Role: Game Designer / Graphics / Programming / QA (STUDENT)
Game: Kringle Kannon (School Project)
Kringle Kannon: A Festive Graduation Project from Full Sail University
Kringle Kannon holds a special place as my final submission for my graduation project from Full Sail University’s Game Design degree program. This delightful game puts players in the role of Santa’s hardworking elves, tasked with packaging the toys that have been lovingly crafted. To ensure the successful shipment of items, players must skillfully combine various items and craft boxes, all in the spirit of bringing joy to children around the world.
Developed in collaboration with my classmates, the original concept for the game revolved around a crane game mechanic, where players would unload cargo from a ship as it docked. However, during development, we encountered significant challenges related to how UDK (Unreal Engine 3) handled physics. This obstacle caused a week of setbacks as we explored a prototype that ultimately fell short of our intended goals. Throughout the process, we were committed to creating a game where players could throw or launch items into a bucket to score points.
With time deadlines rapidly approaching and only two weeks left, we made a daring decision. Despite having already dedicated three weeks to development, we opted to start over, determined to deliver a polished and engaging experience. This bold move exemplified our dedication to achieving excellence and allowed us to focus on creating a game that would meet our original vision.
The subsequent weeks were filled with intense teamwork, perseverance, and innovation. Together, we rebuilt Kringle Kannon from the ground up, refining the gameplay mechanics, enhancing the visuals, and ensuring a cohesive and enjoyable player experience. Despite the challenges we faced, we remained resolute in our commitment to delivering a high-quality game.
Kringle Kannon serves as a testament to our adaptability, resilience, and creativity as aspiring game developers. It showcases our ability to overcome obstacles and make crucial decisions in the pursuit of excellence. Although the development process was demanding, the end result was a testament to our unwavering passion for creating enjoyable and memorable gaming experiences.
Kringle Kannon stands as a proud representation of our dedication and hard work throughout our academic journey. It embodies the spirit of the holiday season while capturing the joy of bringing happiness to children through the magic of Santa’s workshop.
Above pictured are a few prototype shots from the planning process. The original plan for a crane system as well as level layout on where you could throw objects for different events. These never made it.
Amidst the time constraints and the need for a fresh direction, our team made the bold decision to scrap our previous work and re-imagine the game from scratch. Drawing upon the items we had already built, we embarked on a collective effort to re-envision the project using the mechanics that provided the most enjoyable experience.
Contributions:
- UI design/programming and implementation
- Graphics/Art for list, items and misc 2D textures
- Programming (Kismet and UnrealScript)
- Game Design (see document)
Tech:
- Unreal 3 UDK
- Kismet
- UnrealScript
- Photoshop
Overall a success, the project received the best grade for the class with a shining 98%. The project originally started as a game known as “It usually takes a crane”. (See GDD BELOW),