CAPSULED
GAME INFO
“Capsuled” is a block-fitting puzzle game set in a dystopian, cyberpunk city dominated by corrupt corporations. Explore your identity and this world through everything that you could fit in.
In every cramped, stifling environment, players must adapt their strategies to "fit things in" and navigate their solution through properties of assets. The game explores the theme of limited space through the concept of various containers while extending beyond their literal meaning.
MY ROLE
On September 29th, 2o23, I and 8 other game design students across the world formed an online group to participate as the lead gameplay, puzzle designers, and narrative designers in the Ludum Dare 72-hour game production jam, and eventually came up with the game: Capsuled. Among all 2166 submissions in the Jam, Capsuled eventually remains in the top 8%.
THEME ANALYSIS
The theme of the 54th Ludum Jam is limited space. This immediately reminds me of games like unboxing and Tetris, which require players to examine objects that they own with care to form strategies on fitting them in a limited space. But instead of deciding between cozy and thrilling tone, I think we could create an experience with a light mood and a dark humor underneath. This is the main reason we eventually decided on the game setting of a corrupted cyberpunk city.
BRAINSTORM
Deciding block-fitting as our core gameplay was quick, but there needs to be more innovation, expansion, and characteristics. I convinced other teammates to combine narrative elements in the creation of a puzzle while creating a strategic gameplay that allows interaction between objects to affect the player's decisions.
GAMEPLAY
BLOCK-FITTING
We start with the basic block-fitting mechanic, where players need to drag items from a fictional inventory and place them into containers in the scene. However, I want to expand the form of the level itself to challenge players' definition of "what space" to management while also creating a difficulty curve between levels.
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The first level is about fitting items in a suitcase; then, the form of the level evolves into rearranging the room through fitting furniture in; in the last level, player is in charge of the design of a huge city block. Player was refreshed to maintain their interests as the scale of the level goes along with a new definition of "space" to manage.
OBJECT EFFECTS
Each object in the level has different attributes and characteristics, and therefore will affect the other. Some items lose all their value when being placed together (etc., A coffee machine placed near any electronic device), while certain items could create the best combination in both space management and value. (etc. The simple pair of chair and desk.)
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Since there is only limited space in every level, player need to navigate through the different effects of objects on each other. To form strategies. However, I don't want the player to just try over a combination without any background information. Therefore, player could view the description of every object to not only acquire a hint on the puzzle but also receive fragmented information about the world.
NARRATIVE DESIGN
Player's identity varies throughout every scene, from a hacker to their AI butler and eventually to a city manager from the corrupted corporation. During the production of the item list, I intentionally designed certain items with a hidden storyline that goes across levels and connects all characters.
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After reading descriptions of an advertisement board and virtual notice, they'll know the ZS company is planning on releasing their newest virtual reality capsule, but the prototype machine of it has just been stolen. In the second level, there's a VR capsule depicted as a specially marked item. Back to level 1, there's an expensive chip hinting that the hacker is planning a big trade with someone. The capsule itself connects every level to form the entire hidden story.
This is why the game is named Capsuled, along with its correspondence in space management gameplay. This is also an easter egg that I hope player could enjoy.
