By Ruby Harkness

Link for all rules and directions:

SproutDocumentation

Artist’s Statement: 

Sprout is a card game that comments on environmental awareness and helping others. The game starts as collaborative, but eventually forces players to be selfish, which I thought was a really interesting progression. The main goal of Sprout is to grow your plant faster than everyone else, but if one person’s plant “dies” or reaches 0 growth points, everyone loses. 

The idea of growing a plant was a core value of Sprout from the start, however, the mechanics switched up a lot through the design process. Originally the game was designed to have 4 different cards with different abilities, but for simplicity, the final version only has 2 different card types. The game also originally was more of a luck based game, but after talking with others in the class it seemed like a strategy based game would be more fun. The first play test included the two card types and the plant models, which are the same as the final version. However, after the first play test, I realized that the game was too hard. Multiple people were out too fast causing everyone to lose the game in around 3 rounds. We tweaked this by creating a “pass go” system where every time a round ends, every player adds one growth to their plant. This seemed to help the game flow a lot better and on the next play test the game went on for a long time. Cards were also shuffled to disperse different events more evenly. 

Sprout’s commentary on environmental awareness was intended, but after we were talking about how Sprout also acts as a commentary on socialism. The beginning of the game forces players to share their winnings to help keep everyone alive. Sharing resources was a big part of the early game. People were forced to be willing to give to each other. Late game is when people got competitive because nobody’s sprout was close to dying. It was super interesting to see people go from sharing and being very willing to give up resources to wanting to keep everything they had to themselves to get ahead of other players. The start of the game was very collaborative, but the collaboration eventually fell apart when people realized they were not forced to keep others alive anymore. 

I think Sprout gets a lot of inspiration from indie farming games like Stardew Valley, a game based around the idea of the player “taking care” of something. I think the tactile element of Sprout can be compared to a game like Battleship. Both use a very clear visual and tactile way of keeping score. The scorekeeping models were also fully inspired by the model in “Grow: The Organic Building Game” which we talked about in class. As an art game, I think Sprout could connect to the DADA movement, providing an interesting commentary on environmental issues.

Images:

Link:

https://noahwc.itch.io/objects-in-motion

Demo:

For my express/experience artwork, I wanted to focus on the style of indie game that I was first introduced to as a kid: puzzle games that took simple mechanics and implemented them in ways that were complex. A prime example of this is The Stanley Parable, an indie title featured in the Gameloading: Rise of the Indies documentary. On paper, The Stanley Parable is a walking simulator that takes place throughout an office building with some narration and diverging paths. However, the way these mechanics are implemented provides for a rich and engaging narrative with whimsical and snarky undertones. My hope for this project was to recreate the elegance and creativity that characterizes these games but in an abstracted form devoid of characters and narrative. It’s easy to feel like every indie/art games all need to have deeper meaning or profound commentary to be of worthwhile. In order to shy away from that, I wanted to embrace engineered play by focusing on an interesting mechanic and all the ways it can be used in a simple puzzle game. Objects in motion is a top-down room-based puzzle game where your surroundings change based on which direction you are moving. Throughout the game you will encounter walls, portals, and terminals that rotate the world around you. Navigating through the interactions of these three components is where the complexities lie.

Scripts:

2D Overwatch:

How to play:

This game is a simplified version of “Overwatch.” So the rules are also therefore straightforward.  It involves two players: Player A spawns on the left side of the scene, while Player B spawns on the right. Both players can shoot bullets at each other. When a player’s hp reaches 0, they need to wait to respawn.

The objective is the center of the map. Both players should try to capture the objective by just standing on it. The first player that reaches 100 points wins the game.

Artist’s statement:

Getting new players into “Overwatch” is hard because it’s tough to start playing. One of the reasons is that it is difficult to get started. Blizzard may have noticed this, maybe that is why they’re adding tutorials. The FPS part and the complicated maps make it hard for beginners.

Therefore, I came up with the idea of making an Overwatch without those elements which is a 2D version of it. Initially, my idea is to make it network-connected, so the players can control the direction of bullets with their mouse and I could add more players to the game in the future. But after trying to network in Unity for 3 days, I decided to give that feature up and redesign the entire game to make it can fit within one laptop. Also, because I’ve wasted so many days trying the network feature, at last, I

didn’t get enough time to implement the abilities to the game.

I was trying to set up the network.

