Bullet
Blox: Putting the Platform in Platformers
Presenters:Jason Cooke, Fairouz Martinez-Khaffagi, Felicity Zin, Brandon Nguyen,
Matthew Pham, Diondre Roane, Nideesh
Shanmugam Bhuvaneswari, Jet Thompson, Kelly Nguyen
Mentor: Marc Olano,
Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
One of the most basic, yet famous, genres of video games is the
Platformer. Made famous by Nintendo's Super Mario Bros., the
platformer genre follows this concept: a player takes control of a character
that walks around, jumps in the air, attacks enemies, and reaches an end goal.
Over the years, this genre has been creatively improved with innovative
features for people to enjoy and have fun playing repeatedly. Thus, the
objective of Bullet Blox is to provide a functioning mobile
game that adds another innovation to this game genre: being able to put the
platform to use. In Bullet Blox, the
player can tap the ground itself to use as ammunition to fire at enemies, added
alongside the traditional run-and-jump mechanics of its predecessors. A
successful product will allow people to have access to a simple game that can
be enjoyed from day to day and is easy to play on mobile phones.
GO! Gacha
Presenters:Ru Etheridge-May, Wan Aggreysmith, Colby Frashure, Lyle Henderson, Dawei Huang, SormehJaribion,
Scott Serafin, Arji Smith, Gabriel Sternberg, Trent Yuhas
Mentor:
Marc Olano,
Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
GO! Gacha is a car racing “roguelite” game based on 1960's and 70's GT
racing. Roguelite is a single-player genre of game
where the player can earn in-game money to spend on items and upgrades for
future rounds. Players will race CPU opponents in a grand prix to earn in-game
money, and the last car to finish is eliminated. Between rounds, players can
spend their earnings at a gumball machine to win random upgrades to their car,
sabotages for opponents' cars, and protection against sabotage from opponents.
This game is intended to appeal to all ages by providing a simpler racing game
experience by not featuring items during races or rubber banding, where
opponents speed up to stay close to the player, and appeals to fans of the Gacha genre by giving them a game that offers random rewards for in-game
currency without the option to spend real-world money. The game was created in
Unreal Engine with many assets made by the artists in Blender. Programmers and
artists worked together efficiently, communicating their needs and resolving
issues as soon as they appeared.
King Scribble: A Pencil-Drawing Puzzle Platformer
Adventure
Presenters:Evan McRae, Rowan Barr, Anthony
Bonilla Duron, Jay Cina, Justin Gaylord, Brian Lawser, Steven Nguyen, Ginger Sealy
Mentor:Marc Olano,
Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
King Scribble is a 2D puzzle platformer game where you draw the
platforms! Play as the titular King Scribble, the benevolent, beloved ruler of
the Doodle Kingdom who has been tragically whisked away from his throne by a
surprise tornado. Traverse tricky terrain through the power of drawing in order to make it back home to your loyal
subjects. The twist: the more platforms you draw into existence, the more of
your own scribbly body mass you draw from in the process. The world of this
game is split into several short levels—conceived as different pages of a
notebook—each with their own unique platforming challenge that you must
navigate through resource-efficient drawing to ensure your body stays intact by
the end. King Scribble invites players to be both creative and careful as they
doodle their way through each level, providing an artful spin on classic puzzle
platformer gameplay. This project was produced in the Unity game engine in
close collaboration with programmers and artists under limited time,
emphasizing the importance of communication and coordination in a team-based
game development environment.
Waiting at the Door: A Game About Grief, Growth, And
Healing
Presenters:Olivia Patterson, Aidan Brown,
Daryl Colosi, Adith Gunaseelan, Brandon Krupka, Nga Nguyen, Dara Oludare, Jackson Reichardt, Charles Vaudreuil
Mentor:Marc Olano,
Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Recognizing that grief is a universal and often overwhelming
experience, this video game was created as a safe space where players can
confront and understand their own grief through the eyes of a devoted canine.
In this 2D platformer, players step into the paws of a loyal dog who is
confused when one owner mysteriously does not return home. The narrative
unfolds over five thoughtful and artistically driven levels, each representing
a distinct stage of grief, where the storyline, enemies, and landscapes vividly
capture the emotional essence of each stage of grief. Along the journey,
players collect cherished mementos, solve puzzles, overcome obstacles, and
confront foes that mirror the struggles of loss. With each level, the dog gains
new abilities that symbolize healing and personal growth through the stages of
grief, reinforced by emotional flashbacks and memories of happier times. In the
culminating stage of acceptance, a heartwarming reunion with the lost owner
gives the guiding light ability to symbolize enduring love and acceptance. This
game gives players engaging, thoughtful gameplay while emphasizing the
importance of emotional intelligence, mental health, and the positive impact
media such as video games can have on supporting individuals through emotional
challenges.
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