#weavingtides

Section 1 – Introduction

The name of the game

Weaving Tides

The producers or creators of the game Follow The Feathers They are all graduates from the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg and have been working on this game for about 4 years. This is their very first own production.

Language So far they are planning on releasing it in German and English. If the budget is available they might add other languages along the way.

Game platform used for review It is played on PC with a Xbox controller.

Section 2 – Summary description and categorisation of the game

The game is set in a fantasy world that is based on woven materials. The idea originated from tree bark, which also made its way into the looks of the world the game is set in. The main protagonist is the only human creature in search of others belonging to its species. With the help of dragon-like Weavers the young boy will get closer to his goal by overcoming tricky textile puzzles and cheeky creatures during the game. Many of the puzzles revolve around stitching and other crafts.

Is the game single player or multiplayer/ does it offer multiplayer opportunities? What is the target age group and the minimum age? It is a single player game without any multiplayer options. We’d say the minimum age to play is maybe around 10. We were told the target age is 16-30 because of the complicated storyline and the difficulty of some puzzles. Some parents might play it with their children. The graphics are definitely child friendly and look very welcoming.

Rating information: PEGI/ ESRB We are rating Weaving tides as PEGI 12+ and ESRB Teen.

Game genre X Adventure X Fantasy X Puzzle

Categorisation of the game X  Decision making (strategy & problem solving) - you get hints about the story from characters in the game, you have to solve small puzzles to advance X  Social interaction/values/cultures

Section 3 – Overview/Walkthrough/Game Elements

Our skill level/experience in terms of computer/video games: X  2  our team has diverse skill levels, from Novice to Intermediate. The game was very easy to understand for Intermediate players. The novice player had to take some time to get a hold of the controls and figure out how to find a way through the game.

Provide the back-story (fantasy context, themes, characters) for the game and the conditions for success. The game is set in a fantasy world. The main protagonist is the only human creature in search of others belonging to its species. With the help of dragon-like Weavers the young boy will get closer to his goal by overcoming tricky textile puzzles and cheeky creatures during the game.

Provide a short walkthrough to describe the steps for successful play (also describe auditory and visual stimuli) For successful play the player has to master the controls and figure out how to navigate the Weaver aswell as the boy when he is walking around without riding the Weaver. The game is featured with fitting music for the theme throughout the game which changes when enemies appear. It supports the atmosphere of the occurring event.

Describe the game play (Rules / Goals and feedback on progress toward the goals), player interaction and navigation You have to make sure the character doesn’t die. By weaving parts of the broken world you get bonus points and hearts to keep your character alive.

Highlight any issues that could hinder play/ confusing aspects The game is not yet finished. Many of the characters can not yet be talked to so some of the storyline is lost there. At first we were confused by the weaving and stitching aspect of the game because it is a very unique concept and needs some experience in that field.

Learning curve time 10min – 2 hours depending on the player’s skill level

Can the game be saved and restarted from the same point? YES

Can the learning / gaming objectives be achieved in small periods of time? YES

Section 4 – Pedagogical aspects

Please provide suggestions for use of the game in the classroom/ formal education setting The game can be used as a fun approach to weaving and stitching related classes. It doesn’t exactly teach you how to stitch but it provides a sense of what can work and what doesn’t.