Brainstorming Cursor Incremental
I subscribe to the notion that everyone has ideas, but it's the execution that is difficult. Well, sometimes the ideas are difficult too.
I subscribe to the notion that everyone has ideas, but it's the execution that is difficult. Well, sometimes the ideas are difficult too.
I’ve made good progress on the core functions of my game. Two cursor types exist, the axe and pickaxe, that allow for mining trees and rocks. An upgrade system is in place that lets the player purchase improvements using the resources they’ve collected. Asa reminder, you can try out the game in it's current state.
Alex
Conceptually, I have an idea of how I want the game to progress, along with some key mechanics. Here are the basics so far.
Main Concepts
- Cursor tools can be manually used.
- Automated behavior can be unlocked for each tool, allowing them to act on their own.
- Special abilities can be unlocked for each tool to increase their effectiveness.
- While automation allows tools to operate independently, the game is not meant to be idle. It’s designed to be actively played.
What’s Missing
- A core goal to work toward.
- A unique set of interesting cursor tools that create meaningful gameplay opportunities.
Core Goal Ideas
I’ve had two somewhat related thoughts about what the main goal of the game could be.
One idea is that your mouse cursor is thrown in “cursor jail” and has to escape somehow to return back to your operating system. I’m not exactly sure how this would work, but I like the concept. It could lead to some funny or unexpected moments.
The other idea is more straightforward: dig a hole as deep as possible. This would involve some kind of depth meter to track progress. You might start with a basic shovel, which you can improve over time, until you eventually unlock an automated drill that consumes resources to keep running. I see a nice progression curve here, with clear gates for the player. As the player digs deeper, it becomes more difficult, requiring better tools and upgrades to continue.
Additional Cursors and Concepts
Beyond collecting wood and stone, I’ve struggled to come up with other resources that make sense. I want to keep the resource list small and make sure each one has unique mechanics or interesting uses.
Mushrooms, Berries, or Food
I currently have an energy system that consumes energy with each click. I’m not sure yet if I want to keep it, but it could help balance cursor abilities. Food items might temporarily boost energy gain or allow for more frequent actions.
Bucket
One of the core ideas behind incremental games is that actions that are tedious or slow early on become easier or automated over time. For example, picking up logs could initially require individual clicks or dragging them to storage. A bucket cursor could let the player pick up multiple resources at once. This also opens the door to upgrades like pickup range or total bucket size. Once automated, the bucket could slowly roam and collect resources on its own.
Watering Can
The watering can already exists in Kenney’s Cursor Pixel Pack, so I’m working backward from there. It could be used to increase tree regrowth speed. Maybe it also triggers special tree types or denser forests that yield more resources. This would give players a reason to switch between the watering can and the axe depending on the situation.
Shovel
I’ve had two ideas for the shovel. One ties into the digging goal mentioned earlier—the shovel would be the first tool used to dig down. There would be a designated dig zone where the player could dig to increase depth.
Alternatively, the shovel could be used to uncover rocks or ore. Like the watering can, it could increase spawn rates or unlock rare variants.
Searching for Ideas
This whole project started because I was browsing asset packs on Kenney.nl. Exploring more of the available assets has sparked other ideas. The bomb could function similarly to the shovel or pickaxe. A hammer could... do something. There’s also a flashlight and a sword. Should the player fight off creatures? I even made this pig myself.
One hard part about being a solo dev is that every decision is yours alone. Sometimes I wish I could just focus on execution without needing to invent everything from scratch. These ideas aren’t particularly unique, but making sure they’re fun and not overly repetitive is really important to me.