Playable Prototype

Recycler

Playable Prototype

Our game, Recycler, is being designed by Shivani Aurora and programmed by me. Recycler is a side scrolling game where the player controls a recycle bin navigating a landfill where the goal is to collect as many recyclables as possible. Our current prototype has the designs and basic functionality completed. As of now, the player can move the recycle bin in all directions (up, down, left, and right), increase their score by collecting recyclables, and lose the game by collecting a non-recyclable item. We have yet to implement different point values for each recyclable, varying horizontal speeds and occurrence rates for all items, and negative effects of collecting a non-recyclable item (the plan is that each non-recyclable item decreases the score by a certain amount rather than causing the game to end immediately, which is how it’s currently implemented in this prototype). Our main question is, should the game have a time limit where collecting a recyclable item increases the score by a certain amount and collecting a non-recyclable item decreases the score by a certain amount and the objective is to get the highest score possible by the end of the time limit? Or, should there be an unlimited amount of time where collecting a recyclable item increases the score by a certain amount whereas collecting a non-recyclable item results in a game over? Keep in mind that in the next iteration, non-recyclable items will have varying horizontal speeds and may oscillate around 10px vertically, making the collection of a non-recyclable item much more likely.

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Video Game Lab

The three games that I played were Prismic Shift, Don’t Shit Your Pants, and QWOP. Prismic Shift is an arcade game that was played on the arcade cabinet. It was well built and fun to play (especially because of co-op). Being able to play Prismic Shift on the arcade cabinet as opposed to with an emulator greatly improves the experience. Not only is it easier to maneuver by using a joystick but it is also a more immersive experience.

The next game I played was Don’t Shit Your Pants. Don’t Shit Your Pants is an interesting game. It has no rules or instructions other than “don’t shit your pants.” The game doesn’t seem to match any of the mechanics listed on BoardGameGeek, but I would argue that it does have a mechanic: trial and error. You basically just have to try different commands until you reach the object of shitting somewhere other than your pants.

The last game I played was QWOP. QWOP is a simple yet very difficult game to play. The objective is simple: run the race. The controls, however, are anything but. QWOP is very similar to Don’t Shit Your Pants in that both games do not have an explicit set of rules or instructions and have a “trial and error” mechanic. The whole point of the game is figuring out how to play the game. It’s very difficult but at the same time quite amusing and hysterical to watch the runner contort in unnatural ways.

My partner and I both played QWOP. Playing the game yourself is challenging, amusing, and frustrating. However, watching someone else play takes away the challenge and frustration. It’s far more amusing to watch someone else try and fail than to fail yourself.