Roblox Game Development - "Grow the Ocean"

Project Title:

Grow the Ocean – Phase 1 Development (Roblox Game)

Project Overview

I am creating a Roblox game called Grow the Ocean. This listing is ONLY for Phase 1 of development. Phase 1 must be fully playable, polished, optimized, and structured so future phases can be added without rewriting systems.

This game is not being rushed, not being publicly published during development, and must be built cleanly and professionally. I care more about code quality, organization, and scalability than flashy visuals.

Reference / Design Link

Design document & references (WIP):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ieFEhijIepijKxWpsd9O4L3XZ8V77isBrbzk1X03ujo/edit?usp=sharing

Phase 1 Goal

Phase 1 should feel like a complete mini-game, not a prototype.

By the end of Phase 1, a player should be able to:

Spawn into an ocean environment

Swim smoothly

Collect resources

Upgrade basic abilities

Have progress saved

Understand the core loop of the game

Core Gameplay Loop (Phase 1)

Player spawns in shallow ocean

Player swims around the environment

Player collects basic ocean resources

Resources increase stats / unlock upgrades

Player becomes stronger and explores slightly more

Progress saves automatically

Gameplay Features Required
Player Systems

Smooth swimming movement

Oxygen system (simple, expandable)

Basic player stats (oxygen, swim speed, capacity)

Camera optimized for underwater gameplay

Resource System

Multiple basic resources (example: kelp, shells, coral)

Resources placed naturally in the environment

Collection animation or feedback

Resource counter UI

Upgrade / Shop System

Simple upgrade shop (UI based)

Upgrades for:

Oxygen capacity

Swim speed

Resource efficiency

Prices scale logically

System must be expandable later

UI

Clean, minimal UI

Resource counters

Upgrade/shop menu

Clear buttons and readable text

Mobile + PC friendly

Data Saving

DataStore saving for:

Resources

Purchased upgrades

Auto-save + safe loading

Organized DataStore structure

Visual Style Requirements

Simple but immersive

Underwater lighting

Light particles (bubbles, atmosphere)

NO heavy or unoptimized effects

NO asset spam

Performance matters more than looks

Technical Requirements

Roblox Studio (Luau)

Modular scripting (ModuleScripts)

Clean, commented, readable code

Organized folder structure

No hard-coded messy scripts

Built so Phase 2+ can be added easily

Development Rules

Development must happen under my official Roblox group

Game will NOT be published publicly

No stolen assets or scripts

I retain full ownership of the project

You must communicate clearly if issues arise

Team Setup

Solo developer or small team is acceptable

Clear communication expected

Updates during development

Timeline

Phase 1 timeline should be realistic

I want a clear estimate before starting

Quality > speed

Budget

Phase 1 budget target: around $75 USD

Can be split into milestones if needed

Budget can be discussed, but must stay reasonable for Phase 1 scope

Future Work

If Phase 1 is successful:

Additional paid phases (Phase 2, Phase 3, etc.)

Long-term collaboration possible

Expanded systems, maps, monetization

What I Need From You

When responding, please include:

Estimated time to complete Phase 1

Your budget expectations

Whether you work solo or with a team

Examples of previous Roblox work (if available)