Do you need a fighting game for learning Japanese?

[HORDECOMBAT]

Hi guys, I'm indie game developer, I'm creating a free open resource 3D fighting game, here are some Youtube clips about the demo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOXSjd6hVsc&list=PLFEzz3ehXKjUvj8riWKz-DYXTKJO_Xw0E&index=3.
The main purpose when I start this project, not just for entertainment, but also for education. In particular, it's a language learning system for hardcore gamers.
The are many language learning games, but most of them are for kid and girl. With true gamers, those simply games are so boring.
In my dream, this game could teach people how to write kanji of Japanese.I know it will be very risky, but these are what gamers need from indie game developers (implementing crazy ideas is my duty).
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There will be two modes. The first mode is Normal mode, it's just a normal fighting game, nothing to discuss here. The second mode is learning mode, where we should master Japanese to defeat opponent (your win depends on your playing skills like combo commiting, strategy... and your Japanese vocabulary, grammar... the ratio is 50:50).
Because this game is designed for hardcore gamer, so the system will be quite complicated, then it isn't suitable for popular audience. It will also help gamer could learn Japansese for playing Japanese fantasy video games, so the vocabulary will start with epic words like: dragon, sword, magic... Modern words like airport, car... will appear later.

There are many quizzes inside a battle. The quiz has form: What does X mean? and three choices. Player choose his choice by attacking opponent with rule: first choice is high parts like head, chest... second choice is middle parts like lower torso, hands... third choice is low parts like thighs and foot. If a player answer right first, he will get bonuses like HP, DEF, ATK, GAUGE, MOVEMENT... If the answer is wrong, he will be punished.

There are also RPG elements here. Guardian Card ( just like Guardian Force in Final Fantasy 8) will boost your character's status a little. Here are some examples (note: each race has specific Guardian Cards)

The Genius Gnome (Halfling)
+ 2 ATK in each strike of combo

The Wild Orc (Orc)
+ 10 ATK in first strike of combo

The Blue Lizardman (Reptile)
+ 15 ATK in last strike of combo

The Mountain King (Dwarf)
+ 5 DEF

The Dark Elf (Elf)
+ 20 MAX GAUGE

The Centaur Archer (Centaur)
+ 10 MOVEMENT

The Sealed Summoni (Oni)
- 5 DEF of enemy

The Young Mermaid (Mermaid)
+ 5 HP when you Parry

The Minotaur (Beastman)
Special skill Stomp the Earth

The Last Angel (Angel)
+ 2 HP per 10 second

The Brave Titan (Titan)
+ 20 MAX HP

Player could equip several GCs (maximum is 5). Each GC has 10 words. If player answer right a word of a GC in battle, the GC will gain EXPs. The GC could level up, then unlock the new word and increase the status. Max level is 10. If player anwser wrong, the GC will lost EXPs, and the level of GC may be decreased (so player has to remember words). When a GC achieve lv 10, player will gain its passive effect permanently, so player would unequip it and learn another GC.
For GC collecting, he will have to defeat insane bosses, with high HP, DEF and badass skills. The boss could equip GCs too. The bosses will appear follow the storyline and player's learning progress.

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I want to ask you guys a question: DO YOU NEED A FIGHTING GAME FOR LEARNING JAPANESE?
I really want to hear your opinions, listen what you want.
And of course , there will be another languages like Chinese, Spainish...
May be, you just need a game for fun, so I will continue make a normal fighting game. But if you say YES, I will create demo about learning game ideas.

 

[the.tok]

Hello,

I think this could potentially be a good idea, but I wonder wether this would be efficient to learn a language that way. It would be great if you can make it work.

If you go that route, I suggest you consider that the language that most people are trying to learn is usually English. If such a game would exist, I think English would be the first language that would be relevant, and for sure I would make it try to my gf, who is quite fond of fighting games, but struggles a bit with English

 

[HORDECOMBAT]

the.tok : The first version will only support learning Japanese by English, the other languages will be support in next versions.
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Yeah, gamers we spend a lot of time in playing game, just want to beat any challenge while gaming. Society says it's a waste of time. So why we shouldn't learn a foreign language at the same time? It will help us get a better life. (It's just what about gamification).
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This game even has a real plot for the reason why you have to learn a foreign language:

Humans are haughty
They conquered Myth-earth
The other races
Allied together
Defeated human
After ten decades
The peace is over
New war has begun
Forever again

