Hey guys. I haven't made a blog in a long while but thought I'd share my 1st game that made it to the interwebs (mostly becuase it's the first game at a polished enough level after completion lol).
I made this game with a group of 4 others for a class titled "game design as a cultural practice." there were a few limitations on the game (no killing, no post-apocalyptic/fantasy settings) but we had pretty much unlimited freedom besides that (other than that we must make it on flash and upload the game to Kongregate at a due date).
Access is a game about being in a wheelchair. Our current version is more of a proof-of-concept for the control-scheme more than anything else, and we intend on continuing to work on the game over the next few months. We want to add in a lot more levels and a stronger narrative (although not TOO strong), and a lot more game mechanics (specifically NPC-interaction, ramps/stairs/velocity, and more puzzle-solving elements). Also hopefully more art assets lol.
We were inspired mostly by games like QWOP, with hard to master controls being key to the game. We hope that our control-scheme at least sort of forces players to emulate the motions of pushing the wheels on a wheelchair, and we hope that this feeling comes across. We hope that it takes some time just to get used to, although right now we are testing to see if this is really a good thing or not.
Our control-scheme is set-up to require 2 hands on the keyboard (which a friend pointed out to me earlier today, we do not make clear at all right now lol), 1 for each wheel on your avatar's wheelchair. pushing on just 1 wheel will turn you, while pushing on both will move you forward. you can move just a little by pressing the forward keys, but you can move much faster/smoother if you "wind-up" by pressing the neutral keys then the forward keys, as if you are pushing harder on each wheel.
Let me know what you think and be completely honest. I know that the game isn't that great right now lol, but I think it's a good start. Also let me know if you find any bugs. Someone on the team just patched it earlier today and that SHOULD of fixed all collisions problems with NPCs (specifically sometimes you could stuck inside of an NPC and cant get out), but we can never be sure.
just FYI in case you are curious, my role was level design and I created all 3 levels in the game through the level editor. We all came up with the idea for the premise, but i think me and one other guy mostly just pitched ideas and then the rest of the team decided whether they liked them or not and added in the ones they liked lol (if there was time for it). Rob (and not me) was the mastermind behind the control-scheme (IE most important part), but I at least like to think that I helped a lot with the concept for it lol. We completely changed control-schemes 3 different times before setting on this one (which was tweaked a lot from the 3rd prototype lol) and we will probably keep tweaking it this summer.
Fantastic. I don't play many flash games, but this is one of the better ones I've played. Where did you get the music, and did you make the game's turning controls opposite of what is expected on purpose?
The beginning controls "tutorial" could use a little work. It's kind of confusing.
I was reading some of the comments under your game; how people were complaining about the controls. I think they are idiotic if they can't realize what a pointless game it would be if you could just control easily with arrow keys.
The controls are a pretty intuitive idea in my opinion, I like it. Other than that I don't really see much of a "game," other than just a wheelchair simulator, but it's in the first stages so it's all good! Great start so far!
On May 05 2011 16:30 Endymion wrote: The controls are a pretty intuitive idea in my opinion, I like it. Other than that I don't really see much of a "game," other than just a wheelchair simulator, but it's in the first stages so it's all good! Great start so far!
What is a game? Would you consider some well reviewed indie projects such as Dinner Date and Flower a game? A game can be as little as an interactive experience, and I believe it fulfils.
On May 05 2011 16:26 Dance. wrote: Fantastic. I don't play many flash games, but this is one of the better ones I've played. Where did you get the music, and did you make the game's turning controls opposite of what is expected on purpose?
yea I really like how the turning works becuase to turn your chair left, you turn the right wheel! lol. Im hoping in the future we will have more directions of movement so that you can be more precise with control, ideally holding down the forward button on 1 wheel and then another button on the other wheel to turn faster. IE you would turn around really fast if you moved your left wheel forward and right wheel backward, etc.
On May 05 2011 16:30 Endymion wrote: The controls are a pretty intuitive idea in my opinion, I like it. Other than that I don't really see much of a "game," other than just a wheelchair simulator, but it's in the first stages so it's all good! Great start so far!
What is a game? Would you consider some well reviewed indie projects such as Dinner Date and Flower a game? A game can be as little as an interactive experience, and I believe it fulfils.
