Update: Door was shown at Vector Game + Art Convergence Festival 2014!
Update: Door was shown at Level Up! 2014! We even got a review! Read it here: http://www.gamezebo.com/news/2014/04/08/5-student-made-games-you-need-play
Experimental Game. Two Players must work together to get through dark levels to reach Door.
Basics: Door is a platforming game projected onto a blackboard. The twist? Platforms are invisible.
Download Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gb9j6cd3csb9mr9/Door.exe
Gameplay: Together two players must reach the door. Player uses arrow keys to move the square character, Partner uses chalk to sketch the invisible obstacles onto the chalkboard. Working together, the two can get the square character through all ten doors.
Best Setting: Door is a social game based on communication and teamwork. This is why best played at parties or public events by any demographic of people who are playful and experimental.
Theme: The theme of Door is blankness. The game provides no character, no plot and no game board. Players of Door discover and create the experience themselves leading to a surprisingly vibrant experience. From the blank slate of the black chalkboard, Players creatively design their own game, this is why no two games of Door look alike!
Personal View: The game of Door came from our team’s personal view of the world. Everywhere I look the media is shoving a narrative down my throat. We are sick of the themes and characters and drama and story and bla bla bla!
Door is meant to provide a blank experience which players create themselves.
Development:
Challenge 1: It is surprisingly difficult to create a simple game. From character design to plot to music we were easily tempted to add details that would add our own personality to the game.
Solution: We had to be very watchful ourselves and each other. As we designed the character we had to strip it of personality. As we created the game music we had to strip it of emotion. Even the objective was cut from “rescuing the Princess” to just getting to the door. Door is just a basic game for complex times.
Challenge 2: Door is a two player game but one “player” is really just there to help identify the level obstacles.
Solution: We play tested our levels to find a balance where both players are needed and work together.
Development Photos:
Brainstorming game ideas.
Cards we chose.
Roughly designing some levels.
We enjoyed the level making process. See future plans below to learn more.
Testing out the projector.
Testing game play for whiteboards vs blackboards.
Creating the sprite for Square
Finished Game:
Future Direction:
As we made levels for Door we found the platform placing process very creative and fun. In a future iteration of the game we’d like players to be able to create levels for each other like so:
Player A designs a level. Player B tries to play to the end. Player C uses chalk or whiteboard marker to draw the level map.
With these three game mechanics we’d have a super simple game builder which integrates level design, play testing and aesthetic design into one fun package.
Another goal for the future of this game is to polish it and show it at an Digital Futures fundraising arcade. The social aspects of the game and the highly visible game play make it perfect for a game show!
Team:
Connor Campbell
Corey Dean
Jeremy Nir
Software used: GameMaker, GarageBand and iMotionHD.
Site with some sound effects: http://www.bfxr.net
Thanks to our game testers: Lewsy, Will, Michelle, Sarah and Ed from home. Various classmates from school.
1 Up Creations 