UNTITLED GAMING EXPERIENCE is a 2D Action Platformer Narrative that takes the player on an adventure alongside an unnamed protagonist on the run. The player must face monster and human alike, before coming across their oddest challenge, a run in with a consciousness outside of his own world.Â
This game was developed using Unity 6, and is a exercise in game design and storytelling to question the player's perception of art, failure, and perseverance through another. The dialogue system was made using a scripting language called ink. This allows for branching paths of dialogue for the player to understand the disembodied consciousness they may find at the end of their experience. A series of multiple builds and outside resources that went into the creation of this project is available to access via the middle button at the bottom of this page.
Art is incredibly hard to make. And so are video games. It requires a thorough exploration of self and dedication to the completion of a vision. Sometimes that is much more easier said than done. UNTITLED GAMING EXPERIENCE is a game that embodies that struggle with its final product. This project went through multiple pivots, major compromises, and conceptual alterations from beginning to final piece. It's finished state is frustrating, clunky, and it carries the weight of a lot of apathy from it's artist. It is hard work fueled by necessity rather than passion or joy. But there is value in this negativity, the exploration of the struggle from the artist's unwillingness to engage in their own art is often revealing and vulnerable.
Video games are a unique vehicle to experience this by giving a level of interactivity not seen through most mediums. This game I have made into vehicle to express that negativity, to hold a dialogue with each player that came through and tried out the game I both made, and cared little for. It's mundane fantasy aesthetics are to disguise itself within mediocrity as to surprise the audience when asked upon their experience. The player will be asked to be honest with themselves and with the reflection of the artist. Was their experience enjoyable? Is the artist's apathy palpable to the audience? What could that mean for the artist moving forward? What is the value of hard work? And is hard work alone enough to be considered art? Each player that tries this game will think and believe something different, and thus hold a different conversation with the artist's reflection because of it. Through the audience's and artist's vulnerability with one another where this piece should reveal itself to be something greater than initially experienced.