MAR. 14 – IMPACT GAME WRITING CHALLENGE

GAME: Prism

The game I will be writing about is Prism. It was created by the developers Yidi Zhu, Dan Wolpow, Ridima Ramesh, Yutian Zheng, Xueyang Wang. The gameplay revolves around animals in which the protagonist is a fox that goes around the forest talking to multiple other animals to convince them to help you build a Dam to protect the forest from an upcoming flood that threatens to destroy the entire Forest and all its inhabitants.

I liked the game’s playability and its soothing gameplay experience. I also liked the aesthetics of the game, they were simply amazing. The graphics were beautifully crafted, and the vibrant colors enhanced the gameplay even further. The sound, audio, dialog and music all combined together added a touch of realism as if I was actually a fox talking to other multiple animals and greatly enhanced my gameplay experience. The storytelling was also great. It incorporated multiple factors such as dialog, quests and decision making that effectively conveyed the story to the player.

What I disliked about the game is its dialog and side missions. I find it hard to understand and it could be simplified for kids at little ages who are playing the game, and the complex missions could be an obstacle that kids might get stuck on. Easier side missions that are easy to solve could make the game more fun to play and easier to beat while short dialog will improve the storytelling. If both of these mechanics of the game were adjusted a little bit to make the game much easier it would surely enhance the gameplay of the game and make it more enjoyable for younger audiences and older audiences as well.

The creation of this game was meant to help normal children better sympathize with younger or older kids who have autism or disabilities. This is an amazing solution to a problem that society faces today which is making normal and healthy children better understand and communicate with kids who have disabilities such as autism. If this game achieves its intended purpose, it might be able to help people who have autism better integrate into today’s society by allowing normal and healthy people to understand the disadvantages that people with Autism have to face every day. This would help normal people empathize with people who have Autism and properly behave with them.

In conclusion, overall, this game can be used for good in the world. In fact, it was created to help people who have autism better integrate into today’s society. The design, gameplay and story of the game, to a very large extent communicates the message of how a person with Autism feels and perceives the world in their point of view. This message of the game would allow a normal person to understand the hardships and difficulties a person with autism has to go through in life which in return would better allow the person playing the game to empathize with a person who has autism. This would create a positive impact in the world allowing people with autism better integrate into today’s society.

Student: Rehan A

From: Brooklyn, New York, USA

DECIPHERING REALITY: A REVIEW OF ‘DATAK’

GAME: Datak – A Serious Game About Personal Data

“Datak – A Serious Game About Personal Data” is one of the many games you can find in the G4C game arcade. It emerges as a thought-provoking experience, developed by RTS and DNA Studios. Released on January 30, 2017, it is a web-based platform game where you take on the role of a recent recruit hired to work for the mayor of a town (DataVille) to manage social media and you are confronted with different dilemmas and situations in their day-to-day lives. Each decision you make in the game has an impact on what happens and each thing you do is a learning opportunity about personal data and the benefits and harms of it. The game is based off an 18-month investigation on how our data is used and collected.

The aesthetic presentation of “Datak” is minimalist yet effective. The visuals and animations are very smooth and clear which makes the game really enjoyable. Little details like being able to turn on and off the lamps light on your desk or look at the picture on your desk makes the game really interactive and adds to the experience. The sound design in “Datak” is subtle but impactful, enhancing the immersion of the gameplay experience. Details like being able to hear the birds chirping in the morning or the clicking sounds that occur when you use the browser shows that the developers at RTS and DNA Studios paid a lot of attention to detail while developing.

The game follows a really complex story as players discover the mysteries surrounding the government’s actions, they are forced to confront their own assumptions blurring the line between truth and fiction. As you continue throughout the game, you meet a number of characters with their own agendas, motivations, and plans. Some may be allies while others pose significant threats. Throughout the game the decisions you make shape the storyline resulting in paths and different endings depending on your choices. The initial instructions and tutorials, in the game help newcomers grasp the objective easily.

Although “Datak” can have a repetitive structure at times, different outcomes and different things that can be unlocked through the game switches it up. An example of this would be the different mini games you unlock on the phone as you progress throughout the game. Critical thinking is a huge part in being able to play the game and challenges the player’s mind. At times, pacing can be slow with dialogue heavy scenes and lots ‘of reading, which is something a lot of people would find undesirable. The puzzle solving aspect in “Datak” is also something that some people would also find undesirable.