But after several play tests, I would say the gameplay went better than I expected. Since there are no abilities, it is very easy for the players to get started and be good at it.

this was my first playtest

This project took some inspiration from “Pac-Manhattan”, the game that appropriates Pac-Man into the real world and make it easy to get into. Our game does the same for “Overwatch.” It’s more straightforward now. Also, In the Data Movement, artists made the audience see normal things differently, for example Duchamp’s “L.H.O.O.Q.”, our game makes “Overwatch” different and simpler, which changes the experience of gameplay.

This game takes you back through the day in the life of high school. Go through your daily routine in the morning as well as attending class each day. Play the game here before reading the rest:

https://nickconnorss.itch.io/artwork-4

This artgame is designed with the specific purpose of raising awareness about the realities and commonalities of school shootings in America. In chapters 2 and 3 of Works of Game, written by John Sharp, the author discusses the difference between ‘Game Art’ and ‘Artgames’ and how each one expresses something different. My game falls under the category of an artgame because it focuses on crafting an experience that delves deep into life’s metaphysical aspects, exploring themes of ethics and the human condition, which is how Sharp describes artgames to be. The design of this game is deeply personal, rooted in a personal experience with a school shooting incident at Saugus High School. By integrating this personal narrative, my game transcends traditional game mechanics and becomes a platform for players to engage with and understand the emotional and psychological impacts of a tragedy like this. This is in line with the essence of Artgames, where the gameplay and objectives should be intertwined with the artist’s vision. The goal of this artgame is to spread awareness and show that something as tragic as this can happen in a split of a second, affecting the lives of everyone around. Rest in peace Gracie and Dominic, you will be cherished in our hearts forever.  

Artist’s Statement:

Since beginning to learn about game design, a constant in all the games I have worked with has been to create a sense of fairness for the player. Create challenges and puzzles for a participant to overcome, but make sure the playing field is level for everyone involved. However, I felt that this wasn’t very reflective of the real world, where nothing is fair and victory goes to the people who can pay for it. My card game takes the simple premise of card dealing and poker, specifically black jack, but appropriates the goal of the game and the way the cards are dealt to provide an unfair advantage to those who were lucky enough to go first.

I wanted to convey with my game that the people on top in society have way more control over the lives of the people below them. The 1% get to influence where the country’s money goes, who is voted into office, and what legislation is allowed to be passed. However, I convey this message quite subtly through the lens of a simple card game, where the first player gets to directly impact what cards the people behind them get access to. Another point I wanted to convey to my players is a sense of loss of control, where you are directly subjected to the actions of the other players before you. When a player chooses a card from the limited pool of options, they are completely cutting you off from having that choice for yourself and are instead forced to create something from their scraps. I actually got this idea from a movie, a foreign film on Netflix entitled “The Platform”, where people are forced onto different levels of a building, and every day a platform of food travels down through the floors for the people to eat, but the further down your level is the less food there is for you. This movie is also an artistic critic against the system of the upper class, calling out the unfairness and hypocrisy of the system that rewards people for being rich.

Game Documentation:

The Rules:

Everyone rolls two dice to determine turn order – the person with the highest role goes first, then second, and so on

First player, draw as many cards as there are players PLUS ONE (ex. If there are 4 people playing, draw 5 cards)

Out of all the cards, pick one to keep and pass the remaining cards to the second player. Second player do the same, and so on until the last player

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE GAME: First player to get a hand that adds exactly to 21 wins the round (Poker rules apply to card values, ex Ace is 11 or 1)

If someone collects a collective card value over 21, they are sent to last place for the next round

Whoever wins the round becomes first player, second place becomes second player, and so on

Play as many rounds as you want!

 
Bonus Rule: if one person has been in first for too long, all the other players can invoke a Revolution. A Revolution means that for the next round, each player who is not first must pool their cards and collect a total of ((number of players – 1) * 15) = for example, if there are 4 people playing and the bottom 3 players invoke revolution, the bottom three players must collect a total of at least 45 points before the first player can collect exactly 21 points. If they succeed, the first player gets sent to last for the next round. Note: A revolution can only occur if EVERYONE wants to participate (excluding the first player). After the first player has been sent to the back, the group must decide who gets placed to player 1 (if they cannot make up their mind, roll a dice again to determine turn order)

Post-Playtest 1 Notes:
– It was too easy for players to get to 21 within the first 2 turns

– There was an interesting game tactic deployed by the first player, where they would hoard all of the lower value cards each turn and just wait for the other players to get a hand over 21 in order to secure their position in 1st

– Changes: adjust the point distribution on the face cards – Jack = 11, Queen = 12, King = 13, ace = 1

Post-Playtest 2 Notes:
– the changes made to the face cards were unnecessary, I’m going to change it back to regular blackjack rules

– The games were short but sweet, and I believe they captured the message I was trying to send about unfairness and privilege towards the wealthy in the real world.

