Challenges

Smashed Bros.

Please note that some of these mechanics were developed after the creation of the Digital Design Document during a post mortem. These are all personal ideas that were pitched to the rest of the team.

Choosing a Character Challenge During pre-production, there was debate over whether character selection should follow a roster format or use three consistent classes. Action One gameplay feature considered essential was the ability to purch

Choosing a Character

Challenge

During pre-production, there was debate over whether character selection should follow a roster format or use three consistent classes.

Action

One gameplay feature considered essential was the ability to purchase alcoholic weapons at a liquor store during matches, a complex mechanic to balance on its own. With a small development team, it was more practical to adopt a uniform class system rather than manage multiple characters with unique skill sets. This approach also complemented the theme of drinking through terms such as light, medium, and heavyweight, often linked to alcohol tolerance.

Result

In this instance, prioritising the project’s theme over feature variety helped create a more cohesive experience. It was predicted that this decision would lead to a smaller but more refined gameplay experience, which the team agreed was better than a larger yet unbalanced design.

Making a Drinking Video Game Challenge It was a personal experiment to see if a drinking-themed game could appeal to people who enjoy alcohol. Action Research showed that sixty-five percent of gamers consume alcohol, and about half of the g

Making a Drinking Video Game

Challenge

It was a personal experiment to see if a drinking-themed game could appeal to people who enjoy alcohol.

Action

Research showed that sixty-five percent of gamers consume alcohol, and about half of the gaming community enjoys action games. These findings motivated the attempt to combine these interests. The illustration above reflects this target market, which is an younger individual enjoying a drink and playing Call of Duty: Black Ops. Several adrenaline-driven games were analyzed to explore how liquor could be integrated into their mechanics. While this could apply to many genres, shooters stood out. It was not only aesthetically suited for an alcohol theme, but it also allowed the traditional mechanics to be pushed in new directions, such as using wonky physics to simulate drunkenness when hit by weapons that induce intoxication.

Result

After pitching the idea to the team, the feedback was very positive. Many found the concept relatable due to the strong alcohol culture within gaming. They recalled moments of drinking and playing with friends during local area network parties. The idea quickly became a lively discussion point, which led it being selected as the Digital Design Document project.

Perspective Challenge The Digital Design Document was completed with the idea of the game taking place from the player character’s point of view. A question arose afterwards, asking whether it could have been a third-person experience instead.

Perspective

Challenge

The Digital Design Document was completed with the idea of the game taking place from the player character’s point of view. A question arose afterwards, asking whether it could have been a third-person experience instead.

Action

A pros-and-cons list was created for both first- and third-person camera perspectives. Research indicated that having the camera see through the eyes of the player’s character felt more relatable, as people naturally experience the world from their own point of view. However, the exaggerated, comical physics that occurred when a they became intoxicated were far more entertaining to watch from a distance. This suggested a strong case for using that approach.

Result

If the Digital Design Document had outlined a third-person perspective, the game might have been more appealing to streamers, as humour is a core part of their content. This change will be considered in the future as a fun personal project.

Rubber Banding Challenge Players are rewarded for going on drinking sprees, meaning eliminating multiple opponents in a single life. If done successfully, they receive a special ability that gives them a competitive advantage. This was widely a

Rubber Banding

Challenge

Players are rewarded for going on drinking sprees, meaning eliminating multiple opponents in a single life. If done successfully, they receive a special ability that gives them a competitive advantage. This was widely accepted as a positive feedback loop by the tam, but no one discussed until the post-mortem what a negative variation might look like. Exploring this became a personal task.

Action

Since the killing spree concept was originally inspired by Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the team reflected on another mechanic from that game designed to help downed players revive themselves. This was called last stand. Essentially, if someone lost all their health they would collapse into a fallen position. During this moment they are provided with a brief amount of time to eliminate an enemy. If successful, they do not die and given a second chance.

Result

When presented to the team, it was evident that the Last Stand mechanic would have been a valuable addition to the Digital Design Document. Since the game already supported highly skilled players well, it would have been fitting to do the opposite by giving unskilled ones a similar opportunity to help maintain balance.

Simplification Challenge In this drinking-themed shooter, the meter representing a player’s vitality is displayed as a breathalyser. Instead of losing health through standard attacks, players become intoxicated via alcohol-based weapons. The or

Simplification

Challenge

In this drinking-themed shooter, the meter representing a player’s vitality is displayed as a breathalyser. Instead of losing health through standard attacks, players become intoxicated via alcohol-based weapons. The original design split the meter into five segments. At the start of a match, it is full, representing complete sobriety. When a character takes a hit, the meter decreases. Each time it drops into a new section, the player suffers a different form of sensory impairment to reflect growing drunkenness, paired with altered physics. All senses would be affected before the character ultimately blacks out. While the idea offered many creative possibilities, it soon proved overly complicated, which risked confusing players. This was identified after the Digital Design Document was finished and addressed in the post-mortem discussion.

Action

The breathalyser system was streamlined into three parts, as illustrated in the image above. First, subtle camera shakes signal that a player is under attack, giving them a chance to react. Next, the player experiences only one of the five drunken sensory impairments, determined by the type of alcohol used against them. Finally, mild wonky physics effects are introduced.

Result

The updated breathalyser system retains its unique identity while significantly reducing complexity. Further adjustments will likely be made through playtesting, but this is a step in the right direction and demonstrates how overwhelming players with too much information can hinder gameplay.

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