An Elf scholar discovered an ancient language (it's the language you want to learn: Japanese, English, Spanish...). It has extreme power, called Rune Force . Everyone who understands it, could gain an unbelievable strength. But Rune Force is very hard to learn. So The Human invented a device called Guardian Card, for storing Rune Force in creature's form. The Human could build great armies because they would control Rune Force more efficiently than the other races. The Human was so ambitious, they did want to be King of Myth-earth. They conquered anywhere, and no race could stop them. The other races allied together for preventing The Human. The Human was lost, and other races drove them away from Myth-earth. Guardian Cards were banned in Myth-earth. After 100 years, these dangerous weapons appear again. Every race fights each other for possessing Guardian Cards. At the same time, The Human is planning for their revenge.

So you have to learn Rune Force(Japanese) for mastering Guardian Cards.
You could imagine the Rune Force here is something like spell in Harry Potter or Force in Star Wars.
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When fighting with bosses, it will be very hard to defeat them, if you don't remember words. So you can not unlock more Guardian Cards, characters... unless you actually study the language by mastering Guardian Cards.
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In PvP mode, you can challenge other friend, for proving that you learned more than them. Your friend could choose a different language from you. For example, you are studying Japanese, but your friend just only knew Spanish as second language, so there will be two quizzes in both two languages at the same time, you and your friend will have separate objectives to target. In each round, there will be about 5 quizzes (15 seconds per quiz).

 

[HORDECOMBAT]

I started this project from 2014, and I will continue develop it (I know it would cost several years of my life, but it's worth it).
I'm working hard on the first playable demo, and I will post it here when I finish.
This is a free game for the horde (just like its name). I even don't have a plan for sell it, freemium, banner ads, pay for dlc... in all platform PC, Linux, Mac, Android, iOS... I will also publish all resource I made (and code) to the indie game development community.
If you have any question, just ask here, I will reply asap.
Thank you for being kind and didn't suppose me as spammer.

 

[lordvaati]

wait..so it's an educational fighting game? so combat teaches you language or mathematics and such?

MY GAWD THAT IS AMAZING! strangely reminds me of an RPG I played on mobile once with a similar concept.

my suggestion for the language part is to probably look up the game Fallen London since I know that's sort of a game about "using language to beat a situation" and the like.

 

[HORDECOMBAT]

Why have I chosen Japanese and hardcore gamers?

I've chosen Japanese because gamers we really want to learn Japanese for playing their game, or even watch some kinds of movie (if you know what I mean).

This game only focuses on true hardcore gamers, I am going to develop another game for kids and girls, because this game is just for boys and men, then it will have a lot of something like boob, butt, blood... (and bike ). If you are hardcore gamer, absolutely you have a great mind. If you just don't want to try learning something new, just because it's so booooring. There is no way I would make a game could compete with big titles like MK, SF, Tekken... but if I create a video game as inspiration for gamer to study foreign language, it's already a good thing for the community (of course, if you don't want to learn language or this learning idea fails, you could just play the normal version ).
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The game idea is very risky. But nothing is impossible. And I'm still studying for creating a good gameplay, to make sure it's fun. When the playable demo is out, I could discuss more about the way we implement it.

For example: We are developing a Kanji drawing system by mouse dragging (or finger swiping on mobile ). It's not a new idea, but still is a useful feature, because you do not have to type for learning Kanji and Hanzi.

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If I want to attract hardcore gamers, the game itself must be a little epic. I've uploaded a clip to demonstrate Orc fighting style

Light Attack (L): Kick
Medium Attack (M): Shield bash
Heavy Attack (H): Upword slash

The first combo is M L H <- H .I will upload more demo clips about the remain combos.
There are still some weird animation bugs, I will fix them soon.

 

[HORDECOMBAT]

I added Motion Blur Effect like Tekken 6, you will see it while dashing.
I will ignore all animation bugs temporarily, for focusing more on AI development of the first playable demo.

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And please vote for this idea on Greenlit Game concept Section, so I can gain more critics

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=599564530

 

[HORDECOMBAT]

I've finished 30 Orc actions, the final demo clip here

I also started to create Titan's actions, so in the playable demo, I could demonstrate the gameplay of 3 different sizes (Dwarf, Orc, Titan)

And this is first testing actions of Titan