Creativity & Other Lies

I am supposed to build a small "choose your own adventure" game where each screen will provide the players with some options, and based on the option opted for, the story will progress. And we are supposed to build a "state" asset in unity (not sure if this is the correct term :p ) which we can then use to build as many branches as we like. Each state will ask for its branches and when provided, we have ourselves a working "game engine". And this is what I meant when I said such games seem to be "deterministic". Your choices matter for the story to progress but the same set of inputs will always yield the same output. You are not dealing with chance, or even with a system that you can work. And I want it different for my game, albeit it being just a small assignment. So I went with this idea: You are given a randomized set of starting resources namely: Population (subdivided into male and female, separately) Dimaa (Source of magic and sustenance ...

First thing's first, an introduction. I am a game designer by profession and I sometimes do concept art and in-game art as well. But working for someone means you don't get to choose the limitations you want to be put on yourself. You don't get to choose the IP, or the kind of game you want to make. These things are dictated top-down. So I have been thinking of starting a side project of my own for some time now. I tried to get some programmers onboard, but I guess I am not as persuasive as I like to think I am. But now I have taken things in my own hand and this blog is going to be my diary of the journey that I am undertaking which may or may not end up in success. So, being a designer, I know the game(s) I want to make and the IP want to build around it. I can also dabble in some concept art. What I am currently zero at, is programming and 3D art (especially making game-ready assets). I can model a little bit in zbrush, but the direct output of that is millions of polygo...