The Idea

The idea for the game came from an earlier prototype that I had created several years ago. It would simply generate random place names based on English villages, towns and cities, from there I have tried to take that idea and expand it into a game.

Working on my own with this project I had to strictly limit the design of the game to something simple that I could be capable of completing within the 48 hour limit. I decided to design a 2D top-down puzzle game with the focus being on one simple mechanic: arrive on time. 

The GMTK 2021 game jam would dictate the theme of 'joined together'. The player movement across the grid would form a line of track joining station to station.

Inspirations

The project is primarily inspired by existing transit maps and design themes, particularly metro systems (such as the London Underground) with a modern and clean look, where only the important information is available. 

I am a keen fan of Mini Metro but I wanted to try to distance myself from the project visually and in terms of gameplay to create something unique.

I had recently bought A Dictionary Of Color Combinations a book published in Japan and based on the 6-volume work of kimono designer and teacher Sanzo Wada. I am particularly drawn to the soft pastel tones that would not normally be used for a metro map. 

Pinkish cinnamon, olive yellow, greyish lavender and glaucous blue.

I am more of a fan of calming and introspective puzzle games that don't frustrate the player but try and reward the players for working out smart solutions to problems.

I have also found the book Transit Maps of the World to be extremely helpful for inspiration as it contained almost every modern transit map in the world. It covers how many maps have evolved over time, from more geographically accurate maps to those that are reduced to almost raw schematics consisting of primitive shapes.

It would be important for me to retain certain shapes (lines, circles) that would be necessary to indicate rail lines and stations and also to consider what a train or 'player' should look like.