This is my 1st computer game called Check Out made with a visual novel engine called Renpy. The game is finished but is unfortunately lackluster. The game is milestone for me as a game developer, but I never asked the question "who" would use my app & find it interesting.
Intro
Check Out is a digital board game about a clerk working in a health food store trying to make money & all the interesting characters who enter the store. The tone of the game is lighthearted & silly. The game does NOT have many backgrounds like a VN (visual novel). In fact, it only has one, (the game board). In the board are spaces for the tokens, cards, & a score sheet. There is still text at the bottom of the screen though like a regular VN.
Check Out is also a simulation game. It depicts events that actually happen in the world of retail. Most of the characters in the game are based on real customers in a real health food store in Santa Clarita, CA.
Goal
Goal of the game is to make as much money as you can with the time you have left. Story-wise, the clerk only has an 8 hour shift, but actual game time is done in rounds & turns like an RPG.
Gameplay is boiled down into 3 steps. It's not hard.
- Meet a customer in any of the 3 departments in the store.
- Negotiate or flirt with the customer to convert them into a buyer.
- Check them out at the register to make a cash conversion.
It's not easy either. There are characters & events in the game that will prevent you from getting your goal. The most dangerous one is the health inspector.
Ending
The game ends when you finish your shift, & your cash is still above zero. The health inspector can also shut down the store & end the game if he gives you too many citations. In the end you get a final report, like an income statement. (Again, this game can actually be a simulator for a store.)
