What do people want to see in a Tower Defence game?

[La~]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently working on a new Tower Defence (As of a few months ago) and I'm very interested in hearing what the community itself would love to see in a TD game. I'm a huge fan of the genre and thus why I'm aimed my focus on creating a new type of TD that also expands on the age old gameplay style.

We have downloaded every known TD game for the iPhone - and taken on board all of these games reviews as well, but would love an actual thread here to see what the community here would like to see in a new TD game.

These are current set in stone things we'll have:

•Multiple fixed spawn points (EG we'll be following the old-style enemies following a set path, though these enemies might come from different paths - depending on the map)

•Towers which do more then just damage (EG some can slow, others do splash/area based damage)

•Easy, Medium, Hard

•Online scoreboard

•Autosaving

And many other things that i'm not yet ready to open to the floor (as we may or may not change them as we move along) though the above are already set and done features we'll be releasing in version 1.

I would love some ideas from the community, or even just things you'd like to see!

Some ideas we're toying with as examples:

•Interest earned (EG sentinel, earning back 5% of total gold at end of waves)
•Unlimited Tower upgrades (scaling price as you get them higher)
•Achievements & special rewards for completing them (EG if you have done 5, you begin with an extra 20 gold on each map)

We've also got a special unit which will be controlled unlike anything that's been done in a Tower Defence based game before.

The vast majority of the art for the game has already been completed, though the UI is currently in work so I'm not ready to show any screenshots today from the game, though we most certainly have a very playable version up and running, though to give an idea - heres a tower and an enemy from the game:

http://idisk.me.com/kgosschalk/Public/Pictures/Skitch/turret-20100315-134854.gif

http://idisk.me.com/kgosschalk/Public/bot10.gif


Looking forward to hearing some of your thoughts on Tower Defence! I know you all love em! :)

[rogerchiu]

I love TD too. Waiting for your new app.

One of the most important you (maybe) missed. The autosave function. It is MUST for iPhone TD game.

A store to upgrade some common basic unit power. And those tower can be upgrade more powerful in game.

Store can be purchase some extra item, eg. the graphics, music.

That's another idea I do not found at the other TD game. Add quest to the game. You can have different goal for the user to finished. Not only 20 or 60 waves to finished the game.

WOW.. Lots of idea want to tell.. ^O^

[La~]

I love TD too. Waiting for your new app.

One of the most important you (maybe) missed. The autosave function. It is MUST for iPhone TD game.

A store to upgrade some common basic unit power. And those tower can be upgrade more powerful in game.

Store can be purchase some extra item, eg. the graphics, music.

That's another idea I do not found at the other TD game. Add quest to the game. You can have different goal for the user to finished. Not only 20 or 60 waves to finished the game.

WOW.. Lots of idea want to tell.. ^O^

Haha, autosave is already complete :) - I agree, it's 100% a must have.

For now, DLC isn't something I'm considering (if that's what you mean by store - or do you mean in-game gold/score points?) - all features will be free upgrades for users.

A quest style element is interesting, that could also tie in very well with our special unit we're adding in. I'll add it to the list, thanks!

[Kamazar]

Megan Fox.

[backtothis]

A promise there won't be any more?

[defense123]

Well, I love Tower Defense game. It's very interesting and attractive. Play this game online here.:)
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[Mindfield]

A promise there won't be any more?

Pretty much this. TD games are like match-3 games: The market's oversaturated with them, so unless you can do something radically different and interesting with one -- without looking like you're doing it for its own sake -- it's going to be next to impossible to stand out.

I like TD games, don't get me wrong, but it's jumped the shark. And then it doubled back and beat the shark to death. With a horse. If I had to answer what I want to see in a TD game, then it would be, as I said, something radically different in a way that gets my attention and doesn't just half-ass it with the standard formula. In other words: Something with a respectable degree of originality and a very high degree of polish. I realize that's pretty damn difficult, but let's be honest here: Anything less and you're just joining the rest of the mediocre TD developers who are all clamouring for an increasingly small slice of an increasingly stale pie.

[freedog]

2 important things to me for TD games...

1. Plenty of towers/weapons
2. Good Balance between cost of towers in relation to earnings.

[johnwayne]

look at this one

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=297558390&mt=8

it's free and better than most other TD-Games. 7 Cities is also good and has a XP-Earnings System which is also good in TD-Games.

[La~]

2 important things to me for TD games...

1. Plenty of towers/weapons
2. Good Balance between cost of towers in relation to earnings.

We're aiming for several different types of Towers, and some unique ones - we're starting beta testing in a few weeks, and expecting it to run up until release, so we're sure we'll get the gameplay balance right.

[aznriceboi13]

maybe an option to move a tower that already has been placed

[TheFamousEccles]

maybe an option to move a tower that already has been placed

That's actually a neat idea... A weak tower that can be moved x times per round.

I think if you want to penetrate the TD market, you'll need at least a dozen towers.

