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Research: Syobon Action – Jingyue Gao

Syobon Action, also known as Cat Mario, is famous for its levels designed. In this game, traps are everywhere because anything can be a trap. Some traps force us to think outside the box. I tried to use the experience I got from Mario when playing this game, such as Mushroom is a reward to make you stronger, and I failed a lot.

Also, a lot of game settings are counterintuitive and unpredictable. For example, when you jump, there may be a block or an enemy popping up suddenly to block your way:

Syobon Action is a game that “systematically disrupts every convention of 2D platform gameplay”

– Ian Bogost
Game Critics and Game Designer

Overall, I found the game interesting and challenging. I love this game as much as I hate this game. I will make my game be something similar to this to ‘torture’ others.

Published
Categorized as Research

User Interface Design: Titles, Instruction, and Buttons – Jingyue Gao

After serious consideration, I decided to name my game “A letter to Garcia.” Now, the main character of my game is a delivery person who is responsible to send a letter to Garcia.

I wanted to make my UI match the main goal of my game, so I drew a huge letter.

Also, I used the same element in the instruction:

Also, I wanted to make my buttons colorful, so I made them colorful.
Here are buttons, including: ‘start,’ ‘restart,’ ‘instruction,’ and ‘quit.’

There are three wining cratierias:

  1. whether the player finishes the lever (successfully delivered a letter to Garcia);
  2. whether the player finds the special stamp;
  3. whether the player finds the hidden cow.