I have had a few requests to write something about the game and as I am currently awake whilst the plumbers fix a huge leak in our bathroom, I thought I should take the time to do exactly that. Write I mean, not fix the huge leak.

 

 

when I set out to make minlife I thought of a few ideas. These included platformers, decorating games, maze explorers and all sorts. Here is my original brainstorm that I ended up using as a plan-maker (Created in xmind HIGHLY recommended and FREE – http://www.xmind.net/ )

 

Once I decided to make the focus of the Theme the art style and feel of the game, that allowed me to expand in the mechanics and direction. I very quickly thought of lots of cool scenes I could make with basic props, characters and back drops.

SPOILERS

As I started making the game feel minimal and sparse visually, I realised that there was a twist I could play with the players expectations. By letting the player think that you could only do one thing, (get up, shower in a linear fashion) I was able to play with that preconception in the “driving sequence”. The game tells you that you should “Pick up bobby”  and the result is a little different than most though. Also, depending on how you “drive” (move left or right) this will affect the outcome.

I expanded this idea later at the workplace/studio where I took regular events and made them a bit surreal/special. If you compare the list of rooms on the brainstorm to the final locations in the game you will see I ran out of time to make them all, BUT I did include a lot of them and feel happy with what I have made.

As a side note, a great surprise for me in this process is how people are talking and relating to the characters in the game. The three people you collect are actually three friends I work with and car pool with every day. To hear people who have never met them, discuss what they feel about them is great and hilarious.

for example –

“I picked up bobby! he is great.”

“Simon and Craig arent as cool as Bobby”

There are a few points where the game is a little unstable and strange things happen BUT this has also had a positive outcome. A good friend of mine Oli played the game and found that –

 

“SPOILERS!” – “If you kill Craig and Simon on the way to work, you enter some kind of guilt nightmare when you arrive at work. It spawns multiple copies of both of them with the objective text laid on top of each other. Mad Lynchian.” – I apologised and explained the bug but got back this reply –

“I loved that moment, I felt genuine guilt.”

“END SPOILERS!”

 

 

So yes, I am glad! I love creating games that inspire in some way even if it is the smallest emotion or reaction. A laugh or a gasp. Surprises and the unexpected can totally make a game.

Thanks to everyone who has played the game so far and for all the kind comments and support

Need to resist the urge to build more into it – post competition..

This is Spacestronaut Napper, Signing OFF!