Title : Pi’Ropes

Engine : Unreal Engine

Role : Designer

Platforms : PC game with alternate controller

Duration : 1 week in 2018

Status : Working prototype

What I did on Pi'Ropes

  • Pitched the concept with 1st thoughts about the alternate controller using ropes
  • Collaborated on designing and communicating about the core mechanic and main challenges
  • Balancing
  • Helped to the alternate controller’s conception ( a lot of DIY )
  • Collaborated on designing procedurally generated obstacle patterns to create interesting and challenging situations with a coherent difficulty curve ( Used Excel tabs to create/synthesize level design )

Pi’Ropes was a game made during a one week workshop called INCLUS & CONNECTÉS.
It consisted in developing a game, alternate controller or device for people having cognitive problems, reduced mobility and/or ways of interactions.

This workshop was an unique opportunity for me to design a fun game with a very strong need for accessibility and inclusion. An exercice that made me see the game designing process from another angle considering the challenges it’s coupled with !

Playtesting boat controls and weights height recognition

What is Pi'Ropes ?

Pi’Ropes is a 3D endless boat navigation experience playable in solo but designed for 2 player coop play.

In Pi’Ropes you need to make your boat avoid endless ‘waves’ of procedurally generated obstacles, like rocks and lighthouses !

To steer the boat, each player will be given a rope that would be connected to a side of the sail. (Left & Right sides)

They will need to cooperate to not hit something on their way !

 

Here’s a video showing how Pi’Ropes works !

Intentions / Others

Creating a simple-One-action mechanic

When I did pitch the idea of Pi’Ropes, I was really looking to make a game based on a simple interaction with an unique alternate controller, that would be fun and pleasing to do.

A simple action that needs to be combined with some communication and challenges, slightly, both physical, mental and social skills of the 2 players.

Accessibility and fun... with 2 players !

As another challenge we also wanted to make a multiplayer cooperation game accessible to disabled peoples, where they would be able to control a boat with a friend, very easily !

This was possible by taking the 2 heights inputs that our infrared captors did capture to make an average value.

Exemple : If the 1st player pulls the left rope of the sail and the other does not pull his, the boat goes left !