Hello Community! Presentation topic of my project in development that consists of creating new cycling video games.
Cycling Boss
Management game of a road cycling club with content similar to sports management video games on the market, different from the video game that gives name to this forum by the focus on career mode (no 3D races).
There are 2 modes, CAREER is the main and full mode, SEASON is the simple mode and allows you to play just one custom season with teams and races of your choice.
The riders have a greater diversity of attributes and individual traits for a realistic simulation.
Races are presented in 2D top down view, old-school FM style, where you take the role of sports director and make tactical decisions in real time (you don't control the riders).
Spoiler
Spoiler
- fictional universe based on real cycling;
- 250 teams, 3500 cyclists and 500 races;
- male and female gender;
- clubs with men's, development and women's teams;
- main and secondary sponsors, including equipment suppliers;
- elites, under-23, juniors, and even amateurs category;
- world, continental, and national championships with realistic rules for participation;
- possibility to be national coach in championships and the nations cup;
- archive of victories since the 19th century;
- option to start a club from scratch;
- simple and straightforward interface, more time playing than searching for information in menus;
- instantaneous daily simulation, more time playing than looking at a progress bar;
- modding, access to folder with database and graphical elements;
Price: 4.99 €
Minimum / Recommended Requirements:
OS: Linux, Windows 10 (64-bit), Windows 11 (64-bit)
Processor: AMD R3 or Intel i3
Memory: 2 GB RAM / 4 GB RAM
Graphics: 1 GB VRAM / 2 GB VRAM
Disk: 200 MB free space (additional free space required for mod installation)
ZM Sports Series - Cycling
3D racing game with Cyclocross, Mountain Bike and Track disciplines.
There are 2 modes, SEASON is the main mode where you take control of a nation and your riders, RACE is the simple mode and allows you to play just one race.
In the future I would like to create an online mode and allow players to face each other over the internet.
- cx and mtb with 10 challenging circuits with obstacles, the cyclist can jump or carry the bike;
- track with the 6 olympic events in a knockout format until the final;
- control of the rider's energy with stamina and endurance attributes;
- complete calendar with all cx and mtb circuits and track events in the velodrome;
- world cup based format with the existence of a points system;
Price: -
Minimum / Recommended Requirements:
OS: Linux, Windows 10 (64-bit), Windows 11 (64-bit)
Processor: AMD R5 or Intel i5
Memory: 4 GB RAM / 8 GB RAM
Graphics: 2 GB VRAM / 4 GB VRAM
Disk: 1 GB free space (additional free space required for mod installation)
Project History
Spoiler
The project starts as fun when wanting to improve my multimedia skills. When searching about programming I read to create projects and decided to create a basic system for simulating football games, then for multiple games until I create a table with the rankings, then a simulation of results of a cycling race and from that moment comes the idea of developing a sports management game.
2019
to sell the video games I created a business and in short it was a mistake, the lack of experience and knowledge led to a few months later finish everything, which involved renting an office, payments to people, etc...
2020
the events of the previous year, the pandemic and the suspended cycling season led to putting a break on the project during those months, in the latter part of the year the necessary restructuring to the organization of the project was carried out and the foundations for the future were improved.
2021
a lot of progress in learning with the result in improved video games but still looking like a prototype and far from a final version, I chose not to release images or create accounts on social networks as promised for fear of generating disinterest in the players.
The project is developed using the Godot 3 game engine but I intend to switch to the new, more modern Godot 4 version with many new features. So I made the decision to postpone the video games to the new version.
2022
in january the version 4 alpha comes out and in the following months I made the transfer of both video games to the new version with the need to restructure and adapt several features like the code or the art. Unfortunately the project uses an extra developed by the community that allows to open database in the game engine but for now it is not compatible with v4 alpha. The v4 beta is planned for August.
Currently the project is a hobby and I am developing according to my availability.
Sounds interesting and best of luck, hope to see more of you guys in the coming months
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
"...but we feel that 200km+ races in a action video game is very complicated and may even become boring to us and to the players."
Do you really think so? Lol. People who love management games can’t get bored by definition
But another cycling game - it is nice anyway, so good luck!
thank you.
