Posted April 16, 2021 by Brooksy513
Penguin Mania
Concept Statement
Penguin Mania is a 2D platformer based off the 1984 arcade classic Bomb Jack. In Penguin Mania, Pablo the Penguin jumps around on the snowy platforms and collects as many stars as he can while avoiding the winter enemies. To help him, he collects power-ups to stop any enemies from getting in his way.
Genre
Penguin Mania fits into the genre of a 2D platformer. Platformers like this one typically shows the game view from the side of the screen. This means that the camera is fixed at the side of the game and characters jump around and on platforms to achieve the goal which in this case is to collect all the stars. Penguin Mania may also be considered to be an action game. Action games consist of the player trying to achieve a goal by moving around the level while trying to avoid the enemies trying to kill the player which Penguin Mania conforms to.
Concept creation process/area and influences
The idea of creating a 2D platformer like Bomb Jack comes from my love of arcade and old games. I have an old table-top arcade machine filled with old 70s and 80s like Bomb Jack. So, to come up with a concept like this was a relatively easy one. The game will follow the key conventions of a platformer type game. These will include the character being able to jump up and down platforms, avoiding enemies and collecting power-ups and a score. The game will also follow along the lines of an arcade-style game in which the player has a certain number of lives and that they are required to get the highest score possible before they run out of lives.
Penguin Mania is going to be similar to Bomb Jack as that is the main influence for the game. This game will share elements of the likes of Donkey Kong and other old arcade games in which the player must climb around avoiding enemies and progress through levels. This could also be similar to Pacman as well as you have to avoid enemies, collect powerups and score and you need to collect all the items before you can progress.
The most recognisable element of Bomb Jack is the backgrounds of each level. As you progress through the levels the arrangement of the platforms and bombs and the background changes with level changes which I would need to implement into Penguin Mania.
Audience and competitive analysis
Penguin Mania’s primary audience will generally younger and more casual players, but it can reach a bigger demographic. This is due to the friendly and appealing nature of the game. Penguin Mania will have graphics and elements that will appeal to this audience. It targets the casual audience as the premise of the game is quite simple and easy to grasp.
The game is specifically designed in a that so that players can play through the game quickly and repeatedly. Giving an 80s era game a facelift with modern-looking elements but keeping feeling like an arcade game at its core will keep all players engaged.
By creating a game that follows the basic conventions of a platformer style game, it will not take time for the player to learn how to play, instead, they can jump straight into the action. According to IGN, one of the best-selling games of all time is Super Mario Bros. which is a platformer just like this one. Platformers of the like have a good record for attracting big audiences. Other examples include: Donkey Kong and Sonic the Hedgehog have big audiences varying in age and player groups.
Any hardcore gamer may not be as attracted as much as a casual player, but it would but giving them an extrinsic feeling in which they may achieve a high score within each play which may something that might appeal to a hardcore gamer. Even though a hardcore gamer might be more interested in long and story-driven games, it still may be something that takes their interest.
Game treatment and concept art
You play the role of Pablo the Penguin who is a happy little penguin who roams around the snowy pole. The winter enemies have taken all your precious stars and it is up to Pablo to retrieve them.
Pablo the Penguin – From GameartGuppy.com
Some features of the game will include:
The concept of Penguin Mania is going to look somewhat similar to how Bomb Jack levels are laid out in which several platforms are placed, and the bombs are placed in the level to collect while avoiding enemies who might either target you or just walk back and forth between the end of the platform and back. The Ui elements including the score, the level you are on and the number of lives you have left will also be similar.
Bomb Jack Screenshot of what level may look like - from DIY Arcade Australia
The general theme and artistic style for the game will have winter style about which will include snowy characters, penguins, ice, trees, igloos, etc. I will be implementing the use of tilemaps and animations from spritesheets to give the game a more realistic feel to it.
The game will also include collectable items to obtain a score such as stars.
Example of collectable items – From GameArtGuppy.com
With the progress of levels, there needs to be a change of scenery to keep the players engaged so they are not looking at the same background in each play.
Example background that may be used – From GameArtGuppy.com
To package it up, the game will need to include a clean but effective menu and UI system. This may include some custom cover art and implementation of buttons and sliders in the menu to make it compelling to the players.
Example Menu Concept – By Brackeys – YouTube.com
References
DIY Arcade Australia. (2018) Bomb Jack, DIY Arcade Australia. Image Available at: https://diyarcade.com.au/blogs/news/bomb-jack (Accessed: 13 April 2021).
Penguin Platformer Game Character Sprites (2021). Image Available at: https://www.gameartguppy.com/shop/penguin/ (Accessed: 14 April 2021).
Kenney • Platformer Art: Winter (2021). Available at: https://www.kenney.nl/assets/platformer-art-winter (Accessed: 14 April 2021).
Top 10 Best-Selling Video Games of All Time - IGN (2021). Available at: https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/04/19/top-10-best-selling-video-games-of-all-t... (Accessed: 16 April 2021).
The 20 best platform games, ranked (2020). Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/games/news/platform-games-best-... (Accessed: 16 April 2021). Brackeys (2017) START MENU in Unity, Youtube. Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc8ac_qUXQY (Accessed: 16 April 20)