Lyra

These past few months have been quite exciting and entertaining as I learned Unity, built a game, and refined it to the point where it is now. The course I took on Game Studies was really informative and gave me the push I needed to learn and start making games.

The material felt connected to itself, though there were points of lecture where I felt that it was disconnected from the process of making games. For example, learning about media literacy while in the final stretches of making games. That being said, I still enjoyed the materials of the lectures, especially the ones on narrative architecture in video games and the topic of serious games.

Ultimately, the most interesting thing I learned was a beginner's guide to how to make a 2D platformer in unity. Although I did have to go back to get a better understanding, it was a nice introduction to the game engine and it made me more confident in looking into game making.

In terms of lectures, the most interesting one to me was the one focused on Game Engines. It was nice hearing the pros and cons of each engine and I enjoyed the resource Sortinghat, which helps with sorting you into what type of game you wish to make and gives advice on where to go to learn or get resources for making the game you want to create.

Overall, I would agree with the statement that I read about, wrote about, designed, and played games in this course.

Hedge Fund Freakout is a 2D platformer game available on itch.io. Play as a disgruntled office worker who has had enough! Bust the security cameras that watch you bounce around in the building in your frantic escape. Make your way to freedom or risk wasting away in the monotone and monochrome office space.

Link: https://lyranomora.itch.io/hedgefundfreakout-test01

Programmer/Designer: Lyra

Artist/Producer: Alexis Moorhead

For our final project, my game developer partner and I chose to continue working on Hedge Fund Freakout. As of now, we have added a comic to help players understand the story and hint as to the game's objective, elongated our first level, and fixed a bug that allowed players to complete the level without breaking the camera.

Our focus now is to add more levels to our game, which have been sketched out, implement the sounds we have for our game, and, based on our most recent playtest feedback, add in a list of controls to introduce players to the mechanics used in the game.

Between me and my partner, we aim to implement at least two more levels, as we didn't want to overestimate our abilities within the timeframe we have. However, I believe we may have time for an additional level. As far as sound goes, I believe we are only missing information to give proper credits and implementation.

After my recent post about HFF's progress, I suggested the thought of adding in a short comic to have the player easily grasp the story, inspired by my experience playing "Cake Mania" and "Diner Dash" which implemented that dynamic, in lieu of a mini-animatic we initially had concepted. There was also an included scene of the character punching a security camera, which I thought might point people toward the goal.

During our most recent playtest, we tested out the comic and elongated level. The comic was semi-successful, as players fully grasped the story, but some players didn't quite grasp the goal. Some players misunderstood that the new "deactivated" camera was meant to be attacked, whereas other players still didn't understand that they were meant to attack the cameras.

To rectify this, my partner and I agreed on adding one more scene after the comic to show players the game mechanics. The idea would be to tell players how to use the mechanics with a little repeating animation of the mechanics in use below each explanation.

In the last two weeks, I was able to play a Jackbox game with my class. I had a some experience playing Jackbox games myself, as part of an audience in a streamer's chat and playing against my friends during game nights. Though, this was my first time playing "Split the Room."

Split the Room can have up to eight main players, plus an audience. The players are then asked questions and must write their own responses, with an additional thing to vote on before the round starts. The game mechanics I saw in this game are: filling in the blanks and answering polls.

To play as an audience was something I was more accustomed to back when some of my favorite streamers would play with their fellow content creators and stream on Twitch. As a player in this game, part of me wished I could change to an audience member. There is less stress of having your name be attached to something silly and less pressure in choice as the vote system leads to the audience's votes counted as one unit.

Playing alongside an audience was interesting.

I felt a little awkward with an audience, especially since I knew I messed up and misread the prompts I was given. However, instead of this being known between me and seven of my classmates, everyone knew.

That being said, Split the Room was an enjoyable experience I wouldn't mind playing again, though this time with me carefully reading each prompt.

