Plexus

Based off of the previous pitches a bit, with elements of Atom Zombie Smasher and the hacking minigames found in many games. Unfortunately I don't have access to Photoshop at the moment, so can't mock it up at the moment.

Title: Plexus
Genre: strategy/puzzle/a little bit of tower defense

Hook: Save as much data as you can before the network is overrun by a malicious virus in this blend of simple fast paced strategy, puzzle, and zombie outbreak mechanics as you fight to delay the inevitable.

The player controls a network of nodes around the centeral processor and creates 2 simple types of units. Their goal is to have saved as much data as possible by getting it through the network of linked nodes to the central processor before the central processor is overrun.

Data is the most basic element, small units that start scattered throughout the nodes that the player has no direct control over. They attempt to travel to the central processor and away from the virus. On the opposing side is corrupted data, much like zombies they will attempt to attack and corrupt the player's data and units, turning it into more corrupted data or units. Nodes are captured when one side has more data on it than the other. Data can move between linked nodes.

The game world consists of a central node, the processor that the player must defend as long as possible against the virus. When data reaches the processor, it can be saved, contributing to the player's score or spent on units/upgrading nodes. Around it are linked nodes branching out, at the ends of these branches can be the virus entry points. A possible idea is to include "key nodes" that give a bonus to adjacent nodes. However, if captured by the virus, they create false units and node states in the adjacent nodes as they hack the player (however, only about 20% will be false). These change periodically, so through patience the player can figure out what's going on or by attacking a node with a unit.

The player can give several simple commands to each node, spending saved data fortify (can be done repeatedly to strengthen the node, slowing down any attempt to take it over), draw nearby data to the node, or use other abilities to recapture or temporarily deny a node to the virus. The player can build two simple units at the processor, the fighter and the transport (the virus has access to the same two unit types). Fighters can attack and destroy corrupted data, enemy transports, and enemy fighters. Transports can be used by the player to get data back to the CPU from nodes or to send data back out from the CPU to recapture an unoccupied node, where as the virus will use them to attack nodes. Units can be moved from node to node via links or travel between two close, but unlinked nodes.

The virus is a dangerous opponent as it turns the player's resources against them. When the player destroys any of the virus, it is gone forever, but data that is corrupted by the virus is used against the player. The more improved a node is when it's captured; the more powerful it is when it falls into the virus's hands.

-Short burst game play: Fast paced and short game play sessions are core to Plexus. As the virus gains resources, the pace of game play steadily picks up. Players must think and act quickly.

-Think in three dimensions: Nodes are arranged and linked in 3 dimensions around the central processor, much like planets. Players must consider all angles as links can be in any direction and units can move to nearby nodes without using links.

-Hack or be hacked: Losing key nodes will hack the player's sensors in the area, mixing in false information in the adjacent nodes.

One minute of incredible game play: The tension as the player begins to lose nodes faster and faster, the final minute as the play rushes to save as much data as they can before being overrun making faster and faster choices, sacrificing some data to save the majority.

Target: mainstream/arcade/casual strategy fans, could be a bit artsy depending on how the visuals would be done (could go pretty abstract)