Hey. Of course you don't have to ask me. Nobody asks the creators of populous if it's ok to do resource management games, plus, aside from the floating furnature, this seems to have very little in common with umbra. Umbra was far more abstract, whereas this has definately descernable real world locations.
It's looking ok too. You seriously need some lighting in there, it looks very bare at the moment without it.
I would also suggest that you sort out the z/y clashing issue in the second screenie. Looks like you've placed 2 segments on top of each other.
I like the story concept, but if I may, can I suggest a slight twist to what you have already?
Rather than being in isolation for 2 years, why not make it similar to those mazes that they put rats into to assess their aptitude.
As in, you lose your job, and your girlfriend, everything is ruined, nobody loves you, you smoke crack and you think you might be dying. etc.
you end up agreeing to take part in a new scientific trial to test the apptitude of humans in stressful, disturbing or confusing situations.
You are told you will enter Scilence. A kind of "Mind Maze". Once inside Scilence, there is only one way out, and that lies at the other end of the maze. Either you make it there, or starve to death trying. If you get out there is the aforementioned cash reward, but there is no guarantee you'll make it. Many have died trying, although some have completed it and been greatly rewarded.
OK, that's just an idea. You could therefore replace health with
"sustenance" (food). it would gradually decrease as you play, forcing you to seek out food and water, to prevent yourself from dying. Completing the challenges will reward you with food, but the longer you take the hungrier you get...
hope that helps.
All the best with this
Butters