Hedge Fund Freakout

Game Credits:

Artist - Alexis Moorhead Developer - Alexis Moorhead Producer - Lyra Programmer - Lyra Program: Unity Visual Development: Procreate, PiskelApp

Known Issues:

No sounds applied

Players have difficulty differentiating between background and objects

Lack of challenge - need more levels

Current Version:

In this version, the player is now able to destroy the camera and escape to the outside world. Now, we have the destruction of the camera and an end card to make the

Going from here, the next step is to discuss ways to help player differentiate between objects and background. Then, it will be to code sounds into the jump movement, the camera being destroyed, and the door opening. Another sound to be added is a camera sound to draw the player's attention more easily to the camera. After that, my project partner and I will be creating more levels to add difficulty and layers to the building we intend the player to escape from.

Link: https://lyranomora.itch.io/hff-test-05

This past week, I tried out some indie games on itch.io and I want to highlight two different platformer games, each with their own twists.

The first game I played was, "This is the Only Level," a platformer that used the same platforming layout, but changed its rules throughout each part of the "only level."

The second game I played was, "Cool Dudes Entropic Door-Porium," a platformer that had the character move through doors and moving doors to achieve a walk to the exit.

At first glance, the mechanics seem similar as they are both platformers. However, "This is the Only Level," went above and beyond through its interesting use of level completion using odd mechanics. The most notable one for me was the level that requested the player to refresh.

At first I was confused. Does it mean I should restart my life in the game?

So I moved to restart my character's life and gained a death toll.

It didn't work.

Despite this, I repeatedly tried this method and got nowhere. After several attempts, I found another solution.

Refresh the page.

Best case scenario, I move on. Worse case scenario, I have to go back to part one and begin the climb again. I pressed the button and resumed my game.

End of level opened up perfectly.

With these puzzles solved through a good amount of trial and error, I eventually found the end of the game. Overall, a pretty great experience and a wonderful puzzle platformer. So I booted up "Cool Dudes Entropic Door-Porium," excited for another puzzle platformer.

I wish I could say the game brought me a fraction of the same joy as "This is the Only Level."

Despite both games being puzzle platformers using the keyboard to move, the enjoyment was lackluster in "Cool Dudes Entropic Door-Porium." The good mood I felt from the last game I played was immediately dampened when I reached the last level. A simple level that includes moving a door onto a section on a higher platform.

At first, the door missed the mark. Nothing too terrible, so I tried again from a bit closer.

And again.

And again.

I don't know how many times I tried to move the door onto the ledge, but I could feel the weight of my partner's gaze as they watched me fail time and time again.

At that point, I had witnessed my partner's playing of "Injection Deflection," a game where you walk around in a top-down style through a maze while attacking and avoiding zombies chasing you down. My partner lost easily and tried one more time before accepting defeat and moving on.

Now, I have seen many a Twitch stream in my day, so I was aware of how the mechanics of fighting and movement worked out well. However, watching gameplay in front of me was quite a different experience.

The urge to take over the controls as I am right in arms reach. The restraint against arguing for my partner to try again. Burdened with the knowledge of seeing the mechanics work up close knowing I might achieve more in the game.

Yet here I was. Powerless against the game's level design or my own ineptitude of jumping.

Here is the level I was stuck on. A level I went back to in order to take a photo for posterity's sake. A photo that made me pause for a moment. And in that moment, I decided to try something I hadn't done before.

I went into a door while holding the door in the photo.

Playing a board game called "Secret Hitler" wasn't quite the experience I expected when I walked into class one evening, yet here we are.

"Secret Hitler" is a game where a group of people come together to make friends, have discussions about passing policies in our lovely country, and manipulate everyone else in the group into voting for people in power who can further our own political agenda.

Classic Wednesday night.

As the name suggests, there is a person among us (I'm sorry) who is hiding their identity as Hitler. Everyone else is given roles of Fascist or Liberal, with each group trying to get their policies passed into law. First to get the required amount of policies passed, wins. The trick is: the Fascists all know each other, and Hitler, though Hitler remains unaware of who the Fascists are. The Liberals, however, don't know anything about anyone else.

