So here's a game design idea that is actually based off of a dream I had not too long ago.

Basically in the dream I woke up to discover that there was a MASSIVE flood and everything for miles or perhaps the entire world was nearly submerged in water. However I survived the flood because it didn't reach my bed room. I had to adapt to this new world by making a raft and explore the New World Ocean, searching for supplies, looking for survivors, keeping a careful eye out for raiders, looking for answers on how this happened, and most importantly, survive.

I feel this dream had 4 main influences: Ponyo, Legend of Zelda Windwaker, reading the novel Jam by Yahtzee Croshaw, and the recent flooding of Hurricane Sandy. And I figured this actually could make out for a half decent game design idea.

The game takes place starting in a young boy's bed room. He wakes up to discover that the whole world outside is submerged in water. He can't find his parents and he is alone in this New World Ocean.

The game would be a Third-Person Adventure game and perhaps play similar to the ocean sailing segments in Legend of Zelda Windwaker. You'll have to set out on this giant ocean on some make shift raft in search of food and other survivors.

The game could be more of a heavily stylized, high-ambient atmospheric adventure. Sorta like the a fore mentioned Windwaker, but perhaps done in a different style. The game would focus on a huge feeling of adventure as you sail around a flooded land, stopping at rooftops searching for various things, the world would be massive, taking place over multiple towns, vast country areas, and maybe a city.

The game could also have a deep and rich narrative that the player would have to discover for themselves. Perhaps by finding clues on the flood's origins or hearing various stories from friendly survivors they can find out what exactly happened to the world. I am undecided if the ultimate goal would be to restore the world back, but I have a feeling that would sort of spoil this adventurous world.

The game's challenge would be in its exploration. You'd have to maintain some kind of hunger gauge so you don't starve to death, so finding food is a key part of the game. In the waters could be tons of new aquatic wildlife you could try to survive on. Also the other survival element would be protecting yourself from both dangerous raiders, ocean storms, and violent wildlife. I'm not entirely sure if there would be any combat against these things. I feel it would be much better if the goal were to avoid these dangerous things. This could bring up some tense moments when you see a storm brewing, some suspicious characters on the waters, or perhaps some giant mysterious sea creatures.

Another charm of the game could be in the friendly survivor characters. There wouldn't be many, but you could find a few hiding. They will normally help you on your way while also sharing stories. Each one could have a personal story that develops over the course of the game. They also may give you quests to do that could both further these stories as well as give out rare helpful items. It would also be great if they had some neat personalities. I have ideas of some crazy world ending conspiracy homeless men (who just happened to be right), a housewife who seems to be a bit insane and denies that the world ever ended, a couple separated by miles of ocean who have no idea if each other survived, an adventurous young man in old metal scuba gear, a group of wannabe pirates, a cult worshiping a new fish god, a group of scientists trying to find a scientific explanation of the flood, a religious Noah like character who gathers animals two-by-two on a boat, and the list of ideas go on and on!

I'm not sure if there would be some ultimate ending of the game. I feel most of the game will be directed in helping develop these personal stories, going from one group of survivors to the next, and exploring the whole New World Ocean. Perhaps maybe after completing all the side quests, the characters will get together and form some new world order of some kind. I'm not sure if I ever want to outright explain how the flood happened either. I feel it would be better to just leave around clues and just leave it up to player interpretation. Maybe they can discuss it with friends, share theories and clues. I want these hints to be very vague and lean toward both very dark or very mystical explanations, depending on interpretation. That way players could have a number of theories spanning from mystical to dark and depressing.

I feel it could be a very fun adventure title that a number of people would enjoy. They'd love to share stories and theories of the game with each other. They will also enjoy their own personal stories as well as the unique survivor characters and their stories. But most importantly, it will help people feel a spirit of adventure that seems to be missing in most games today.