This portfolio showcases student game projects from the course "Principles of Game Design" [id-num] imparted at the Coburg University of Applied Science and Arts, Germany. The students that attend this course typically belong to the bachelor study programs in Visual Computing and Computer Science and they are typically in their 7th semester. The course takes place yearly, in the summer semester.
In the course, students learn about principles of game design. Their learning is reinforced 'by doing'. They are required to design a game, implement a first prototype and run tests on it. This can happen individually or in small groups. They are completely free to decide on the format, mechanics, platform, and visuals of the game. The theme of the course is "Coburg", the city where our University is located. Students aim to relate their game story around this concept.
On top of usability testing, by the end of the course we hold a 'Game Testing Day' where students test each other games, give feedback on visuals, engagement, usability and vote for their favorites.
Below you can explore the different games designed by the students. The showreel videos are also produced by the students. Some of the groups have also volunteered to showcase their explanation video of the game they designed. If you have questions contact Prof. Dr. Stephan Streuber per email.
Website by Alej Quirós.
Synopsis: [Coming soon!]
Credits*: [Coming soon!]
Synopsis:
Alex Gibson, a Master detecive from Coburg has another case to solve! But the case is about his own Demise?Slip into the Role of the deceased detective, collect statements from various witnesses and collect items to find the culprit. Delve into the pixel style artstyle with the Classic Gameboy Color Scheme. Listen to an original composition specifically created for the game. Explore multiple areas around Coburg, visit various places, and discover every little detail. And most importantly: try to solve the case. Can you figure out the mastermind who is behind the murder of Alex Gibson?
Credits*:
SFX: GBFX Sound effects for Game Boy by Tronimal
Synopsis:
Coburg Dungeon is a Sidescroller Jump’n’Run game with pixel-art graphics. It plays in the medieval Coburg, especially in the fortress of Coburg, called Veste. The Veste got captured by the forces of general Wallenstein and your task is to infiltrate it, fight and defeat every enemy that stands in your way between you and the general. On your journey through the fortress, you encounter several weak and strong knights and at last the general. But beware, he may have some aces up his sleeve.Your main goal will be to kill the general which leads to the other forces fleeing the Veste and your victory.
Credits*:
Assets for knights: analogstudios (itch.io)
Asset for TileMap: Rottenpixels (itch.io)
Sounds: “RPG_Essentials_Free” – Leohpaz (itch.io)
Backgroundmusic: “Minifantasy – Dungeon Music Pack” – Leohpaz (itch.io)
Music for Boss fight: “Good Day to Die” – BreakingCopyright – Royalty Free Music (youtube.com)
Synopsis:
The main aim of the "Crop Quest" project is to renovate and expand the farm and give it a personalised touch. In addition to the farm, the Coburg marketplace opens up opportunities to sell their own products and build their own reputation among the local population. The ability to manage well is demonstrated by overcoming the challenges posed by competition. With these leadership skills, creative farm design and strategic decisions, players can achieve their goal and build a thriving farm. The road to success is peppered with exciting tasks, obstacles to overcome and building relationships with all kinds of characters.
Credits*:
3D Character "Ty": Mixamo
Other models Unity Asset Store
Synopsis:
"Cursed" is a 2.5D action-adventure, hack-and-slash game set in a dark fantasy world. Players take on the role of the protagonist who awakens in ancient catacombs, bearing the mark of a ritual performed by a mysterious church. Guided by Ylvi, a knowledgeable and brave girl, the player must navigate through atmospheric dungeons, confront various enemies, and find hidden treasures. The main goal is to collect four sacred artifacts and use them to seal the gates of Hell, preventing the chaos from spreading. Combining 2D characters in a 3D environment, "Cursed" offers a unique experience inspired by gothic and dark fantasy themes. The game features engaging combat, storytelling, and a big world for players to explore.
Credits*: [Coming soon!]
Synopsis:
"Real-Life Pac-Man" is an amazing transformation of the classic Pac-Man game into a real-world, team-based adventure! The lively setting of Coburg University is the perfect place to play this action-adventure game that blends the physical with the imaginative! Participants are paired up in an exciting team-building challenge! One takes on the role of the 'Runner', navigating through the actual environment, while the other is the 'Navigator', guiding the Runner with strategy and directions from afar. The goal is to collect points and avoid the 'ghosts' – symbolic obstacles like exams and professors – using only their communication. This game, styled in nostalgic 16-bit graphics, is designed to foster teamwork and improve communication skills, making it an ideal team-building exercise for students and enthusiasts eager for a blend of physical activity and strategic gameplay.
Credits:
Sound Effects:
The iconic eating sound effect used in our game is sourced from the original Pac-Man game. This classic sound enhances the nostalgic feel of the gameplay, connecting players with the traditional arcade experience.
Visual Elements:
The character representing the "Professor Ghost," is visually modeled after Prof. Dr. Stephan Streuber. This character design pays homage to Prof. Dr. Streuber’s significant contributions to the field and adds a personalized touch to the game environment.
Synopsis:
Guessify reintroduces you to your own music. Playfully you will learn to identify artists by their voice. Just use your Spotify account to log in to the game and select one of your saved playlists. With a blink on an eye you’ll configure your game session and find yourself listening to songs from your selected playlist. Listen carefully and choose out of four possibilities. If you have no idea jokers will help you to be successful. There are currently four jokers that can be chosen. You will get a feeling of what jokers are better or not.At the end of your session will be rewarded depending on your correct answers.
Synopsis: [Coming soon!]
Credits*: [Coming soon!]
