I recall some time ago, hearing of an open source portable game console that was in development before, but I can't honestly say I've looked into it.

This changed recently when I read about the Ares, which is a very bold idea, a totally open source console. Gizmo for You has succeeded admirably, the only problem is that they seem to have found themselves in a chicken-and-egg situation. Nobody is developing any games for the platform because nobody is buying games for the platform because nobody is developing games for the platform.

To combat this situation, they recently launched a competition, open to Irrlicht or Ogre3D developers, to write a game for the platform. Two lucky winners will receive an Ares on which to develop their idea. The first place winner will also receive $1,500 Euro in two installments, half up-front and half at completion.

So, as my good deed for the week, I've decided to write something for the Ares and submit it. And it wouldn't hurt to get a new toy in return.

Checking out the competition

The first thing I did was to head over to the Gizmo For You website and check out who I'm up against, which turned out to one developer, so far. However, that one developer is putting up a stiff challenge since He' submitted something he's been working on for months for the PSP. It's a 3D RPG, and he's got one hell of a lead over anyone else that may care to enter. At the same time, it looks like he's still got a way to go on it, and as we all know, final tweaking of a project can often be the most time consuming part, so he's going to have one hell of a workload over the next six weeks if he's to finish it before the deadline.

Sadly, I didn't have any projects that I could submit to compete with this, since my only other project, the Zombie Simulator, wouldn't run on a PSP let alone an Ares.

As the contest deadline is the 5th of May, and I'm already down two weeks as I didn't hear about it until around 10 days ago, I had to come up with something fast. For inspiration, I decided to take a closer look at the console to see if I could tailor something to it.

A hands-off review

Since I don't have a unit, I'll just have to eyeball the pictures to get an idea of what to use it for. From the outside, it looks similar to a PSP, however the buttons are laid out a bit "oddly".

There's two buttons and an analogue stick on the left,with a D-Pad on the right. I've read that they did it this way due to cost, however, having the two buttons above the analogue stick means that you get to either use the analogue stick or the buttons in a game, not both.

The screen is a pretty typical size, 480 x 272, about the size of a PDA turned sideways. I'm happy with that since I date back to the early days of computing, and that's the kind of resolution that used to be considered average, plus it also avoids the necessity of hi-def graphics which blow out the time and cost on big commercial projects.

According to the specs, there's no GPU, which pretty much rules out detailed 3D applications since the 3D will have to be software driven.

It has a touch screen, which is the resistive, or good kind, also found on the DS, so that opens up the possibility of using it for the game, however, without being able to test it, I won't make it mandatory requirement.

Finally, the unit supports both vibration and wireless connectivity, though the wireless is an option, so I can't rely on that.

Putting it all together, I realised that the best way to go was some sort of platform game that featured use of just two buttons, so that the console could be used left or right handed. Due to the lack of a GPU, 2D is the only real option, however I'm sure I can squeeze a little 3D into it. Use of the touchscreen was out, as was network connectivity being a requirement. Use of the vibrator is a possibility.

Keepers

The game is set in a Transylvania style land, dotted with castles, each of which house a servant. All the masters are away, and the servants, out of fear of each other and their respective masters, begin to launch strikes against one another using various weapons they buy at auction or find scattered around the castle.

The first phase of the game finds the player inside the castle. He or She has to run around a series of simple platform style levels collecting weapons which can then be installed in the castle's turrets/towers or sold. Additional weapons can be purchased at auction.

The second phase begins when the player switches to the "outside view" and begins to launch attacks at nearby rivals, using the previously gathered weapons. This part plays out in much the same way as classic games such as Scorched Earth.

As the castle comes under attack, equipment will be destroyed and the turrets will have pieces knocked off the top. The player can return to the castle interior at any time to collect and install new equipment in spots that have been made empty, however they could come under attack without the ability to retaliate while they do so, so they'll need to be quick.

The game is over for a player once all their turrets are destroyed.

Keepers is my entry to the Ares game competition