In summary, “Datak” offers a thought-provoking journey that challenges players to navigate the complexities of truth and deception in a digital age. Its simple engaging visuals, narrative and immersive sound effects blend seamlessly to create a memorable gaming experience that stays with you well beyond the final moments. Only a few flaws could be found that would potentially drive people away from playing and for most people, this is a very enjoyable game. “Datak” can have a really positive impact on our world by raising awareness about our personal data and making it fun while doing so.

Student: Buchi E

School: Barber Middle School

From: Acworth, Georgia, USA

NATIVE AMERICAN GAME EXAMINATION

GAME: Growing Up Ojibwe

The game I am reviewing is Growing Up Ojibwe, which follows either Tommy Sky, an Ojibwe boy sent by his grandma to learn about his people’s history and cultural traditions, or Annie Sky who was sent on the same mission. They explore different environments, from forest woodlands, ponds, wetlands, and bogs all while learning more and more. Learn about Ojibwe history while answering tough questions concerning how the USA treated the native tribes and the children’s history. Fulfill grandmother’s calling while having fun in this fun, engaging game. This game was created by GLIFWC (Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission) and it was created to help serve as educational material for classrooms in Michigan.

Questions will be answered, bogs will be bounded, spearfishing will be special, maple tapping will be terrific, and this game will be great whenever played by whoever! The graphics blend smoothly, and the gameplay is interesting and engaging no matter what level you are playing. (even the tutorial!) The music, story, and playability all work together to provide a nearly seamless playing experience.

The game felt inviting and looked, for the most part, very smooth. It flowed together, and the graphics were inviting and almost seamless. The people and entities were designed in a hand-drawn, artistic like way. It matched the game very well, making the whole of it flow better with the story. Its story was compelling, telling the story of the Ojibwe people while adding cultural elements as well. It also incorporated some natural elements, blending some of the human world with the natural world. The music and sound effects in the background made the game seem less rigid, also adding a sense of familiarity. The tracks helped stimulate a more realistic and relatable environment, adding to the overall feel of the game. It could have flowed better with character dialog in the native tongue (with captions) though it still seemed to work fine without it. The game was overall easy to play, but the text did not always seem to match into the box and the hitboxes of some characters were too high. Some parts of the game were challenging, especially deep water parts as you had to restart the entire level. if you fell off a cliff. These parts led to it being mildly frustrating as you cannot advance to the next level (the game would have worked better with checkpoints). The game, although challenging on certain devices, was still easy enough for many people to play.

Overall, this game was a fun experience, showing what it is like to grow up as an Ojibwe boy or girl, embodying your people and learning your culture part by part. Explore the natural world by maple syrup tapping, talking to animals, exploring culture, and so much more in this impact game. The questions add a nice classroom feel to the game, and the digital design graphics are visually appealing and inviting to look at. The game fulfills the expectations and its name in this fun-filled native american game.

Student: Collin S

From: Morganton, North Carolina, USA

A FOLD APART

GAME: A Fold Apart

Whether it’s a book, real life or a video game, there are always going to be different perspectives involved in which we don’t get to explore. However, A fold apart is a puzzle game developed by Lightning Rod Games and is available on iOS, PC, PlayStation, Switch and Xbox. This award winning puzzle game portrays the perspectives of two partners, a teacher and an architect, who are dealing with a long distance relationship. It portrays the different emotions and factors that impact a relationship especially when the characters are not only conflicted with each other but themselves as well. Slowly they tend to drift apart but clearly miss each other’s company as they attempt to figure out how to manage long distance.

A fold apart tells a compelling story between these characters’ and their long distance relationship. As they begin their career paths as an architect and a teacher, the architect receives an opportunity which unfortunately forces them into separate paths. The dialogue in this puzzle demonstrates the complex emotions in which the characters are feeling. It portrays the ups and downs of the relationship as they feel guilt for wanting to be together although it is a great opportunity for the architect and anger because they don’t want to give up their own career path for one another which causes them to miscommunicate since they want to make it seem as though they are fine when in reality they clearly aren’t expressing themselves to each other. What also makes A fold apart special is how Lightning Rod Games included modern day technology as the couple communicates through text messages in which the player actually gets to decide, changing the possible outcomes. The dialogue between the characters is what makes the puzzle more engaging and complex as it demonstrates the couple face and overcome emotional barriers within their relationship.

