State Of The Art Research

[avidixit27]

State Of The Art Research

Creating an E-rated physics-based co-op video game

[avidixit27]

An Interview With The Developers of Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout [competitive/background]

Interview Article

This is an interview with the developers of Fall Guys. Fall Guys has a very similar player motion feel that we want to emulated. This interview has a lot of good quotes about where they went for inspiration and research.

[avidixit27]

An Indie Approach to Procedural Generation [competitive/background]

Presentation link

This presentation was created by the people who made Overgrowth which is a physics based indie fighting game. The developers discuss how they created their engine on a budget, and they use Gang Beasts (another rag doll physics engine game) as a case study.

[avidixit27]

Physically Based Character Simulation – Rag Doll Behavior in Computer Games [method]

Study Link

This thesis investigates a myriad of methodologies for implementing rag doll physics in video games. After an analysis of all the methodologies, the author determines the best one for the most realistic physics experience. We should use some of the implementations discussed in this study.

[avidixit27]

Intro to Multiplayer Games and How to Create Your Own [method/background]

Game Designing

This source gives a brief overview on multiplayer games, and then has a small tutorial on how to setup multiplayer in Unity which is the engine we will likely be using. There are step by step details as well as external resources for setting up a boilerplate multiplayer game.

[avidixit27]

Learning in Single Versus Multiplayer Games: The More the Merrier? [method/background]

Journal Link

This source is a study that compares learning outcomes of single player educational games versus multiplayer educational games. What they found is that single player games are very data driven with strict rules which results in direct learning gains. Multiplayer games, on the other hand, have very loose rules similar to social norms. When designing our game, we need to think about which approach we want and why.

[CancheMichael]

The Two Types of Random in Game Design | method

Game Maker's Toolkit

We are interested on implementing some form of randommness to our game, and this video provides some great examples. The channel also has a plethora of interesting concepts in game design.

[CancheMichael]

Unrailed! | competitive

Unrailed! Website

A game with a similar artstyle/gameplay loop to what we are planning. Cute and simple characters, a simple to understand gameplay loop, encourages cooperation while being competitive, and is fun to play.

[CancheMichael]

GDC Talk | method

Keep it Together: Encouraging Cooperative Behavior During Co-op Play

A talk centered on creating game that encourage cooperation, which is a major point of focus for our project.

[CancheMichael]

Controls | method

Designing Game Controls

Some guidelines to think about when designing the controls for a game. Controls are the connection between the player and the game, and bad controls can make an otherwise good game unplayable.

[CancheMichael]

ESRB Ratings | background

ESRB Website

Since we are mainly focusing on children for the game, we should make sure we stay within the constraints of a reputable regulatory organization.

[Coco-Huang1119]

Negative effects of current video game| [background]

5 Things That Happen When Your Child Plays Violent Video Games

This article takes about how violent video games will impact children negatively in many ways, which provides context and a reason for us to make better game for children while changing or adapting those negative traits in current video game. It also gives us some ideas while designing and implementing different functionalities of the game.

[Coco-Huang1119]

Unity stupid and funny character movement implementation | [method]

Unity Active Ragdoll Key Movement (Gang Beast / Humans Fall Flat Style)

This youtube video provides one method to implement the character movement we desired. The tutorial consists of two parts, and each part is less than 10 minutes, so should be easy to follow. We can later improve character's movement by adding things onto it.

[Coco-Huang1119]

Establishing healthy video game habits | [background]

Do video games cause aggressive behavior?

This article talks about how games could cause aggressive behaviors on children and offers some suggestions on establishing healthy video game habits. It would be nice if we can incorporate these habits into our unity game to boost healthy video game environment so that parents are also willing to let their children play.

[Coco-Huang1119]

Nile Valley | [competitive]

Nile Valley

This is a mobile farm simulator game that combines classic farm gameplay with farmland, crafts, and resources. It is similar to our game since it is also incorporated with the content of farm and plant, so the map would be really similar.

[Coco-Huang1119]

Crossy Road | [competitive]

Crossy Road - Gameplay Launch Trailer

This is a video game that relies on many realistic features. One thing it did a great job is to educate children the result of many bad actions in life. It also incorporates the death of character in a very creative way, a non-violent way, which is something we can learn from for our game.

[KevsterT]

Low Poly Character Design Ideas | [method]

Pinterest-Low Poly Characters

Our team can get inspiration for the character design on Pinterest, where artists upload rough sketches or designs. By narrowing down the keyword searches, we can get ideas of what we want to make for our Unity game for children.

[KevsterT]

Game Design Tutorials | [method]

Game Design Tutorials

This website has game designing tutorial that is specific to different stages and different game genres, which might be helpful for our project.

[KevsterT]

Unity Toon Shader | [method]

Unity Toon Shader

This page introduces the toon shader function in Unity, which allows the user to create a cartoon-style shader that is more adorable, which children might like more.

[KevsterT]

Unity Physics Engines | [method]

Unity Physics

This page introduces the built-in physics engines for object-oriented projects in Unity; there are also packages like Unity Physics and Havoc Physics for Unity that we can possibly implement for our project.

[KevsterT]

Benefits of Video Games for Kids | [market]

6 Surprising Benefits of Video Games for Kids

As a reassurance for the motif of our project, this page introduces 6 benefits of video games for kids, including improving reading skills, visual-spatial skills, problem-solving skills, boosting imaginative play and creativity, and creating a potential for video gaming-related careers. Directed towards children, our project could try to maximize some or all of these aspects to optimize the gaming experience for children of young age.

[helenma0223234]

open source code for human fall flat | [method]

[github repo link] (https://github.com/XiaoHuiHui233/HumanFallFlat) Found open source decompiled code for the game human fall flat. It should be helpful with building our physics system. NOTE: "It is only used for technical research and prohibits any type of commercial use. The officials of Human: Fall Flat severely crack down on such acts and reserve the right to pursue legal responsibility."

[helenma0223234]

gang beat | [competitive]

https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/10/interview-with-james-brown-from-gang-beasts/ Gang beasts is also a pvp game involving physics (triggers in different settings) and wobbly movements. The interview also talks about a running system and "sliding on one's back" movement that sounds fun. The game is much inspired by Double Dragon and gang fighting game.

[helenma0223234]

super bunny man | [competitive/method]

[game play vid] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbaDIhjwzY8) Super Bunny Man is also a co-op silly and funny game. You could control the bunny to roll and kick. Also movements that we could consider.

[helenma0223234]

fall guy mini game | [method/inspiration?] [the mini game rules ]https://fallguysultimateknockout.fandom.com/wiki/Sweet_Thieves

one of the mini game in fall guys. it's also a two team game, in which one team tries to steal the other team tries to protect their jellies.

Details: "The yellow team must defend the candies from the blue team by grabbing them. The blue team can free captured teammates by pressing a button in the middle of the arena; this button goes on cooldown for 30 seconds after being pressed. The thieves have the ability to turn invisible by moving slowly, allowing them to more easily evade capture by the guardians. Unique to this mode is a walk button, which allows for slow movement."

[helenma0223234]

totally credible delivery service | [competitive]

[game play vid] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkbW3_vYbFQ this is a two player co-op game that also uses ragdoll phyics with almost open-world sandbox. They need to use vehicles, other gadgets to get to the destination spot. The players also work towards the same goal and the process is a little puzzling and much more fun with funky physics.