Example of a round:

Goal: Avoid becoming homeless and gain the most money in life. To become homeless, you have negative balance at any time

Instructions:

1. 1. Start with players at the start
   2. Player class is determined with a roll of a 6 sided die. 
      1. Player with the highest roll = higher class
      2. Player with 2nd highest roll = middle class
      3. Everyone else = lower class
   3. Keep track of points (school points) and total college debt left
   4. Roll a D6 to get a number of steps taken around the board
      1. Landed on an Yellow Empty Space, draw an school action card before
      2. If you pass a Red Tax Space, pay up job tax (indicated on career card) + percentage of total college debt (if applicable) + life tax ($50)
         1. If you do not have a job, you have to only pay life tax
      3. If you pass Green Pay Day, you get paid!
      4. If you pass White Career Space, choose a job!

• • University-required:

1. 1. 1. Doctor
         1. School Point Requirement: greater than 20
         2. Pay: $1500
         3. College Debt: $300 x turns spent in college
         4. Tax: $300
      2. Nurse
         1. School Point Requirement: 17
         2. Pay: $1200
         3. College Debt: $200 x turns spent in college
         4. Tax: $300
      3. Engineer
         1. School Point Requirement:15
         2. Pay: $900
         3. College Debt: $150 x turns spent in college
         4. Tax: $100
      4. Secretary
         1. School Point Requirement: 10
         2. Pay: $700
         3. College Debt: $100 x turns spent in college
         4. Tax: $100
      5. News Anchor
         1. School Point Requirement: 5
         2. Pay: $600
         3. College Debt: $50 x turns spent in college
         4. Tax: $ 100

• • University not required:

1. 1. 1. Barista
         1. School Point Requirement: less than 0 (negative)
         2. Pay: $100
         3. College Debt: $0
         4. Tax: $50
      2. Cashier
         1. School Point Requirement: 0
         2. Pay: $150
         3. College Debt: $0
         4. Tax: $50
      3. Waiter
         1. School Point Requirement: 1
         2. Pay: $200
         3. College Debt: $0
         4. Tax: $50

• • Other:

1. 1. 1. No job (Roll a NAT20 to choose a job)
   2. College vs Job:
      1. College:
         1. Higher class: Your family has been donating to the college for generations. You get in and your parents cover all your student debt. Earn 5 points for going to a well-known college.
         2. Middle class/Lower class: (needs minimum of 2 school points to go to college) 
            1. 1-5: You studied and did well for the PSAT and SATs so you got in with a scholarship (- 75% of college debt)
            2. 6:You studied and did amazing on the PSAT and SATs so you got in with full scholarship (- 100% of college debt)
            3. 7-8: You got into college, but you’re not outstanding, not a lot of scholarships were offered (-25% college debt)

Action Cards

High School:

Failed test!

• Higher class: your parents donates to the school, they don’t care and gives you a pass after a quick call to the principal. You get a school point.
• Middle class: Parents paid for tutoring to catch up in class. Roll a D8. 
  • 3-8: you paid attention and passed the final, the actual exam that matters. Get a school point.
  • 1-2: You didn’t pay attention and made the same mistakes on the exam. Lose a school point.
• Lower class: you tried to study, but trying to study without help is difficult. Roll a D20.
  • 20: You passed the exam through a miracle! Earn a school point
  • 1-19: You failed. Obviously. Lose a school point.

Great science project!

• Higher class: Your parents were so proud that they bragged to friends, family, and even colleagues. You made it to the town newspaper! Gain 3 school points.
• Middle class: Roll a D8. 
  • 3-8: The paper caught wind of you, so they decided to do coverage on you. You made the school look good. Gain 2 school points.
  • 1-2: You got an A on the project, earning 1 school point.
• Lower class: you tried to study, but trying to study without help is difficult.
  •  You got an A on the project, earning 1 school point.

AP Class!

• Higher class: Your parents are able to afford the exam as well as the test prep books for you to study for the test, you aced it! Earn 5 school points
• Middle class: Your parents were able to afford the $100 fee but you weren’t able to get all the prep books that you’d hoped for. You passed. Earn 3 points.
• Lower class: Your parents aren’t able to afford the exam, so you decided to not take the class.