Synopsis:
"Murder at the Campus" is an interactive detective game where players gather clues to identify a murderer on a university campus. Developed using Unity, the game features realistic terrains, self-modeled buildings with SketchUp, and pre-built structures. Atmospheric elements include a dark skybox, moonlight, fog, and strategically placed lanterns. Players control the main character using WASD keys and navigate through NPCs with varying patrol patterns and sight ranges. Clues are collected and updated in a suspect menu, leading to the final identification of the murderer. The game also includes Easter eggs like ghosts, Formula we cars, and ducks for added intrigue.
Credits*:
Music: [Coming soon!]
Synopsis:
In this game, you start as a nameless hero who has arrived in the Coburg region. The tutorial guides you on how to move and attack within the game world. Additionally, you learn to gather resources, specifically wood and stone, which are essential in this prototype version. With these collected resources, you can build towers to defend against nighttime attacks. You have two tower options: a Short-Range Tower and a Sniper Tower. These towers are crucial for defending your main building against monsters that attack at night. You must strategically place and manage your towers to protect your main building. Use your skills and strategic planning to survive and thrive in this exciting adventure, mastering both resource management and tower defence.
Credits*:
Tutorial-art: kiyama14
3 Direction NPC Characters: SZADI ART
Pixel Art Top Down Basic: CAINOS
Undead Survivor Assets Pack: GOLDMETAL
Synopsis:
Build and manage your army to defend yourself and defeat the enemy. Command 'n Defend is a strategy game in which you can choose your fighters from a pool of 4 unique weaponized vehicles. Use them smart and strategicly to close in and destroy the trecherous giant Robot! But watch out because the giant has a army of its own and it will stop at nothing to defeat you.
Credits*:
Music: pond5 (Artist: georgepauley)
SFX: https: zapsplat (Artist: unknown)
Rock Models: unity assetstore (Artist: SnowFiend Studios)
Tree Models: unity assetstore (Artist: Broken Vector)
Synopsis:
Embark on an epic journey in Settlers Of Coburg: A captivating digital rendition of the beloved board game Settlers of Catan. Strategically expand your empire by gathering resources, trading, and building settlements, vests, and roads. Settlers Of Coburg challenges your tactical skills as you compete to dominate the island of Coburg, a world rich with resources like brick, lumber, wool, grain, and ore. The dynamic board ensures that each game offers a unique experience, requiring adaptability and cunning to outmaneuver opponents. Whether you are a seasoned Catan veteran or a newcomer, Settlers Of Coburg promises endless hours of engaging and strategic fun.
Credits*:
Background music: VictorvanTast@Pixabay
Placing objects sound: Pixabay
Pictures for resources and tiles by John (Jack) Butts
Synopsis:
Explore the city of Coburg in an engaging and interactive way with our new game Small Town Explorers! Navigate through the city streets and visit famous landmarks where you can play exciting minigames. Successfully completing a level, by collecting a certain number of coins or other soon to come collectables, rewards you with fascinating facts about each attraction. But beware, challenges await as opponents will attack and hinder your progress. Future updates will expand the game to include more cities and will integrate Live-GPS navigation for a more immersive experience. Our goal is to gamify city tours, making sightseeing a fun and educational adventure. Discover, play, and learn with every step in Coburg and beyond!
Credits*:
Assets: Pixel Frog
Coburg Backdrop: NP Coburg
Synopsis:
Stellar Outpost is 2D building-management game. In it you are part of an expedition sent by the galactic imperium. You land on the now deserted planet earth in the former region of Coburg. Your goal is to build and expand your research outpost. The games features a procedurally generated terrain-system which lets you explore a nearly infinite planet. You are able to build different of buildings which help support your villager’s daily life by providing food, power and building materials. If you are not careful and don’t provide enough food for your villagers, they will slowly die, and the game will be over.
Credits*:
Sounds Pixabay
Synopsis:
Symbyotyc Synergy is a single-player puzzle game that lets one player experience the enjoyment of multiplayer collaboration. Players control two characters and can / have to switch between them to help each other to progress. Both characters exist in the same world, but they have individual abilities. While Vektoria can only navigate in a 2D plane, Cubert can move freely in all directions, though it has other restrictions.Players must explore a minimalist, geometric world to find clues, solve puzzles, and overcome obstacles. As players advance, they'll encounter increasingly complex challenges that require creative use of both characters' strengths.
Credits*:
Grid Prototype Materials: MLAgent
Quarter View 3D Action Assets Pack: Goldmetal
Free 3D Modular Low Poly Assets For Prototyping: RGS_Dev
Synopsis:
Tower Runner is a first-person puzzle shooter inspired by Portal. To obtain the treasures of an ancient, forgotten tomb, you'll need to conquer a variety of challenging puzzle rooms. Navigate through thrilling jump-and-run passages, think quickly to figure out your path with moving platforms, and steady your aim to trigger ancient mechanisms. On your way through the levels, you'll be confronted with buttons that can either enhance your movement capabilities or change the environment to help you reach the next level. Your skill will be tested with frequent, challenging platforming sections. The game also features a high score system that allows players to compete among themselves. The quicker you reach the end, the higher your score! Can you unravel the secrets of the tomb and claim its treasures?
Credits*:
Open credits' music: Track "Dezert"
Synopsis:
ATTENTION we are under attack! In the game Veste Defence, we immerse ourselves in a medieval setting to defend the Veste Coburg from evil attackers. It is necessary to use the defence towers to fight off approaching enemies. As the game progresses, more and more towers need to be placed as the waves of enemies become stronger and pose a threat to the fortress. In addition to building, upgrading is also an essential part of defying the attackers. In various levels, it is important to play with the environment, as this can block paths for attackers or the placement of towers. We were also able to differentiate ourselves from a static tower defence through variable pathfinding of the enemies with multiple spawnpoints.
Credits*:
Visuals of enemies and towers: ChatGPT 4-o
Music: itch.io
* Credits outside of the group of students.