I mean the thing is pretty light on content, it's essentially just a glorified maze game right now lol. I tried to make the 3rd level a little puzzle-ly with some NPC placements (IE having to wait for a certain time to move past an NPC to get forward), but I didnt have enough time to really try putting in more complex scenarios. Eventually I want to make it a much more puzzle-focused game.
On May 05 2011 16:30 Endymion wrote: The controls are a pretty intuitive idea in my opinion, I like it. Other than that I don't really see much of a "game," other than just a wheelchair simulator, but it's in the first stages so it's all good! Great start so far!
What is a game? Would you consider some well reviewed indie projects such as Dinner Date and Flower a game? A game can be as little as an interactive experience, and I believe it fulfils.
A game is something that presents you with goals that you have to achieve, which I guess it achieves as a maze game. I was just giving the criticism that it could use some story to gloss it up, or some more objectives to make it more intertwining/fun. Take the Devil May Cry series, the story and game structure for it is generally lack luster, but the game play makes up for it so you keep playing it. So what we have here is a DMC, except it's about wheeling around instead of destroying demons with epic combos. Not to hate on it of course, I'm just saying it could obviously use more filling. (which is why I said I understand it's an unfinished game in my original post). I don't think story would be that difficult to add, or even just changing up the environments/textures a bit.
I am a wheelchair user and your controls are not quite accurate, on the verge of being offensive to the wheelchair-enabled.
1) I've got more upper body strength than this worm. I should be getting mad acceleration.
2) Wheelies. Where the fuck are my wheelies?
3) Your character has to let go of the wheels before initiating a turn. This is unrealistic. If I start turning at high velocity I expect to tip the carriage.
4) The pedestrians get in my way. This is unrealistic. They should be running in fear or offering to push me.
4b) When I hit pedestrians, they do not fall. This is unrealistic. Hitting pedestrians should break their legs, thus assimilating them into wheelchair-enabled persons.
5) No turn in place. If I go forward on one wheel and reverse on another, I should turn in place. I should also be able to do this in conjunction with a wheelie.
On May 05 2011 17:01 mmp wrote: I am a wheelchair user and your controls are not quite accurate, on the verge of being offensive to the wheelchair-enabled.
1) I've got more upper body strength than this worm. I should be getting mad acceleration.
2) Wheelies. Where the fuck are my wheelies?
3) Your character has to let go of the wheels before initiating a turn. This is unrealistic. If I start turning at high velocity I expect to tip the carriage.
4) The pedestrians get in my way. This is unrealistic. They should be running in fear or offering to push me.
5) No turn in place. If I go forward on one wheel and reverse on another, I should turn in place. I should also be able to do this in conjunction with a wheelie.
I agree, port to the kinect and allow for facial recognition too. in mmp's case, bicep recognition. maybe even release a control in the form of a wheel chair too.
On May 05 2011 17:01 mmp wrote: I am a wheelchair user and your controls are not quite accurate, on the verge of being offensive to the wheelchair-enabled.
1) I've got more upper body strength than this worm. I should be getting mad acceleration.
2) Wheelies. Where the fuck are my wheelies?
3) Your character has to let go of the wheels before initiating a turn. This is unrealistic. If I start turning at high velocity I expect to tip the carriage.
4) The pedestrians get in my way. This is unrealistic. They should be running in fear or offering to push me.
5) No turn in place. If I go forward on one wheel and reverse on another, I should turn in place. I should also be able to do this in conjunction with a wheelie.
On May 05 2011 17:01 mmp wrote: I am a wheelchair user and your controls are not quite accurate, on the verge of being offensive to the wheelchair-enabled.
1) I've got more upper body strength than this worm. I should be getting mad acceleration.
2) Wheelies. Where the fuck are my wheelies?
3) Your character has to let go of the wheels before initiating a turn. This is unrealistic. If I start turning at high velocity I expect to tip the carriage.
4) The pedestrians get in my way. This is unrealistic. They should be running in fear or offering to push me.
4b) When I hit pedestrians, they do not fall. This is unrealistic. Hitting pedestrians should break their legs, thus assimilating them into wheelchair-enabled persons.
