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.