Although sound effects may not seem like they play a crucial role in video games to others, soundtrack by composer Riley Koenig and audio by the Power Up Audio impacts the portrayal of emotions in the storyline. The soundtrack combines with the setting which has a way of adding on to the characters’ day to day journey. In the beginning of the puzzle it is clear that they are in love as we see laughter and hear an uplifting soundtrack, and slowly that soundtrack becomes sadder as the couple share their farewells. The soundtrack portrays joy, sadness, or anger. For example, in the plot the teacher is texting with the architect who is describing a dream they had and states “we were here together in the city and everything felt perfect” after reading that the teacher feels anger and upset which is clearly presented throughout the noise effects as there’s a shattering and slam noise. The effects and soundtrack play a crucial role in A Fold Apart as it expresses the emotions of the characters which is crucial in compelling the heartbreak of a long distance relationship.

The format of A Fold Apart is what makes it different from other games. It has 3D graphics with a “homemade” paper aesthetic which literally makes the characters’ long distance relationships unravel as if you were reading a book. One thing books, video games and real life have in common is that there are always going to be different perspectives. A fold apart is the perfect combination of all three, it is a video game that has a paper aesthetic which unravels like a book as it portrays a realistic story of a long distance relationship. Another thing special was that you, the player, have the ability to choose a couple that best represents you as the game provides the option to be a male or female teacher and a male or female architect. A Fold Apart continues with player engagement as you are able to choose what the character says which impacts the other character’s response. The graphics, aesthetic and player engagement is what makes this puzzle so interesting.

Overall, A Fold Apart is a puzzle game which depicts the various points of views of a long distance relationship between two partners: an architect and a teacher. It depicts the feelings and circumstances that affect a relationship, as they figure out how to handle being away from each other. The graphics, soundtracks, and dialogue involved in this critically acclaimed puzzle is what drives the storytelling to a realistic long distance relationship experience in which players can relate to.

Student: Laisha M

School: John Dewey High School

From: Brooklyn, New York, USA

A CAUTIONARY YET HUMOROUS TALE: DUMB WAYS TO DIE

GAME: Dumb Ways to Die

This scene encapsulates the whimsical yet cautionary tone of “dumb Ways To Do,” a popular mobile game created by Metro Trains Melbourne. In this game, players navigate a series of absurd and dangerous situations, all while aiming to avoid gruesome, albeit humorous, deaths. Amidst the chaos, the game subtly imparts important safety messages related to train awareness.

The aesthetics of “Dumb Ways To Die” are as vibrant as they are macabre, with cartoonish characters and colorful environments that juxtapose the perilous predicaments they face. The app also has a feature that allows players to create their own character, with a selection of hairstyles, smiles, and body types. At first, I found this a bit off-putting; replicating myself in blob-form then dying in dumb ways. However, I’ve grown to find this feature unique. What better than seeing a blob-ified version of yourself splat down by a gravestone?

You might be thinking to yourself “Huh, why is an Australian Metro Station developing a silly game?” Well, “Dumb Ways To Die” isn’t quite silly after all. It’s a lesson, allusion. and solution to the surprisingly frequent accidents and mishaps that occur at the Australian Metro. The game appears as a fun game poking fun at the many “Dumb Ways To Die,” but in reality, it is spreading awareness and preventing such issues. Hey– playing this game first at 7 years old, I discovered you weren’t supposed to put forks in toasters! Each scenario tells a simple yet compelling story of danger and consequence, effectively driving home the importance of safety.

