Game Concept

Working Title: SolarGram’s Fix It Shop

Genre: Puzzle/Narrative. This is a chill puzzle game, similar to Assemble with Care, with a wider exploration range identical to Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley.

Target Audience: Players who enjoys puzzles and exploration. Players of games such as Bear and Breakfast, Stardew Valley and Assemble with Care would enjoy this game.

Development Platform: As of Phase 1 - Unity. Team has plans to convert it into a UE5 game.

Platform: PC (Planned for Console/Nintendo)

Game Status

Phase 1: July - December 2023

SolarGram’s FIS has been developed with a team of four MA Game Design students from University of the Arts London. The developers had constructed a basic game loop and concept from ideation process to a simple playable game. After submission of their Final Major Project, they have plans to convert the game from a Unity game into a UE5 game for better expansion in the future.

Code Repositories can be found here: SolarGram’s Fix It Shop (System Code Repository)

Assigned Task

• Game Designer
• Systems Programmer
  • World Economy/System
  • NPC System (Random & Story NPCs)
  • Repair Queue System
  • World Data Handling
• UI Artist
  • Menu Design
  • GUI Design

GDD Contents

1. Core Gameplay
   1. Navigation/Movement
   2. Item Features - Interactable
   3. Gameplay Loop
2. Mechanics & Systems
   1. NPC Visiting System
   2. Queue System
   3. Repair Puzzles
   4. Emergent Narrative/Events Systems
   5. QBonus & QPenalty
   6. Allocated Times for Working/Exploring Resource
   7. NPC Traits & Behaviour System
3. Frameworks
   1. Task Inertia & Low-Frequency Calculation
   2. Override Container
4. Extra
   1. Script Management
   2. Utility AI NPC/World Sustainability System Planning

SolarGram’s Fix it Shop Pitch Deck

This pitch deck was developed to present our final major project to our lecturers. The primary objective was to create an emergent narrative and event system. This system allows all components to work seamlessly together, interact with each other, and enhance the immersive experience for players.

Game References:

• Hades

  • The narrative system in Hades demonstrates the potential of branching narratives, inspiring us to create a similar experience in our game. To make the narrative feel emergent, it is crucial that the dialogue remains cohesive and responsive to the player's actions and the evolving game world. This approach ensures that the storyline seamlessly integrates with gameplay, enhancing the overall immersion and engagement.
  • In Hades, using Nyx as an example, players engage in a series of random conversations with her. However, when a player achieves something significant, Nyx prioritizes acknowledging that achievement in the conversation. This demonstrates that the dialogue system gives priority to relevant conversations, ensuring that player accomplishments are recognized and integrated seamlessly into the narrative experience. More can be found here:

  The System Behind Hades' Astounding Dialogue

• Green with Energy

  • Green with Energy served as a reference for its puzzle-solving mechanics. In this game, players must align energy lines with the available resources to ensure the town's energy needs are met.

• Bear and Breakfast

  • Bear and Breakfast provided inspiration for its mechanics related to hotel customer management, customer review systems, and heating utility systems. Our aim is to draw inspiration from how customers can influence the hotel based on their experiences and reviews, enriching the gameplay experience with dynamic interactions and consequences.

Core Gameplay

Game Navigation

Movement - Player will be using Mouse & Keyboard, input keys would be

W: Move Forwards

A: Move Backwards

S: Move Sideways (Left)

D: Move Sideways (Right)

Interaction - Player will be using Mouse & Keyboard for interaction

E: Interact with Object in scene

Dialogue Confirmation - Player will be using Mouse to confirm dialogue

MB1 Click on Screen: Confirm dialogue, dialogue will move to the next line.

MB1 Click on Dialogue option: Confirm chosen dialogue

Item Features - Interactable

Bed: The bed is used to proceed to the next day. To interact with the bed, press ‘E’ within the bed’s proximity. The player’s day summary will be shown after interacting with the bed.

Radio: The radio can be interacted to by pressing ‘E’ within its vicinity too switch the music playing on the radio.

Gameplay Loop

In SolarGram's Fix It Shop, players are immersed in a vibrant Solarpunk universe where they assume the role of a repair shop owner, working alongside their grandmother. The gameplay loop revolves around resource management, repair tasks, and engaging with NPCs, each with their unique traits and behaviors. Players must efficiently allocate resources, skillfully repair items, and navigate interactions with NPCs, adapting their approach based on the personalities and characteristics of each individual. Through this engaging gameplay loop, players are challenged to maintain their shop's success while uncovering the stories behind the Solarpunk world.

Mechanics & Systems

NPC Visiting System