[GodSon]

Star Defense(full 3-D) with Defender Chronicles(RPG) elements. ;)

[deiden26]

a complex, branching upgrade system were two separate towers originally of the same kind can be upgraded into two different towers. I feel that this is preferable to many different kind of towers because it gives the sense of uncovering new possibilities as you play (and replay) that come from different upgrade paths taken along the way. It also kills the boring mechanism of having to make good towers that you have slightly better towers over and over again and inspires a greater sense of progressing.

ex: http://www.addictinggames.com/antbuster.html

[aznriceboi13]

hmm maybe combo towers

[OrangeVegan]

power ups and drops.

RPG elements for sure, I've played SO many hours of Defender Chronicles.

Ease of use, comedy and extreme amount of content like Plants vs. Zombies.

mini games like PvZ desktop or the intermission games like the bowling in either version.

upgrading towers is one of the best parts of TD, making it feel important is the key. Adding poisoned arrows in Defender Chronicles was Awesome! Attributes like that.

I probably would never use it, but adding multiplayer would be pretty fun and new. The second player could choose what enemies to send out (and from where if there are multiple spawn points)

[steelfires]

I personally like combination towers and multiple upgrade paths. Plus all sorts of special towers. Go look at Bloons Tower Defense 4. That's the type of tower defense I like.

[Zolty]

I only want one thing. Addictive gameplay :)

[mlkaufman]

A promise there won't be any more?

If you are so sick of them, wouldn't it be easier to just ignore TD related thread and TD games?

[La~]

power ups and drops.

RPG elements for sure, I've played SO many hours of Defender Chronicles.

Ease of use, comedy and extreme amount of content like Plants vs. Zombies.

mini games like PvZ desktop or the intermission games like the bowling in either version.

upgrading towers is one of the best parts of TD, making it feel important is the key. Adding poisoned arrows in Defender Chronicles was Awesome! Attributes like that.

I probably would never use it, but adding multiplayer would be pretty fun and new. The second player could choose what enemies to send out (and from where if there are multiple spawn points)

Mini-games are an interesting thought - I can think of several that would fit... and one very strong concept - I'll add this to the list for sure!

And I agree with everyones statements on the Towers & the upgrade system requiring a very in-depth look - which is exactly why we're asking what everyone wants! :)

[Gadm]

Maybe this will help, my favs:
Sentinel (great interest bonus for saving money)
7Cities (great Towers improvement based on kills)
Defender Chronicles (great RPG elements)
GeoDefense (great example of gameplay and difficulty where they can beat graphics and make one of the best TDs)
Fieldrunners (A classic, you have to think alot how and what to put on the path)

[Serpentdivine]

I would like to see the end of the genre.

How many of these things do you need? I don't even like them and I've still managed to download (and delete) multiple variations on theme.

Basically this sucker has been milked completely dry. It's like the 'Pink Panther' movies soldiering on even after all entertainment value has long since fled the scene.

[freedog]

They just need to expand upon the genre instead of just coming out with copycat TD games with a new theme. They need to add more creative stuff into the mix... unique towers, new styles of gameplay, story... whatever as long as it works, is new and refreshing enough.

[relm1]

What I look for in a TD:
1. Excellent balance - really, I've not played any tower defense that is as well balanced as Fieldrunners. That is the standard by which I compare all other TD games in this area.
2. Great graphics - Sentinel 1 & 2 have great graphics, so does Dragon Slaughter, but these type of colorful, realistic rendered, smooth framerate graphics are great. I also like animation when an attack/kill happens.
3. Interest on unspent money is a good idea - this provides the delima of "should I buy all the upgrades I want or hold off"?
4. The ability to use the landscape for your strategy. I prefer free style maps (like Fieldrunners) where your strategy is used to build a path.
5. A variety of enemies (flying, ground, tanks, mysterious types, etc.). I prefer some enemies that come in later levels to keep you playing to see what comes next.
6. Variety of landscapes/levels each with unique characteristics and strategies.
7. Ability to speed up game 1x, 2x, 3x.
8. Great balance - yeah, I know I mentioned this on # 1, but this makes or breaks a TD in my opinion.

[mlkaufman]

What I look for in a TD:
1. Excellent balance - really, I've not played any tower defense that is as well balanced as Fieldrunners. That is the standard by which I compare all other TD games in this area.
2. Great graphics - Sentinel 1 & 2 have great graphics, so does Dragon Slaughter, but these type of colorful, realistic rendered, smooth framerate graphics are great. I also like animation when an attack/kill happens.
3. Interest on unspent money is a good idea - this provides the delima of "should I buy all the upgrades I want or hold off"?
4. The ability to use the landscape for your strategy. I prefer free style maps (like Fieldrunners) where your strategy is used to build a path.
5. A variety of enemies (flying, ground, tanks, mysterious types, etc.). I prefer some enemies that come in later levels to keep you playing to see what comes next.
6. Variety of landscapes/levels each with unique characteristics and strategies.
7. Ability to speed up game 1x, 2x, 3x.
8. Great balance - yeah, I know I mentioned this on # 1, but this makes or breaks a TD in my opinion.

