UPDATE

https://chopov1.itch.io/apocalypse-train/devlog/702146/march-22-2024

Game Description:

Defend your train from zombies  in this 4 player local co-op top down shooter!

This game requires controllers. Keyboard and mouse does not work.

The game is still in very early development. Any feedback is welcome in the comments.

Controls:

A - join game

LS - Move

RS - Aim

RB - Interact

LB - Bash

RT - Shoot

B - Dash

Credits:

Programming Lead, Audio Director - Mack Pearson-Muggli

Level Design, VFX - Nicole Finegan

Art Director, Modeling, Texturing, Rigging, Animating - Antonio Milazzo

Design, Programming - Maleah Ristau

Modeling - Jack Frankwick

Programming - Aziz Saydaminov

UI Designer - Angel Loredo

Business Plan:

 

Summary:

Throughout Apocalypse Train’s development our team would complete chunks of the game in sprints, following the Agile methodology very closely. Each week we would brainstorm as a team what features would have the most impact on the player experience, and divide the feature up into tasks to be completed by each individual discipline. This helped ensure progress was made and testing was able to take place each week to iterate and improve.

 

Our team drew a lot of inspiration from games like overcooked and moving out, to fit the fun inviting gameplay and art style of popular couch co-op games. We also looked towards games such as Call Of Duty Zombies and The Ascent to construct engaging and responsive moment-to-moment gameplay as well as a larger progression gameplay loop.

 

Development:

• Standups held each Friday, testing the game and planning out our sprint for the coming week.
• Builds of the game released monthly, and playtested by groups of players. Recordings and notes taken to document playtests and iterate off of feedback and noteworthy player reactions.
• Kept track of issues and tasks through our Github project board, as well as used Miro to construct a timeline, and make sure tasks were completed in necessary order for cross-discipline collaboration.
• Feedback and ideas shared over Microsoft teams, team members sharing artifacts and progress related to the current sprint.
• Playtesting from various events has shown that players in the range of 10-35 years old generally engage with the content well and understand the goals.
• Platform targets are Xbox and Playstation consoles, the controls have been designed with these schemes in mind. The game is also designed to be a couch co-op experience that is easy to pick up.
• The main target player type for this game is Socializers, with the secondary type being Achievers.
• Referenced mobile games such as subway surfers, aiming for highly saturated and bright colors as well as exaggerated movement and VFX to grab attention and highlight action.
• A mix of realistic and arcade-like audio to communicate the dangerous environment of an apocalyptic world while keeping some aspects more light hearted and engaging especially for members of a younger audience.
• Gameplay designed to encourage teamwork and player communication during the main portion of the game, as well as provide opportunities for individual choices and creativity within the player progression.

 

 

Market Analysis:

Target Audience:

• Playtesting from various events has shown that players in the range of 10-35 years old generally engage with the content well and understand the goals.
• Platform targets are Xbox and Playstation consoles, the controls have been designed with these schemes in mind. The game is also designed to be a couch co-op experience that is easy to pick up.
• The main target player type for this game is Socializers, with the secondary type being Achievers.

Genre:

• Referenced mobile games such as subway surfers, aiming for highly saturated and bright colors as well as exaggerated movement and VFX to grab attention and highlight action.
• A mix of realistic and arcade-like audio to communicate the dangerous environment of an apocalyptic world while keeping some aspects more light hearted and engaging especially for members of a younger audience.
• Gameplay designed to encourage teamwork and player communication during the main portion of the game, as well as provide opportunities for individual choices and creativity within the player progression.