Each round, we start by having our President, one player who is chosen at random initially, pick a Chancellor. If the Chancellor is accepted by everyone's vote, the President draws three policies, discards one, then passes the remaining policies to the Chancellor. The Chancellor is then meant to pick which of the policies will become a law.

If the Chancellor is a Liberal, they must pick a Liberal policy. If the Chancellor is a Fascist, then they can lie to avoid suspicion, or play a Fascist policy and talk themselves out of suspicion.

After enough Fascist policies get enacted, then should Hitler rise to Chancellor, the Liberals automatically lose.

Confused yet? Good.

We begin!

Cards get passed around, and I turn around to see my new identity. I carefully pull out my card and I get-

Hitler. I'm Hitler.

As an avid isekai enjoyer, this is the worst outcome I could expect to get if I got hit by a truck.

But we have to reset after a few rounds as it becomes apparent that the Fascists are as confused as the Liberals, as they weren't aware of my identity.

We begin, part two!

Round 1

Everyone gets their new identities and I get-

Liberal.

Ah, how the mighty fall. One day you're public enemy number one, the next you're as clueless and irrelevant as the next guy.

At least I'm no longer living in the worst isekai story.

Well, I'm a Liberal, our chosen President is Lisa, and we agree to vote in Chancellor Alex. Majority agreed on the basis of why not. Our dear President Lisa picked some policies and Chancellor Alex signed our first Liberal policy into law.

Round 2

The role of President moves down the table to Jelinne, who opts to have Makena as Chancellor. Popular vote agrees and President Jelinne chooses the policy to dismiss. Chancellor Makena places our first Fascist policy to law.

Betrayls aside, the President uses their newfound power to investigate Aonee. President Jelinne marks their lack of trust with a suspicious nod, that I promptly forget about.

Round 3

New President Makena names Clarence as Chancellor, agreed upon by majority vote, and picks from the drawn policies. Chancellor Clarence enacts a Fascist policy, and I get investigated by the President.

The President chooses not to comment, and I chose not question anything and we moved onto the next round.

Round 4

President Clarence, majority yes on Chancellor John, you get the drill. Chancellor John I secretly suspect of being a Fascist as he puts our third policy into law.

Now the President is given the power to give the seat of Presidency to anyone. A rule we promptly ignore and give the Presidency to the next person at the table.

Round 5

President Jeremy, Chancellor Alex, Liberal policy enacted.

Alex is a Liberal in my eyes.

Round 6

I'm the President. The power goes straight to my head and I decide to bring in Chancellor Jeremy.

I pull my cards. Two Liberal policies and one Fascist. I look at the policies in place. 3 to 2, with Fascist favorable.

I can't risk Fascists having the upper hand.

I discard the Fascist policy and pass the others to Chancellor Jeremy.

I wonder if I made the wise choice as I move the Presidency to the next in line.

Round 7

My suspicions active, I cast an uneasy glance at President John. I think the game's getting to my head though and agree to vote in Chancellor Aonne. Another Fascist policy is put into place, allowing the President to kill anyone they wish.

I immediately recognize John as the President selects Alex to be killed. Alex is the only safe bet I had in this game.

Round 8

President Aonee selects me as Chancellor, which I find comfort in. A Fascist would select one of their own into being a Chancellor, so I consider Aonee as a Liberal. Last round was simply a bad hand dealt.

A bad hand I find repeated as I get handed two Fascist policies.

I regretfully enact a policy that goes against my beliefs as President Aonee was deciding who to remove next. And when she selects Sophia for the chopping block, all hell breaks loose.

I watch as President Aonee tries to defend herself from Alex and Sophia's claims that our President is a Fascist.

I ask if I could argue for another person to be killed instead, pleading to remove the Fascist next to me. But President Aonee has made up her mind and I can't change the result.

Round 9

President Lisa calls to vote in Jeremy as Chancellor. I regret not testing his loyalty earlier and doubt during the voting process. Majority vote agrees on Chancellor Jeremy and, once policies are picked and discarded, he enacts our next liberal policy.

