Batman: Escape From Arkham City
Due to project requirements, there is a board game and a digital version of this game.
Board Game Version:
Board Game Version
Made: September 2016 - October 2016
Group Size: 4
My Role: Level Designer/Gameplay Designer
Dane Wheaton: Producer/Gameplay Designer
Caleb Flick: Designer
James Robertson: Designer
Board Game Description:
For this project, random teams of designers were put together to mash a board game with an existing video game’s specific game feature. My group took Batman Arkham City’s stealth combat features and mixed it with Clue’s board design to create a hidden movement board game.
Batman: escape from Arkham City is an Asymetrical, turn-based multiplayer board game where the four players are Criminals and move around the board to collect resources to bring back to their central hideout to build a bomb and escape. 1 player plays as Batman who moved around the map on a separate, smaller laminated board so none of the Criminal players could know where Batman's current location was. Batman was only revealed upon attacking a player or being found by a criminal. To find out more about the board game, please read the instructions attached here.
My Contribution (Board Game Version):
Made: September 2016 - October 2016
Group Size: 4
My Role: Level Designer/Gameplay Designer
Dane Wheaton: Producer/Gameplay Designer
Caleb Flick: Designer
James Robertson: Designer
Board Game Description:
For this project, random teams of designers were put together to mash a board game with an existing video game’s specific game feature. My group took Batman Arkham City’s stealth combat features and mixed it with Clue’s board design to create a hidden movement board game.
Batman: escape from Arkham City is an Asymetrical, turn-based multiplayer board game where the four players are Criminals and move around the board to collect resources to bring back to their central hideout to build a bomb and escape. 1 player plays as Batman who moved around the map on a separate, smaller laminated board so none of the Criminal players could know where Batman's current location was. Batman was only revealed upon attacking a player or being found by a criminal. To find out more about the board game, please read the instructions attached here.
My Contribution (Board Game Version):
- I pitched the Batman stealth feature being mashed with Clue's movement/board system, creating an intense multiplayer hidden-movement board game
- Collaborated with all team members to improve and balance ideas for engaging player experiences
- Created and balanced the game's board, starting from paper concepts to the final prototypes
- Worked with team to creatively solve problems in the game's mechanics, code, and overall development
- Positively led team, motivating and encouraging through tougher times, always valuing teams' input and ideas
- Met and helped create weekly deadlines
Digital Game Version:
Digital Game Version
Made: October 2016 - December 2016 (Still being worked on)
Tools used: Unity 5, Visual Studios (C#), Photoshop
Group Size: 4
My Role: Level Designer/Lead Designer/Scripter
Dane Wheaton: Scripter/Lead Designer
Caleb Flick: Designer
James Robertson: Artist
Digital Game Description:
For our final project, we had to take our board game based off a video game’s core feature and turn it back into a digital media. We made our turn-based game into a real-time 4 player game where players played as the Criminals in Arkham City. Batman was turned into an AI that roams the map hunting down the players. Although invisible, tense music begins to play as he is nearing a player. Batman is only seen once he attacks where he scurries off to a hiding spot to become hidden once again.
The same player objective applies to our digital board game adaptation. Criminals have to move around the level to collect resources and bring them back to the center to build a bomb and escape. The resource locations randomly switch every 15 seconds, forcing players to move around different areas of the map and make each match play out different.
When the players successfully craft the bomb by collecting the right ingrediants, escape holes randomly appear for the players to escape through for a 20 second period. Those who escape win, while those left behind are left to rot in Arkham City.
My Contributions:
The game was well-polished and was enjoyed by several testers, peers, and faculty. My group showed passion, dedication, and great teamwork skills.
Made: October 2016 - December 2016 (Still being worked on)
Tools used: Unity 5, Visual Studios (C#), Photoshop
Group Size: 4
My Role: Level Designer/Lead Designer/Scripter
Dane Wheaton: Scripter/Lead Designer
Caleb Flick: Designer
James Robertson: Artist
Digital Game Description:
For our final project, we had to take our board game based off a video game’s core feature and turn it back into a digital media. We made our turn-based game into a real-time 4 player game where players played as the Criminals in Arkham City. Batman was turned into an AI that roams the map hunting down the players. Although invisible, tense music begins to play as he is nearing a player. Batman is only seen once he attacks where he scurries off to a hiding spot to become hidden once again.
The same player objective applies to our digital board game adaptation. Criminals have to move around the level to collect resources and bring them back to the center to build a bomb and escape. The resource locations randomly switch every 15 seconds, forcing players to move around different areas of the map and make each match play out different.
When the players successfully craft the bomb by collecting the right ingrediants, escape holes randomly appear for the players to escape through for a 20 second period. Those who escape win, while those left behind are left to rot in Arkham City.
My Contributions:
- Devised and designed core elements for digital adaptation to keep the tense, unsuspecting gameplay experience the board game offered
- I created, blocked-out, and polshed the game's level
- Worked with team early on to figure out game's new core gameplay loops and tailored level to digital game's needs
- Level had mixture of open and tight quartered areas, emphasizing navigational options for risk vs reward play-styles
- Scripted Batman AI and behaviors, and pair-programmed all other features (except controller system) with Dane
- Helped organize and devise code solutions/structures to fit desired functionalities
- Collaborated closely with all team members in a positive, motivated environment
- Created and scripted visual tutorial for game
The game was well-polished and was enjoyed by several testers, peers, and faculty. My group showed passion, dedication, and great teamwork skills.