Game design workshop: Cheer Squad

Game Design Workshop is a new feature where we work through the fictional design of an overlooked genre of game.  This is not an actual game in development, but more a pitch for a game we can’t believe no one has made yet.

The pitch
Where are the cheerleading games?  Other than one scheduled for the Wii and a few others that have appeared as shovelware, where are these titles?  It may sound like a silly premise for a game, but consider it for a moment more.

The Dance Dance Revolution titles have proven insanely popular, as have other music titles such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band.  Additionally, the Wii has made wildly flailing your arms an actual form of input for a game.  Lastly, titles such as Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball have made it acceptable for a generation of young men to play virtual dress up with dolls.  Roll these three bits together and you have the makings of a cheerleading title.

The idea
The game is basically like Electronic Arts’ Boogie or even the last Dance Dance Revolution for the Wii.  Players perform routines, but this time using the Wii remotes and Balance Board.  In this way, measurements of balance, hand movements, and speed can be measured and matched to onscreen squad mates.  All of this is, of course, set to high energy songs from the original artists (which, of course, can be added to via downloadable content).

The second half of the game is the virtual dress up part.  While this may not sound initially appealing to some, remember all it takes is hot CG models to entice many a young man.  The player can design costumes and buy additional locked costumes and accessories for their character (which, of course, they create).

The outcome
Could such a game work?  If you could get many hardcore players to look past the girly concept the game would likely sell.  Of course, these are the same players who bought DOA: XBV just to play dress up and leer at the virtual pinups–so the sales pitch shouldn’t be too hard.

More enticing to a developer is the potential wave of new players such a title could bring in.  Lots of “tween” girls would flock to such a title if a little elbow grease were put into it (don’t mention the grease to them) and the game looked better than half baked.

The likeliness
As noted earlier, a cheerleading title is coming to the Wii soon already.  The idea of a second such title coming out anytime soon is probably unlikely, and especially with any sort of real budget behind it.  Still, that doesn’t mean many young girls (and some young men) won’t continue to dream.

Related posts:

1. Cheerleading games are dancing games gone stupid
2. Video games may actually stall weight gain
3. Five unforgivable sins in game design
4. Video of the day: Dance Dance Castlevania Revolution
5. Video of the day: Band Mashups gameplay