College:

Cheating Accusations

• Higher class: Your family has been donating to the college for 5 generations. The college apologizes for accusing you of such things. Gain 5 school points as compensation. 
• Middle/Lower class: Roll a D8.
  • 1-3: You nearly forgot to show up to the board meeting. Thus, you didn’t prepare for it and were accused of cheating. Lose a point.
  • 4-8: You prepared and showed up with receipts that you did not cheat and have done the work all on your own without copying. College apologizes for doubting you. Gain 3 points

Extra Credit Essay

• Higher class: You pay an outside source to write your essay, allowing you to ace the class and bringing up your GPA even more. Gain 5 school points
• Middle class: Roll D8
  • 1-2: You have help from in-class resources to compose an outstanding essay. Gain 3 school points
  • 3-8: You did it to the best of your abilities but you didn’t have a full understanding of the course. You earned 1 school point
• Lower class: Roll a D20.
  • 1-19: You decide to not do the essay.
  • 20: You aced the extra credit, allowing you for more points in the class but it’s not great. Gain 1 school point

Internet Issue on Deadline

• Higher class: No way, your parents paid for the top-of-the-line internet, it never crashes. Gain 3 school points.
• Middle class: You have a hotspot and just made the deadline, but didn’t have time to add finishing touches to your assignment. Gain 2 points.
• Lower class: **** it you fail the assignment. Lose 3 points.

Career:

Car Accident

• Higher class: You got other cars, you’d be fine. You have connections to a great lawyer so you don’t have to pay for damages either!
• Middle class: You have good insurance, but there are still some fees that you have to pay. Lose $100.
• Lower class: You can’t afford to fix your car, so you have to use a bike to get to work until you have enough money to fix it. This makes you late to work, causing you to get paid less. Lose $100 from paycheck during Pay Day. You have to pay a fee from your sketchy insurance. Lose $150.

Hurricane!

• Higher class: You have an underground, mansion–sized bunker with immaculate insurance on your house. You got all the damages repaired for a great price while living in luxury. Lose $100
• Middle class: You have decent insurance, but some damaged items were not covered. You have to replace them out of pocket. Lose $500.
• Lower class: Your insurance is ****, they’re not replacing anything. Why do you even pay them? Lose $1500 to replace all your furniture and house.

Robbed

• Higher class: You had CCTV cameras in the neighborhood and were able to capture the robber’s face from multiple angles. The police made the arrest and all your stolen assets were returned to you.
• Middle class: Roll a D8
  • 1-2: All the CCTV Police are unable to track down the robber, lose $50
  • 3-8: The police in your area really love their job! They found the robber and even detained him through fingerprint identification! All stolen assets are returned to you.
• Lower class: You are the robber. Roll a D20.
  • 1-15: You robbed the wrong person, the police were able to ID you. After coming out of jail, you lose all your assets and job. It is now harder to get a new job. Roll NAT20 every turn to regain a job.
  • 16-20: Wow! You got lucky! You got away with robbing a house. Gain $500

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Artist Statement

The idea behind this game was to go for the unfair social classes found in American society today. Social mobility is not as lenient as how the American Dream has made it out to be. The Upper class have the choice to slack off but still go through life without a lot of worry since they are provided certain privileges and opportunities that allows them to grow and benefit. Meanwhile, the lower class are at a disadvantage and requires luck to get such opportunities. Even then, they are in a different situation where their environment are also against them. The intention is for the lower class to lose around 90-95% of the time unless the players are VERY lucky. Meanwhile, the upper class doesn’t have to worry as much about going into debt since they are given a lot of chances and opportunities. After the first 2 playtests, I found out that the lower class are more likely to go negative school points by the time that they get to college. As a result, I implemented the point requirements for college. As a result, the lower classes are less likely to get the opportunity to obtain the higher-paying jobs. The university-not-required jobs are paying just enough for the player to get by, similar to that of real life struggles of those in the lower class. In the most recent in-class playthrough, the upper class player disregarded the written goal and tried to go into debt as soon as possible, however, they were able to get through the whole game and finished 2nd. I liked this result as it shows how the upper class are able to complete the goal of the game even if they are trying become their own enemies.

This idea is inspired from the game of life and the type of messages behind art games. Since art games are meant to call attention to topics that typical games do not emphasize about society, this game calls out an unfair nature of the class system. Rather than appropriating The Game of Life, I decided rebranded it with additional mechanics with the addition of the monetary value  of jobs and money. Since the only similarities would be the feel of the map, it was best to rebrand the game under a different name instead of declaring it as a DLC. I also wanted a playable game like the Uncle Roy game that we’ve seen in class as opposed to an art piece similar to Mario Clouds.