5) No turn in place. If I go forward on one wheel and reverse on another, I should turn in place. I should also be able to do this in conjunction with a wheelie.
1) uh
2) youre just not trying hard enough
3) we are planning on implementing this sort of control in the future, but right now our engine doesnt support it :\
4) NPC routines are pretty basic right now but in the future we hope to have more complicating interactions, including being able to knock people down
4b) me and the artist totally joked about making a spinoff where you just spread wheelchairness to everyone lol.
5) I really wanted to have this in the final game but we ran out of time. it will definitely be in future versions though.
i really hope it's not actually offensive lol, one of the programmers in good friends with a wheelchair user and she said it wasnt offensive so we sorta just took that as the sign that "this game wont piss anyone off" lol
On May 05 2011 17:01 mmp wrote: I am a wheelchair user and your controls are not quite accurate, on the verge of being offensive to the wheelchair-enabled.
1) I've got more upper body strength than this worm. I should be getting mad acceleration.
2) Wheelies. Where the fuck are my wheelies?
3) Your character has to let go of the wheels before initiating a turn. This is unrealistic. If I start turning at high velocity I expect to tip the carriage.
4) The pedestrians get in my way. This is unrealistic. They should be running in fear or offering to push me.
4b) When I hit pedestrians, they do not fall. This is unrealistic. Hitting pedestrians should break their legs, thus assimilating them into wheelchair-enabled persons.
5) No turn in place. If I go forward on one wheel and reverse on another, I should turn in place. I should also be able to do this in conjunction with a wheelie.
1) uh
2) youre just not trying hard enough
3) we are planning on implementing this sort of control in the future, but right now our engine doesnt support it :\
4) NPC routines are pretty basic right now but in the future we hope to have more complicating interactions, including being able to knock people down
4b) me and the artist totally joked about making a spinoff where you just spread wheelchairness to everyone lol.
5) I really wanted to have this in the final game but we ran out of time. it will definitely be in future versions though.
i really hope it's not actually offensive lol, one of the programmers in good friends with a wheelchair user and she said it wasnt offensive so we sorta just took that as the sign that "this game wont piss anyone off" lol
Don't worry about him. He was being funny as soon as he said "wheelchair-enabled".
To be honest, I stopped playing after the first level with the thought "Fuck, being in a wheelchair would suck.
If making me sympathize with the disabled is the objective, you have succeeded
On May 05 2011 16:30 Endymion wrote: The controls are a pretty intuitive idea in my opinion, I like it. Other than that I don't really see much of a "game," other than just a wheelchair simulator, but it's in the first stages so it's all good! Great start so far!
What is a game? Would you consider some well reviewed indie projects such as Dinner Date and Flower a game? A game can be as little as an interactive experience, and I believe it fulfils.
A game is something that presents you with goals that you have to achieve.
On May 05 2011 16:30 Endymion wrote: The controls are a pretty intuitive idea in my opinion, I like it. Other than that I don't really see much of a "game," other than just a wheelchair simulator, but it's in the first stages so it's all good! Great start so far!
What is a game? Would you consider some well reviewed indie projects such as Dinner Date and Flower a game? A game can be as little as an interactive experience, and I believe it fulfils.
A game is something that presents you with goals that you have to achieve.
By that definition, minecraft isn't a game.
A game is:
An activity providing entertainment or amusement, especially one involving competitive engagement or adherence to rules.
I think it's a great concept but as others have stated what you are really missing is a "story". Honestly, something simple would give some motivation, like maybe you're navigating your way out of hospital after having been in a car crash. A bit of humour always goes a long way, like for example instead of saying "I better get on flat ground", you could say "unfortunately this isn't the off-road model" or something, I dunno, something unexpected so that there are little nuggets of fun.
On May 05 2011 16:30 Endymion wrote: The controls are a pretty intuitive idea in my opinion, I like it. Other than that I don't really see much of a "game," other than just a wheelchair simulator, but it's in the first stages so it's all good! Great start so far!
What is a game? Would you consider some well reviewed indie projects such as Dinner Date and Flower a game? A game can be as little as an interactive experience, and I believe it fulfils.
A game is something that presents you with goals that you have to achieve.
EPT
