Game Concept

Working Title
Dash Cam

Concept Statement
In Dash Cam, you step into the sneakers of Cameron, a young boy determined to reach school on time to evade detention. Along the way, collect scattered pages of Cameron's homework to avoid being scorned upon arrival. Can you master the art of quick thinking and precision to help Cameron beat the bell? Get ready for a thrilling adventure filled with urgency in Dash Cam!

Genre / Category
Platformer

Concept Creation Process
When developing the concept for Dash Cam, I drew inspiration from Celeste, my personal favourite platformer game. Celeste is known for its fast-paced movement mechanic and cute collectible strawberries. Adopting a subtractive design approach, I aimed to recreate these impactful elements for a new and compelling gaming experience.

The influence of Celeste's fast-paced movement mechanics formed the core gameplay of Dash Cam, where players must navigate challenging environments quickly and decisively to reach the finish. To add a sense of urgency I decided to also include a timer that ticks down throughout each level. This focus on speed and agility aligns with the intense platforming action that defines Celeste.

Additionally, I incorporated the concept of collectibles from Celeste into Dash Cam as a central feature. In Celeste, collecting strawberries adds an extra layer of challenge and replay-ability. Similarly, in Dash Cam, players must collect pages of Cameron's homework scattered throughout the levels. This not only adds a strategic element to the gameplay but also provides a meaningful objective tied to the narrative of the game and the player will be given a grade upon completion that is determined by the number of pages collected.

Target Audience
As a platformer, Dash Cam is designed to appeal to a wide spectrum of gamers, from casual players seeking a straightforward experience to dedicated gamers craving engaging challenges. The game's intuitive controls and linear storyline are tailored to encourage casual players who enjoy pick-up-and-play experiences. Simultaneously, its emphasis on speed, precision, and collecting items offers depth for more experienced players seeking a rewarding challenge. Additionally, Dash Cam should resonate with younger audiences through its relatable narrative. All this combined with vibrant visuals should attract players of various ages and skill levels to try it out.

Competitive Analysis
To find potential opportunities for being successful in the games industry, a comparison between popular platformers and Dash Cam was made, focusing on the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities each game provides.

• Celeste
  • Strengths: Known for tight controls, challenging platforming, and engaging narrative.
  • Weaknesses: Steep difficulty curve may limit accessibility for some players.
  • Opportunities: Dash Cam can appeal to players familiar with Celeste's gameplay mechanics while offering a more accessible experience for more casual players.

• Super Mario Wonder 
  • Strengths: Iconic characters, diverse level design, and innovative gameplay mechanics.
  • Weaknesses: Exclusive to Nintendo platforms, limiting accessibility.
  • Opportunities: Dash Cam can leverage its accessibility to attract players seeking a fun and engaging platforming experience.

• Hollow Knight
  • Strengths: Deep lore, challenging gameplay, and intricate world design.
  • Weaknesses: Difficulty may deter more casual players.
  • Opportunities: Dash Cam can offer a more straightforward and accessible platforming experience.

Based on this analysis, Dash Cam should be able to capitalise on its accessibility, engaging narrative, and fluid gameplay mechanics to set itself apart from other platformers and find success within the genre. 

Game Treatment

Embark on a thrilling and exhilarating adventure in Dash Cam, where you must navigate the bustling streets of town to reach school on time amidst chaos and obstacles. Perform frantic dashes and clever manoeuvres to outpace challenges and beat the bell!

Key Features:

• Fast-Paced Movement: Dash strategically to evade obstacles and accelerate your journey through town.
• Collectible Homework Pages: Gather pages of homework along your route to determine your final grade upon completion.
• Challenging Obstacles and Enemies: Encounter various obstacles and creatures that aim to slow you down and impede your progress.
• Level Timer: Each level features a countdown timer that must be surpassed to advance (optional setting to disable).
• Progressive Difficulty: Explore multiple levels with a progressive increase in challenge and complexity.
• Immersive Audio: Enjoy a catchy soundtrack and satisfying sound effects that enhance the gaming experience.

Concept Art

For the character and animations, I am planning on using free assets throughout development and will make custom sprites and animations if time is available. Currently, I am leaning towards using the below character sprite sheet because of the quality and variety of animations.

As for the scenery I plan to create a fun, fantasy-style city similar to the below image using a free tileset and fits the theme. If this is not possible, I will attempt to make my own assets using Aseprite.

References

Character Sprite Sheet: https://rvros.itch.io/animated-pixel-hero

NightCafe Generative AI: https://creator.nightcafe.studio