Summary
The Rituals of Life is a game with social commentary on the usage of smart phones created in 48 hours during the 2016 Global Game Jam. The game doesn't take itself too serious as it is reflected in the gameplay and game rules.
The Rituals of Life is a game with social commentary on the usage of smart phones created in 48 hours during the 2016 Global Game Jam. The game doesn't take itself too serious as it is reflected in the gameplay and game rules.
My Role
During the jam I took upon the role of designer and producer and did some programming. The theme of the Global Game Jam 2016 was Rituals. We forced ourselves to think out of the box, because the theme invokes the urge to use clichés and tropes. I wanted to create something that was absurd and funny, yet touching upon themes we recognize from daily life.
Making sure that the game was fun to play and had a great game feel was my main responsibility. I had to communicate back and forth with the programmers and artist that everything felt just right.
During the jam I took upon the role of designer and producer and did some programming. The theme of the Global Game Jam 2016 was Rituals. We forced ourselves to think out of the box, because the theme invokes the urge to use clichés and tropes. I wanted to create something that was absurd and funny, yet touching upon themes we recognize from daily life.
Making sure that the game was fun to play and had a great game feel was my main responsibility. I had to communicate back and forth with the programmers and artist that everything felt just right.
Game Objective
The goal of the game is for the player to avoid objects that are on their path while trying to get rid of as many notifications on their smart phone as possible. The player is forced to look down at their smart phone, however the player can also look ahead to see what is coming on their path.
The longer the view of the player is on the path ahead the more blurry the view becomes. This design choice is made so that the player has the incentive to look down at their smart phone rather than to look in front of them. When the player has reached the end of the level they will be presented with a score based on their performance.
The goal of the game is for the player to avoid objects that are on their path while trying to get rid of as many notifications on their smart phone as possible. The player is forced to look down at their smart phone, however the player can also look ahead to see what is coming on their path.
The longer the view of the player is on the path ahead the more blurry the view becomes. This design choice is made so that the player has the incentive to look down at their smart phone rather than to look in front of them. When the player has reached the end of the level they will be presented with a score based on their performance.
Conclusion
I believe we have delivered to the standards we set for creating the game, and so did the jury as they granted us the first place in the Jury Award.
I believe we have delivered to the standards we set for creating the game, and so did the jury as they granted us the first place in the Jury Award.
The learning points for this project are that I further developed the skill to rapidly iterate from an idea to a complete game. I took a learning point from the Global Game Jam of the year before and applied it this specific game jam; My team and I adjusted the scope to fit the time frame as we had a big issue with scope creep the first time around.
Details
- 1st place jury award, NHTV Breda
- Team size: 6
- My roles: design, production, programming
- Engine: Unity3D
- Single player game (controller required)
- Release: 2016
The Global Game Jam page