Round 10

Jelinne becomes President, choosing Clarence for Chancellor. The vote begins and I have doubts. Doubts if we can choose the last liberal policy, doubt against my fellow players. I vote no.

As we had an even number of players, the vote was tied. Thus, we discover that the game planned for this. I don't recall what, but I am aware the game has a plan if voting comes to a standstill after several rounds.

So the Presidency is passed to Makena. Makena picks Lisa for Chancellor. I doubt and vote against Lisa. The vote is tied again.

The Presidency is passed to Clarence, who nominates Jelinne as Chancellor. I doubt against my doubts, now fearing what will happen should a standstill continue. I vote yes.

The vote is no longer tied.

The Outcome

With one policy separating us from victory or defeat, we need to ask the President and Chancellor if they are Hitler. At this point, if Hitler is in power, the automatic liberal loss comes into effect.

President Clarence is...

Not Hitler.

However, Chancellor Jelinne is, in fact, Hitler.

The Fascist have won.

It was a rather difficult game, one that ended with my doubts factoring into the results. Overall, I'm impressed at the game's ability to sow seeds of discord as the game began quietly, and quickly turned into a loud game of pointing fingers at each other. That being said, I feel confident that the next time I play "Secret Hitler," I will keep a closer lookout for clues into the other players' suspicious activity.

When it comes to gaming, I prefer staying at home and playing on console machines or my personal computer. I haven’t played that many classic arcade games in my life, aside from a racing game or two. Maybe a claw machine if I was feeling lucky. I thought I wasn’t missing out on much, considering I played many a minigame adapted from the classics.

Take Astro Blaster for example. A simple goal of shooting the alien space ships before they take you out first. I figured I would take a spin at it after seeing it in the Internet Arcade. I remembered how fun it was to play the minigames of a similar nature and, though I ended things off early in the past with such games out of boredom, I figured it was an easy enough game to play for a bit.

Though I neglected to realize the differences between the original and other adaptations until I lost the game. A very quick and humbling experience, might I add.

The key differences that led to an untimely end were the enemies themselves. While the versions I played focused on many enemies descending at once, Astro Blaster gave me a run for my virtual coins as the enemies moved around the level faster than my favorite rhythm game at maximum speed. Normally I would miss enemies by the skin of their teeth. With Astro Blaster? I couldn’t even hit the broad side of a barn!

5630 points. Not bad, but I could do better.

Another “coin” clinked in the machine. Round two, let’s go!

Then I became aware of another thing I missed: the fuel gauge. Normally, I wouldn’t think twice about maneuvering my little ship around. After all, it was the onslaught of enemies I had to worry about and whether I could dodge their attacks before they overtook me.

With Astro Blaster, however, I discovered the fuel gauge and the threat of overheating the lasers. Not only was I now focused on dodging the space ships, but now I had to make sure I didn’t blow up my own ship.

3320 points. New information noted. Round 3!

Did you realize that you could die from being in the wrong area of the map when it’s time to dock the ship?

1880 points. It was a fluke, but now I’m honed in. Round 4, baby!

I figure out that if I stand in a specific area, I can avoid lasers and save up space to shoot back between shots fired. Neat trick!

That I eventually have to put in my back pocket because I tripped up at the asteroids hailing at me.

2320 points. I feel like it’s getting worse, before it gets better.

Feelings aside, I only gave the machine five coins, so I’m on my last turn. Taking in all the information I discovered through error, I maneuver back to the section I originally lost to in the beginning.

And I keep going! The slight nihilistic twinge I felt earlier melted away as I blasted the enemies down one by one. Then, the level moved to the next wave of enemies.

That I almost immediately lose all of my lives to because geez these little guys hit hard!

6340 points. …I can do better.

And yet, that’s the farthest I got before I had to throw in the towel.

Did I have fun? Debatable.

Did I get competitive? Oh, definitely.

Would I keep coming back? Probably not if it was an arcade machine, given I only have so many coins to my name. But given the opportunity to do so again on the Internet Arcade?