In the last month my game ProtoMasons, a multi-player life simulator and building game, has been submitted to Steam Greenlight in hopes of garnering support for a release.
ProtoMasons is based in an Earth-like, 2D side-scroller world. The player controls a human 'Protomason', a fictional multi-purpose engineer. There is no storyline or predefined goal, except to survive and create.
Typically, the gameplay consists of constructing buildings, manufacturing products, and assembling materials. A player must also keep their character healthy, by satisfying day-to-day needs (such as hunger and thirst) and combating illness.
Since the submission to the Steam Greenlight programme, I've started a development diary on the TIGsource forums, as well as participating in the IndieDB community. Feedback and support is important, especially as ProtoMasons is still in development.
At this early stage, ProtoMasons needs to attract the niche it is targetting; people who love to build creatively, enjoy 2D side-scroller games, and like to work with (or against) their friends. This isn't an easy job when your Greenlight entry can't be played.
Another one of the challenges, of course, is trying to pitch a unique game against preconceived expectations. The phrase "sandbox game" meant something very different before Minecraft shuffled into history. Throw in the term "side-scroller" and you have pixelated visions of Terraria flashing into mind. ProtoMasons is like neither.
The journey from here is to grow the Greenlight page and continue making the multi-player game that I've dreamed of building for a long time. If you want to support ProtoMasons, you can do so below:
Steam Greenlight (a vote would be helpful)
IndieDB Page
TIGsoruce Development Log
Interesting concept and definetly unique! Voted on Greenlight :)
Thanks for the support, TouchTilt.