The game’s sound design further enhances the cartoonish and humorous tone with catchy music and comical sound effects, immersing players in its world. SPLAT! That’s the sound that ricochets off our eardrums as we fail to complete a minigame, flattening one of our three cheerleader avatars that act as a hearts/lives system. The game is also synonymous with the Dumb Ways To Die music video featuring the its characters singing to a surprisingly catchy and melodically genius masterpiece. “Dumb ways to die… so many dumb ways to diiiieee…”

While the game itself seems to have my eye glued to the screen, its playability is a bit underwhelming. As the game progresses, the speed picks up– swatting bees off a characters’ face, precisely removing a fork from a toaster without electrocuting the blue blob– which leaves me to feel rather stressed. The controls for some of the games are a bit imprecise due to the nature of the minigame. Another point to mention is the repetitiveness of the game. Playing the game for more than two rounds seems redundant, playing the same minigames, obtaining the same amount of points, and not gaining awards. The minigames are undoubtedly attractive and engaging, but it would’ve been more entertaining with larger variety.

“Dumb Ways To Die” succeeds in delivering its message of safety awareness through entertaining gameplay and memorable characters. Despite its flaws in playability, its lighthearted approach makes it an effective tool for educating player about the importance of train safety. With its widespread popularity the game has the potential to reach a broad audience and positively influence safety behaviors, proving that even the most absurd games can serve a meaningful purpose in the world.

Student: Huda S

From: Mountain House, California, USA

ALPHA BEAT CANCER REVIEW: THE PROS AND CONS

GAME: Alpha Beat Cancer

Alpha Beat Cancer is a game developed by Mukutu Game Studio on October 15, 2016. This educational game notably targets a young demographic and renovates your typical ABC’s into a minigame, collecting each letter as you progress. With the collection of each letter, the audience is able to learn about a word that’s associated with cancer. Consulting with doctors and patients, each minigame was carefully constructed to help educate young minds about cancer, the treatments, and the medical attention it requires.

The game’s primary objective is to educate young minds about the world of cancer, as stated in the synopsis. One way in which Mukutu Game Studio was effectively able to target and engage their young demographic was through their use of their cartoon-like aesthetic found embedded in the visual design of the game and the minigames that the audience was able to play. For example, in the beginning of the gameplay, the audience was immediately greeted with a screen that allowed for the customization of a cartoon character of a bear, whom the player would be in control of once they clicked “play.” Character customization is important not only in kid-friendly games like Alpha Beat Cancer but in games in general because it allows the player to be immersed in the overall game experience as it allows the player to have a personal connection to the character they have just created. This notable benefit of character customization is especially important in this case due to the fact that children have a low attention span, and any methods of allowing them to be immersed in the game correlate to how likely they are to continue playing the game, learning about cancer along the way. Furthermore, the minigames that are presented in the game are also interactive and have goals that are simple and easy enough for a young player to comprehend, such as a bowling game where the objective is to hit all the bandages off the screen using as few balls as possible, or collecting healthy and nutritious food that falls from the sky and avoiding unhealthy, junk foods to fill up the heath meter. Overall, the gameplay and the aesthetic functionality are amazing at targeting a young demographic to immerse themselves in the game amidst the educational purpose of the game.

Aside from the functionality of the game, the educational aspect of the game is perfectly tailored to a young demographic. After the character customization, the player is presented with a screen of possible symptoms of cancer in a kid-friendly manner, like an infographic, where it shows the player a visual, cartoon portrayal of the symptoms that makes it easier for the player to comprehend. As the player progresses in the game, they collect more information about cancer and medical care. The player learns new words from playing minigames, such as “metastasis” and “nutrition,” along with a brief definition of the words, which helps the young player educate themselves on these medical terminologies they might not be familiar with. The information in the game seems to be medically accurate based on the gameplay and serves as an introduction for young players to understand cancer.

Although the game seems to function well as a resource for kids to understand cancer, there are notable points that should be addressed to improve the game. The limited accessibility of the game in different languages is a huge hindrance to the success of the game as a way to change the world. The game is currently only available in Spanish, which limits the potential audience to those from Spanish-speaking countries. Furthermore, to capture the feeling of childhood and truly renovate the ABC’s, the game should have made the collection of letters alphabetically as opposed to how the player progresses, which breaks progression and deviates from the feeling that the game is a tool to learn the alphabets for children.

Overall, Alpha Beat Cancer is a game that targets a young demographic to learn about cancer and medical care. With the kid-friendly aesthetic and the versatile functionality of the game, this game has the potential to educate many on the topic if the game expands its accessibility to more players worldwide and maintains progression to maintain the nostalgia of relearning your ABC’s.

Student: Walker L

School: Tottenville High School

From: Staten Island, New York, USA