Summer Camp Architect

[Hanako Seishin]

So I've heard about that Prison Architect game, decided to look on youtube what it's all about and from what little I watched it the mechanics seemed to be fun, but I can't help but not find any appeal in the prison theme.
Then there was a rumor that after buying this game Paradox might turn it into a franchise with multiple games like "whatever Architect", and I was thinking what could be another setting that would work well with similar mechanics but be more pleasant to play, and what I thought was: a summer camp. Like, kids aren't prisoners, but they still sometimes can get silly ideas of escaping or some other mischief. Then you also organize dwellings for them, showers, canteen, all the same things. Oh, and let us edit the menu in the canteen. Dunno if it's present in the Prison Architect, I haven't watched a lot of it, but for a summer camp it would fit great.

And then I hope for a DLC or I guess more realistically a mod that would turn it into a soviet pioneer camp. So like Everlasting Summer the Strategy Game. Might just have catgirls and a Samantha Smith event as well.

Anyway, these are just random thoughts aloud. Surely Paradox already have their own ideas of what to do with the IP, so whatever. One can still dream, right?

 

[Oliver Twopence]

I think that sounds like almost the exact same game, so I suppose it fits. Or a boarding school.

It is understandable that the theme might be uncomfortable for some; we all have our preferences. But I also think that a part of the appeal for a lot of people is the somewhat dark theme. The developers have always been a bit tongue-in-cheek about it, describing the game as a "lock-em-up", but in the end I think it does treat the subject matter seriously enough.

I think what your suggestion lacks on the surface, is a sense of high stakes. With a prison there is a chance of catastrophic failure if you manage to mess up badly enough. This arises naturally from what a prison is: a place you incarcerate people, some of whom are violent (and even guilty of crimes!). With a summer camp... perhaps not so much? I think such a game would have to incorperate some more or less unrealistic elements to keep the pressure up. Like animal attacks, demonic pocessions, stereotypical serial killers à la Michael Myers, and violent outbreaks of herpes to contain.

But that is just my preference. I haven't played much of Prison Architect, because in the end I have discovered that games like that don't fit me very well. They reward planning ahead, but I struggle to stop planning and start building.

 

[Hanako Seishin]

But I also think that a part of the appeal for a lot of people is the somewhat dark theme.But I also think that a part of the appeal for a lot of people is the somewhat dark theme.

I guess so, but I imagine there should be also enough people who would find the summer camp theme more appealing. After I got this idea I did a quick google search and there doesn't seem to yet be a game like that, which was actually pretty surprising, but it seems this niche just waits to be taken, and here we already have a nicely fitting game mechanic for it.

With a prison there is a chance of catastrophic failure if you manage to mess up badly enough. With a summer camp... perhaps not so much?

Just look away from the children for a moment and they'll find any possible way to drown in the river, get lost in the forest, or even set the camp on fire... plenty of options for things to end fatally.

Like animal attacks, demonic pocessions, stereotypical serial killers à la Michael Myers, and violent outbreaks of herpes to contain.

Animals can be a realistic danger too, but yeah, the less realistic kind of stuff can be fun too, maybe as parts of DLC that could be turned off in the game rules like CK2 demon worshipers. Maybe it can be a spooky stories themed DLC? Maybe if you let a child die in your camp, they can become a ghost and haunt it. Wait, now players are trying to intentionally kill children to experience this content. What have I done... lol.
Then there can be more realistic catastrophic events too like epidemics and massive food poisoning (build enough toilets!)

 

[elektrizikekswerk]

I think what your suggestion lacks on the surface, is a sense of high stakes. With a prison there is a chance of catastrophic failure if you manage to mess up badly enough. This arises naturally from what a prison is: a place you incarcerate people, some of whom are violent (and even guilty of crimes!). With a summer camp... perhaps not so much? I think such a game would have to incorperate some more or less unrealistic elements to keep the pressure up. Like animal attacks, demonic pocessions, stereotypical serial killers à la Michael Myers, and violent outbreaks of herpes to contain.

Not every management / tycoon game needs large scale catastrophes to be enjoyable. And in the end the idea of Prison Architect is not that different to - let's say - Theme Hospital or Rollercoaster Tycoon. Both of which work fine without demonic possessions
But in either case your business goes south if you do it wrong. And it can go south fast.

But then again - as you said - it's all about preferences.

 

[Oliver Twopence]

I suppose you are right. I do somewhat enjoy Planet Coaster in a relaxing kind of way.