Great list. I would add


9. Saves that game state at the current point when you exit.

[Abi646]

I love rpg elements like defender chronicles. I also think it would be good to have multiple branches of upgrades for your towers so that you can start with 2 of the same and end up with 2 different ones. Also give interest for the money you saved. I love How towers in 7 cities level up by how effective they are at killing enemies. Finally I'd like to see Internet multiplayer

[La~]

They just need to expand upon the genre instead of just coming out with copycat TD games with a new theme. They need to add more creative stuff into the mix... unique towers, new styles of gameplay, story... whatever as long as it works, is new and refreshing enough.

Hi. We're aiming to do just this, we have a lot of ideas, and we're building this game in a very unique way - obviously easier said then done, which is why we're getting some community feedback during our build process to ensure we can fine tune the features everyone wants most.

Balance is obviously our largest concern as well - to ensure it all flows together smoothly, which is why we're getting play testing done (we have a special method of doing this, that allows us to do it much faster then standard iPhone dev) on everything we implement, even while we're still awhile from completion.

[La~]

We've got another great concept, we think will be a hit outside of building just plain Towers - but also "Buildings\Facilities" which will add addition effects rather then attack enemies - they would take up Tower spots on the map, but would give things such as regain a life every xx amount of seconds (depending on upgrades..)

[Movementcat]

RPG Elements for sure !!!

Much Items, Random Item Dropps from each Map, a spechial Unit that have some Special Abilitys, much different stats (HP, MP, DEX, SPI, DEFENSE etc etc), co-op would be very nice ! one defend left the other right, if some creeps pass left may right can defend.

May some levels that need some equipp changes frozen level that may better you wear frost resist equippment.

Creeps that shotback and you may need some Repair units/towers.

No 3D Grafic is not the same feeling.

[Random_Guy]

A compelling storyline.

[eev]

the most important feature if this game is fixed path TD - should be possibility for random generation of maps, such random generation should of course has its limits and depend on difficulty level. Such simple addition will make the replay value of the game really high. And of course many towers with some complex upgrades.
It's actually pretty amazing that there is no TD games with such feature in appstore.

Sometimes i want smartphone with windows again just because of TD games like Tower Wars. Would be nice to have Seven Seas on iphone too.

[crazyfruitgal]

Best TD games in my opinion in order are

Zombiesmash!
Plants VS Zombies
Defend your castle

those in my opinion are the best and are the only worth buying ones in the app store.

[ultimo]

TowerDefense is missing Randomness.....
We all kno whts coming in Every wave... & how many of them

[La~]

What are peoples thoughts regarding online leader boards for a TD game -

Do people want them in every level - or another concept we're thinking is an "arena" based stage, that would be heavily balanced around the fact it was for online scores (eg it would be endless, etc) - meanwhile the other maps would just be local scores.

We've even considering the online score just pooling all your scores across all maps together and submitting that. I'm not 100% sure how many users look at online scores on a map by map basis.

[Matt56]

i think td games should be really hectic, and so i think that instead of saving up to buy the more powerful towers the game should force you to continuously buy towers. Also bluetooth multiplayer where one friend controls enemies been let out and the other buys the towers to defeat the friend - that would be so sick

[La~]

We're looking at around 6-7 attacking towers, and 5-7 support type towers/structures as of right now. Each with their own upgrade levels and unique graphic changes per upgrade.

[B34$T]

Multiplayer, controlable character to set up towers, witty storyline, great balance and satisfaction, awesome enemy sounds, risk reward system for upgrading towers(eg. upgrade a vertain tower to be stronger to give up range), and leaderboards.

If a td had all those, I would delete all others that I own.

[Rickardred17]

Intrest u earn on money in ur saving is good, also some mission with fixed path and some free build, ample tower types, tower that when in proximity to another increases damage range etc., more than one kind of upgrade like bloons td, upgrades actually making the animations differ, and the ability to continue after beating a mission.

[acidshaman]

really good graphics or really good art style (these flash images don't wow me)

Story, as well as interesting twists to standard tower defence games.. Maybe like one on a cube-borg type world where towers can be shooting at aliens crawling above them

[pblive]

I love Tower Defence games in general, but for me it was a non-iPhone game that got me thinking about how they could be more than just a clone of some other game.

Ninjatown on DS was one of the best TD experiences I've had. At heart it's just another Tower Defence, buildings along a set path with different skill sets and levelling up. But it was the storyline and the characters which really made the game unique. The humour and lovable ninjas plus the great story had me enthralled from the first level.

So, ideally, I'd like to see a story and some characters instead of just towers to identify with. Watching your characters fight their adversaries is so much more rewarding than just watching a tower fire out bullets or whatever. I think that's part of why PvsZ was so successful.

The only thing wrong with Ninjatown was the lack of extras once you'd finished the story, it could have done with an editor or option to have random generated paths once the main game had been completed.

[b00mers]

20+ towers .. that what makes pvz so good also it needs a wide range of maps likw 20+