I know but when making games we have to think about all kinds of players and the available market. Most sports videogames players want a 5-10 minute of fun like football games where a 90-minute game takes place in just 5-10 minutes of real time. Note that our main goal for Cycling Boss is to play as a team boss with a focus on management and a large database, not race mode.
Sounds interesting and best of luck, hope to see more of you guys in the coming months
thank you.
Did you start programming the game? Can you show some in game sequences?
Yes. The CX/MTB racing video game will be released in the upcoming weeks. In the coming days I leave the link to the STEAM page for those interested can add it to the wishlist.
thank you.
I know but when making games we have to think about all kinds of players and the available market. Most sports videogames players want a 5-10 minute of fun like football games where a 90-minute game takes place in just 5-10 minutes of real time. Note that our main goal for Cycling Boss is to play as a team boss with a focus on management and a large database, not race mode.
I'm back. I apologize for not giving more information. Unfortunately last summer the quality level for the release of the video games was not reached and the project was stopped and keep without developments. This year with the current difficult situation, no progress has been made either.
Now with the cycling season back, I'm working on the project again. There is an image of the cyclist profile page, with some things to improve such as the fitness bar and morale.
I hope to give you more news in the coming days.
EDIT: remove images, please see first message.
Edited by ZMEA on 05-10-2020 19:04
I will try to give news at least once a week. I hope in the next days to update the first post and later create a roadmap with the various features and the state of development. I think this is essential for anyone who wants to follow the development of the project and it was something that I failed in the past.
There is a more updated version of the cyclist profile page with some minor changes.
EDIT: remove images, please see first message.
Edited by ZMEA on 05-10-2020 19:04
One more update. I will continue to test some concepts in the next few days-weeks.
I will create a page in a social network to allow those interested to follow closer the development of the project.
I'd like to do a survey with questions about what you like or would like to have in a cycling management game, later I'll leave the link when it's ready.
Edited by ZMEA on 05-10-2020 20:05
I'm writing this post just to warn you that the project has been a bit stalled but this year promises more revelations. I made a small update to the topic with a brief history of the project so you can better understand why this is with little development or why I don't reveal many images of the games.
If you want to write about any questions or suggestions you can leave your messages.
ZMEA, great news, I would like to buy the Cycling Boss! I'm glad it will be possible to modify the database. And I have some questions:
1) Have you planned the divisions for cycling teams? (World Tour, Pro Continental, Continental, National/Amateur)
2) There will be any tool to make stages? (like Stage Editor in PCM)
3) It will be possible to follow a stage on a stage profile?
4) What about rider stats? There will be exactly like in PCM or you're preparing something new for us?
5) Will AI "of full value", f.e. use training camps, not to be concentrated on player's team etc.?
Thanks in advance!
Let's save the history of PCM together!
Just write me a PM if you have something for old PCM Editions (from 2005 to 2014) - databases, stages, shirts etc. and we'll share it.
tomcat9 wrote: ZMEA, great news, I would like to buy the Cycling Boss! I'm glad it will be possible to modify the database. And I have some questions:
1) Have you planned the divisions for cycling teams? (World Tour, Pro Continental, Continental, National/Amateur)
2) There will be any tool to make stages? (like Stage Editor in PCM)
3) It will be possible to follow a stage on a stage profile?
4) What about rider stats? There will be exactly like in PCM or you're preparing something new for us?
5) Will AI "of full value", f.e. use training camps, not to be concentrated on player's team etc.?
Thanks in advance!
Thank you for your interest in my game.
1) works as in reality, the category of the team conditions the races in which you can register.
2) no, the game doesn't work like PCM and you can't create stages because the stages are generated by the game based on a file.
3) yes, there is a stage profile but it does not indicate where each cyclist is in the race. You have to use the available information to make decisions. The profile can be changed for each race, e.g. change the sprint and mountain icons.
4) you can see the attributes in the Portuguese community. They are the following:
Agility, Balance, Climbing, Consistency, Endurance, Pace, Recovery, Speed, Stamina, Strength
Agression, Bravery, Composure, Concentration, Determination, Eccentricity, Leadership, Positioning, Tactical, Teamwork
5) I think I can say yes, but the game is still under development, the simulation in the races is independent of your team, the game calculates several scenarios for each team and chooses the most credible one based on real cycling, you have the decision power of your team but during the simulation the game adds everything to the mix and does not know which team is yours.
