R:CD Early Design 1

Robotech Story Design - 1st pass

Limitations:

We want a game that uses the first generation mecha, from the Macross portion of the Robotech timeline. Thus, the story should occur prior to the launching of the SDF-3 (the beginning of the Sentinals storyline).

The story needs to include a crystal enemy (called Ebolians) that can split from larger structures to individual ships and re-form. They will be working with the enemy Zentraedi.

A Little History:

[Since I was the only dedicated Robotech fan on the development team, I made sure to add some of the backstory for the rest of the team. I used the dates from the McKinney novels, unaware at the time of the fan conflicts over the various timelines used by the different Robotech sources]

In 2012, Dolza's Zentraedi armada of five million ships was destroyed in the now classic Minmei attack (Macross episode 28). Our heros returned to Earth to begin rebuilding the nearly destroyed planet. The Robotech Masters abandon their failing empire, and begin the long trip to Earth in search of the Protoculture Factory hidden by Zor in the SDF-1.

In 2014, Khyron begins attacking the Robotech Defence forces, which leads to the destruction of the SDF-1, SDF-2, and Macross City (Macross episode 36). This is the end of the Macross cartoon series. Aboard the Robotech Factory Satellite, work on the SDF-3 begins.

In 2015, the zenophobic General Anatole Leonard begins forming his own army in South America, known as the Army of the Southern Cross. Combined with the growing dissatisfaction of many Zentraedi, this leads to the Malcontent Uprisings, which end in 2018. This leads the remaining Zentraedi to self-exile themselves to the Robotech Factory (according to the novels, though rpg contradicts).

The Robotech Expeditionary Force leaves Earth with the SDF-3 in 2020, which begins the Sentinals storyline.

The Game Story:

[I needed a way to bring in a new group of enemy Zentraedi, as well as a method for bringing in the crystals. A lost fleet of Zen ships that stumbled across a massive alien crystal entity that could ingest energy (expecially Protoculture energy) seemed like a very anime-like way to put it together.]

Dolza's armada consisted of the majority of the Zentreadi race. However, a few small fleets of Zentraedi ships were left to police the outer sectors of the Robotech Master's empire. With the destruction of the armada, and the disappearance of the Robotech Masters, these few remaining forces were left completely leaderless.

One group of twenty ships, aimlessly traveling the far reaches of the galaxy, stumbles across a planet inhabited by living crystals with a single collective intelligence. This intelligence, seeing the potential of the Zentreadi technology and people, becomes a new master for these lost warriors.

Desiring the Protoculture Matrix for itself, it promises the lost Zentreadi a chance for revenge against the destroyers of their race, the people of Earth. They begin a search for the planet of micronians.

In 2019, a year after the end of the Malcontent Uprisings, and a year before the SDF-3 launches, a massive crystal ship, surrounded by twenty Zentraedi ships, folds into existance above Earth. The crystal begins to split off pieces of itself, and, with the lost Zentreadi, attacks. Several orbiting platforms (A.R.M.D.) are destroyed, and the RDF mobilizes its forces.

You, as the player, are launched from the RDF base at New Albuquerque in a VT-1A Veritech with a disposable rocket sled (to reach orbit). Once you reach orbit, the sled drops off, and you take control for the first battle. Most missions after the first launch you from orbiting platforms or the Robotech Factory, rather than the planet. [This exact scene lasted all the way through the game design, even though it would not have been in the game itself. It did end up in the promotional comic we put together over two years after this document was written. Since the RPG mentions a major RDF base at my home-town of Albuquerque, I had to use it in the game!]

As you complete missions, you rise in rank, getting to use the VF-1J and VF-1S Veritechs, and eventually even the Super Veritech and Armored Veritech (if there is room for them in the game [There wasn't...]).

Throughout the primary story of stopping these new invaders, there will be hints of the ongoing politics on Earth. General Leonard will use this crisis as a chance to further his consolidation of the military forces on Earth, as well as fostering the bad feelings left in many people toward the earthbound Zentraedi left over from the Malcontent Uprisings. By the end of the game, this bad blood will be the final straw that leads most of the remaining Zenteadi to self-exile themselves to the Robotech Factory.

The reason for choosing this particular time period is that the first generation Veritechs are still in use, though not for much longer. The brief period between 2018 and 2020 is one of the few in the Robotech saga that has no stories already written, and the majority of the Macross characters are still on Earth, as well as early versions of some of the Southern Cross characters. The above story fills in this gap without conflicting with any other Robotech stories, and even fits into the established chronology. [Note that I was using the McKinney novels as my source for the dates... by the time I was writting the dialog, I made sure to never make any references to specific dates since the purists have the SDF-3 launch date set in 2022.]

The storyline will be explored mostly during gameplay, in the form of messages sent to the player. At the beginning of the game, all you will know is that some Zentraedi have folded into space above the planet, and are attacking.

Details and Notes:

During flight, the screen shows current speed, indicators for what weapons are available and selected, Something that tells where targets are around you, a window showing info on currently selected target, and a window showing a representation of your Veritech in its current mode. This window also highlights damage.

The primary weapon cursor indicates the weapon configuration, and changes when aimed at the currently selected target.

The currently selected target is highlighted in both the targets window and out the cockpit window. The main window highlight shows whether the secondary weapon is locked on (if applicable for the weapon).

The story should include some sort of music weapon (the now famous Minmai attack) to confuse the enemy, since this idea is an intregal part of the original cartoon series. This also gives us a conveniant excuse to play music during the missions even though it would be expected anyway.

The background of stars during the missions should include other 2D objects, such as planets and moons, and distant ships. Perhaps some of them can animate (move, explode, etc.). If possible, some of these objects could even scale a bit as you fly around, showing you getting nearer or further. [note here that we didn't even know whether we would have the graphical power to display full 3D models of the capital ships at this point in the game design... which is also why the crystals were put in]

We may be able to create the entire range of Zentraedi Battlepods in little space, since all are just the base Battlepod with a couple of added appendiges. This is also true of the Veritechs, since the only major differences are the head lasers (except in Super and Armored VTs). Also, we should have the Quadrano (female) Battle Armor, which is the fastest Zentraedi attackcraft. The Officers Pod is a must have. We may also want to throw in something new, designed between the lost Zentreadi and the crystal collective intelligence.

You can send me mail at opus@opusgames.com