Scraps was a school project while at Full Sail University. It is a third person action/exploration game where players will find challenging puzzles, interesting spaces to explore, and much more! There is no traditional combat, it is not about run-and-gun, twitch based gameplay.
The world of Scraps takes place in a distant future where society has crumbled. The wealthy have walled themselves up in mega-structures known as Bastions while the rest of society is forced to roam the Wastes. It is the job of the Scrapper to brave the harsh land in search of resources and items that the people of the Bastions desire.
Game Overview
Design Pillars
Manipulation
The Scrapper uses the Gravnull, the game’s main mechanic, to manipulate objects in the Wastes. They can interact with old machinery, move barricades out of the way, and/or clear rubble to reveal something that was previously inaccessible. Manipulation is the answer in order to solve the currently unsolvable.
Scavenging
The Scrapper will need more than just the Gravnull to solve environmental and/or man-made puzzles in the Wastes. Search for key items, and/or useful gadgets/trinkets… as well as anything that has value to others. The Scrapper’s end goal is to sell enough scrap to buy their way into the Bastion.
Unaccompanied
The Scrapper is alone in this world. They cannot get help from others, and they will not complete objectives unless it benefits themselves. The adventure is entirely up to you.
We were tasked with designing and prototyping levels for the Scraps world and this is a layout of one of the first levels I created. This one is called One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure. It featured a sewer system where the player would need to control the levels of sewage in the drain pipes in order to safely retrieve the treasure that was hidden inside. All while keeping an eye out for danger. This level map highlights interaction points where the player would be introduced to each mechanic. As well as the points in the level where they would be expected to practice and master the mechanics for a game flow that allows for a natural progression of difficulty.
The Rising Sun Foundry
This video highlights the beginning section of my first level for Scraps. I was experimenting with the lighting to attempt to generate an eerie sensation upon entering the recently abandoned foundry building. The Wastes in Scraps are meant to have been exposed to the elements for a long time, with nature reclaiming much of the world. Many of the man-made structures are in ill repair and I wanted to convey a sense of uneasiness.