Somber
Sounds of Somber is an interactive 2-D side scrolling platform game produced by a collaborative team. With emphasis on narrative and intertextuality, the game contains multiple puzzles where the player simply makes their way through the level overcoming obstacles.
As a media arts and game development major, one of my final courses offered was a media arts and game development team project capstone where students within my major contributed diverse expertise to develop a game with a complex narrative.
My involvement:
Communicated with teammates effectively both in and outside the classroom through platforms such as Trello, Discord, and Google Drive.
Communicated with professors for guidance and advise.
Member of writing team - Contributed my creative writing expertise to develop an intertextual environment consisting of a cohesive narrative.
Wrote chapter two of the game.
Researched information about depression and anxiety to deliver an accurate depiction promoted in narrative.
Member of marketing team - Produced slogan “In darkness there is light” to reference the narrative theme of the game to players.
Game Trailers
Goals
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Sounds of Somber is a 2D, side-scrolling puzzle platformer game with an emphasis on narrative, containing levels that personify the more dismal themes of mental illness, focusing on depression and anxiety, cultivating a darker theme throughout, programmed and developed in Unity, along with other programs (such as Adobe Products) for visuals and sound design.
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-Two Chapters, with large levels, connected by the player’s house serving as a hub world.
-Roughly 5-10 puzzles per chapter
-Unique abilities for the player
-Hazards and environments to match themes in the chapter
-A comprehensive art style
-Creating a narrative that engages the player, and fulfills the character’s progress with overcoming their challenges.
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Created a collaborative game design document in google drive assessing goals and game objectives
Split classmates into teams to focus on individual areas of expertise (writing, art, marketing, audio, and programming team)
Began the development process right away, hosting team meetings weekly for collaboration of ideas and execution
Game testing
Final presentation / game