Game Design   |   Programming   |    Project Management   

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A team-based snowman-building party game created over a

4 day period and randomly assigned groups.

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Players connect their phones to the network for use as controller (D-Pad and single button).
 

Press button to spawn a snowball. Roll the ball on snowy terrain and stack to create a snowman.

Score points for your team by making snowmen and add carrot and tophat decorations.

Made with Unity and Happy Fun Times Plugin.

Snow Trouble was conceived during Sheridan's design week challenge 

(a program-wide jam with randomized teams across all years). In a team of 12,

we first conceived a physical game with 4 core ideas:

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Tagging, Set Locations, Roles, Mobility / Immobility

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We were then split into teams of 4 to create a digital game interpreting these ideas.

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We developed the idea of creating a freeze-tag style game, translating

mobility and immobility within a digital context. We used the pun

"role" vs "roll" to create a flexible core verb.

 

In a team-based environment, we wanted players to use the same

mechanic in differently. Within a strategic context, players could thus
roll the snowball to score points, or launch snowballs

and operate in a more aggressive role.

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Over the course of the week, I learned how to used the Happy Fun Time

plugin by doing research and experimenting in Unity. During the 3rd day,

I compiled each members' code to create a cohesive game loop.

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We playtested throughout the week, iterating on our physics, level design

and game feel to create an engaging play experience.

Snow Trouble was well-received during our playtests with

other students. As intended, players were able to

adapt different playstyles based on their preferences.

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Design experts from outside Sheridan chose to shortlist the game

after reviewing the games resulting from design week.

Snow Trouble was a very successful project due to lessons I learned

through previous projects and the time management learned from early

design week challenges.

 

In turn, having defined design prompts and being persona-oriented

from the onset of the project helped create us design and polish appropriately.

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While we definitely needed more than 4 days to fix bugs and refine other

design aspects of the game, this was an overall great design experience,

highlighting the importance of short but engaging game loops and

flexible verbs and systems.