otto DixHigh Concept Document
The Great War is a strategy war game, as well as a management simulation of the first world war. It involves moving armies, fighting battles, and allocating resources for multiplayers, each player representing one of the nations involved in world war one, with the computer able to take on the role of one or more players.
The player chooses to play as the leader of one of the participating countries (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire or Britain, France, Russia, Italy, or USA.). The leaders of the other countries are either played by other persons (in multiplayer mode), or the computer. (in single-player or multi-player mode).
The genre is a hybrid between a strategy game and a management game. This game simulates the strategic gameplay used by generals (and admirals) in the actual World War I. The decisions the player makes involves strategy, not only in the military sense but in a logistical sense, and a political sense, involving the taxation of citizens (subjects), and the drafting of soldiers. Cooperative play is required between allies.
The camera mode is primarily isometric, but also includes a top-down map perspective for the overall map of the entire gameworld, with simplified icons, to gain an idea of the overall strategy. Battle scenes are cinematic sequences which the player cannot interact with, which are isometric and intended to entertain, and give some idea of what the battle would look like.
The two game modes would be the live portion in which moves are executed and battles are fought, and the static resource allocation and building phase, in which the player clicks on resources, which are paid for out of the treasury, and clicks on build icons to build trenches, barracks, roads, hospitals.
The player faces the challenge of allocating resources wisely, building where needed, using armies and navies wisely, dealing with setbacks such as lost battles, or a lack of sufficient resources. The challenge is to figure the best way to fight your opponents, not just attacking blindly at every opportunity.
The target audience would be history buffs, especially military history. Another potential audience would consist of those interested in developing managerial skills, in that a primary aspect of The Great War involves managing resources. It is just as critical as sending armies into battle. Fans of war games in general, who like a good shoot-em-up, will also enjoy The Great War. Although it is not a first person shooter game, it does contain cinematic sequences which enhance the battles, giving a sense of what the battle would probably look like from a much closer perspective. The Great War appeals to people who would like to imagine being a world leader making decisions affecting the lives of millions of people. The target audience consists more of casual players than core players.
The platform would be for the PC or iMac. There would be a single-player version on a CD-ROM as well as an online multiplayer version.
Although each player (human or computer), leads one country, allies should play in cooperation with one another. However, each player can determine the degree of cooperation, as in the degree of intelligence sharing. Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire are the Central Powers. Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and the US are the Entente.
On all levels except one, the game begins with all players except the US having declared war, and are moving armies, navies, allocating resources in anticipation of the enemies deployment. On all levels the game ends when the opponents either surrender, arrange an armistice, or all of their military units are destroyed. The player need not accept an armistice or even a surrender. The player can choose to play until all enemy units are destroyed.
The first four levels consist of armies only (air units were part of the armies in WWI). Naval units come into play in the fifth and sixth level.
First level takes place in Northeastern France, the Low countries, and Germany, west of the Rhine. This is the Western Front. Only Britain, France, the US, and Germany are players on this level. The US is played by computer and does not enter the game before 1917. (The game consists of turns, in which each turn equals one month, beginning with August 1914, therefore the US cannot enter the game until the 30th turn.)
Second level takes place in Eastern Germany, Northern Austria-Hungary, and Western Russia. It is the Eastern Front. The only players are Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary.
Third level takes place in Northern Italy and Southern Austria-Hungary. It is the Italian or Southern Front. The only players are Italy and Austria-Hungary.
Fourth level takes place in the Western Front, beginning with the US entry into the war in 1917. This level is only for human players playing the US. Otherwise it is the same as Level One.
This level exists for players who want to play as the US.
Fifth level takes place over all of Europe, and includes naval units. All participating countries are included in this level. The US however, is played by computer and does not enter the game until 1917.
Sixth level takes place over the entire Earth. It allows for a greater use of naval units. The Ottoman Empire has more of a role to play here than on the Fourth level, and it allows you to expand the gameplay into the various colonies held by Britain, France, and Germany. Cinematic sequences do not occur during battles on this level. The US, played by computer, does not enter gameplay until 1917.
The gameplay consists of movement of armies (which may include air units attached to them), naval units, supply, and medical units. It also consists of battles fought between opposing units (depicted by a cinematic sequence, which can be toggled out of). There is also the ability to stage artillery assaults (some of which are moved by rail), air attacks, and battles between aircraft. There is also the ability to construct trenches, makeshift hospitals, barracks, fortifications. Money is raised from taxes, loans from allies. It can be spent on resources. Weapons can be purchased from allies. More troops can be produced from the population, up to a point. Weapons can be manufactured. Icons represent each unit, or each resource on the map. The gameplay environment consists of a map of the region (except when cinematic sequences are playing). Although the US does not actively enter the game until 1917 with the arrival of American troops in France, Entente countries can pay for weapons, or other supplies from the US, and the computer will also generate US volunteer units (not very many), prior to the entry into the war.
The Otto Dix drawing is from http://www.cynical-c.com/?p=9035.
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