I have such a clear vision in my head now, but i feel like this project is an insane undertaking for someone who's never made a game before. But then I think of Ken and Roberta Williams coding all of those games without real tools...
So, here it is
SmashHit Video: Aisles of Adventure
A 16 Bit point and click adventure game a la Sierra's classic Space Quest.
You begin as a lowly clerk at a failing location of SmashHit Video. Your boss is lazy and dumps on you, the customers are surly, and the store is dirty. You need to clean it up, both physically and emotionally, bringing some pride back to the location, making the customers want to come there, and shelving every goddamned tape you see.
Then you move into (assistant) management. Now it's YOU who has to deal with underlings who don't respect you and a boss barking orders as you try to convert a now thoroughly mediocre store into best in the area. You have more power to try things now, merchandising, selling movies, reorganizing.
If you do it, though, you'll be a store manager, making the big decisions, and maybe even on your way to setting up your own store and designing it from scratch.
So, it's a sim, right? A sim plus a bit of rpg leveling?
Yeah, here's where I'm a crazy person.
As a clerk you hear tales of the phantom knocker who comes after close to distract you. There's never anyone there. And then there's the caller who recommends you watch the strangest movies and always seems disappointed when you haven't. And then there's the door in the back of the storage room, you know, the one that doesn't seem like it could go anywhere but the store room in the next unit over, and you know Steve from that store. No door on his side...
Because there's something strange happening under SmashHit Video, and sure, you COULD ignore the phone calls, knocks, and recommendations. Could pile boxes in front of that door and never give it another thought, managing the video store to your heart's content...
OR you could see what really dwells between the Aisles of Adventure.