Summer DIGM 540 - Project Idea

Project Type:

    Game Design and Development

Course Project Objective:

For this class, I plan to design and implement a 2D game. I have designed games in other courses before, but I have never tried to design and develop one independently. Therefore, in this course, I want to study how to design and develop a game from beginning to end (if time permits). Let me briefly introduce my current design ideas for this game.

As I mentioned, this will be a 2D game. The player controls a game character that moves through a completely dark maze. The player cannot see anything except for the eye of the game character, which indicates the direction of movement.

Somewhere within the maze, there will be a light source for the player to find. Once picked up, the player will have a small light circle surrounding the game character, revealing the surroundings from the character's perspective.

This is the basic gameplay mechanic that I have envisioned for the game. However, as I continue researching and learning about game design, level design, and storytelling in this course, I may make some changes to my current ideas.

(The shaded area should be completely black to player views.)
(Top: Imaginary game screen before the game character picks up a light source.)
(Bottom: Imaginary game screen after the game character picks up a light source.)

(The draft is only for showing the mechanics of the game, not the purpose of any game/level design.)

Explore New Topics:

I chose Digital Media as my master's major after completing my undergraduate degree in computer engineering. The reason behind this decision was my desire to focus more on the game design aspect. While programming has been mostly associated with backend development in my previous studies, I aspire to leverage it to create captivating gameplay experiences and engaging narratives.

In this project, my goal is not only to enhance my understanding of game development engines but also to delve into the realms of game design, level design, and storytelling from the perspective of game development. I aim to acquire comprehensive knowledge and skills in these areas, allowing me to craft intriguing gameplay mechanics and compelling narratives that will captivate players.

 

Emphasize novel and interdisciplinary:

In my understanding, both game design and movies typically convey a story through a plot. The distinguishing feature of games is that they offer a process for players to interact while experiencing the narrative, thus providing a more immersive experience. As a result, I am also keen on exploring and learning about game design and storytelling in the context of this project.

Focus on Learning:

    Unity, C# programming, Game Design, Level Design, Storytelling in Games

Rough Timeline:

    Week 4 - 5: Proof of tech - Achieving core game mechanics in Unity.

    Week 6 - 7: Written storyline in the aspect of the game topics

    Week 7 - 8: Level design incorporated with the storyline written

    Week 9 - 10: Implementing level design into the game.

    Throughout weeks I would keep implementing any needed game mechanics into the game if needed to fulfill any storyline or level design.