ZMEA wrote:1) works as in reality, the category of the team conditions the races in which you can register.
That's very well!
ZMEA wrote:2) no, the game doesn't work like PCM and you can't create stages because the stages are generated by the game based on a file.
Sounds interesting... So we'll try it to work with race files.
ZMEA wrote:3) yes, there is a stage profile but it does not indicate where each cyclist is in the race. You have to use the available information to make decisions.
Yep, that's reasonable and close to me. I like detailed simulation mode (as in PCM 2010-2012).
ZMEA wrote:4) you can see the attributes in the Portuguese community. They are the following: Agility, Balance, Climbing, Consistency, Endurance, Pace, Recovery, Speed, Stamina, Strength, Agression, Bravery, Composure, Concentration, Determination, Eccentricity, Leadership, Positioning, Tactical, Teamwork
Thanks, that's really different.
ZMEA wrote:5) I think I can say yes, but the game is still under development, the simulation in the races is independent of your team, the game calculates several scenarios for each team and chooses the most credible one based on real cycling, you have the decision power of your team but during the simulation the game adds everything to the mix and does not know which team is yours.
Wow, that's excellent!
Edited by tomcat9 on 22-01-2022 22:30
Let's save the history of PCM together!
Just write me a PM if you have something for old PCM Editions (from 2005 to 2014) - databases, stages, shirts etc. and we'll share it.
6) There will be cyclists' roles for each race? (e.g. leader, sprinter, free, teammate or maybe climber for polka dot jersey);
7) Which languages will be supported? (I hope English, French or Russian, that's equal for me);
8) How about sponsor goals? I like PCM 2006 system with season goals and their impact to the team budget next year;
9) Have you planned scouting system with regions or something like that?
10) Can cyclists save energy on some stage? (f.e. climber on TT/flat stages or pure sprinter on TT/hilly stages) I mean priorities for each type of cyclists as in real life.
Edited by tomcat9 on 22-01-2022 22:47
Let's save the history of PCM together!
Just write me a PM if you have something for old PCM Editions (from 2005 to 2014) - databases, stages, shirts etc. and we'll share it.
Hope, there will be a wide system of prerace settings and inrace decisions without controlling riders manually (only instruction to riders what to do). That's exactly what is missing in PCM. For me the most interesting mode was detailed simulation (text) mode in PCM 2010-2012. But it lacked depth anyway.
Edited by tomcat9 on 23-01-2022 11:33
Let's save the history of PCM together!
Just write me a PM if you have something for old PCM Editions (from 2005 to 2014) - databases, stages, shirts etc. and we'll share it.
6) There will be cyclists' roles for each race? (e.g. leader, sprinter, free, teammate or maybe climber for polka dot jersey);
7) Which languages will be supported? (I hope English, French or Russian, that's equal for me);
8) How about sponsor goals? I like PCM 2006 system with season goals and their impact to the team budget next year;
9) Have you planned scouting system with regions or something like that?
10) Can cyclists save energy on some stage? (f.e. climber on TT/flat stages or pure sprinter on TT/hilly stages) I mean priorities for each type of cyclists as in real life.
6) one leader and the rest can be helpers and work for the leader or free and make their own decisions.
7) english, portuguese, spanish, french, italian, others may be added in the future.
8) each sponsor has main and secondary objectives, at the moment these are victory, podium, top 10 and stages. I know PCM had season goals and it is possible that in the future they will be added to the game like placing a cyclist in the top 10 in the world ranking, being top 3 in the team ranking or winning 20 stages in the season.
9) there are no regions, all countries can be scouted and you can use your scouts to observe an existing cyclist or a nation to discover new future talent. There is a career option to hide the attributes and other information of the riders outside your team in order to make it more challenging and realistic.
10) every cyclist has an intensity level: low, medium, high.
Hope, there will be a wide system of prerace settings and inrace decisions without controlling riders manually (only instruction to riders what to do). That's exactly what is missing in PCM. For me the most interesting mode was detailed simulation (text) mode in PCM 2010-2012. But it lacked depth anyway.
Is a management game like Football Manager, you can't control the cyclists, you can only give tactical instructions.
Edited by ZMEA on 23-01-2022 19:39