Magister Ludorum gamification

A gamejam is a game design contest in which participants create a game in a short time, usually within a specific thema or specific restrictions. The goal is to take on a creative challenge, to experiment and getting out of you comfort zone to create and release something in a short timeframe. I like to participate in jams to hone my skills and for the sheer fun of it.

The ’limited shapes’ jam

The “Limited shapes” gamejam heavily restricted the allowed shapes that could be used in the design of the game. The only allowed shapes were 3D spheres and pyramids and 2D circles and pentagons. The challenge was to create something interesting with these restrictions. I’m happy to report that I succeded in doing so: my game won both the popular vote as well as the jury vote in the “graphics” category.

Game concept

In the game you control a UFO that has come to earth to activate the latent powers stored in the Egyptian pyramids. The powers of the pyramids (that were built by the same aliens centuries ago) is crucial in saving the dying civilisation on the alien home planet. The pyramids however are heavily guarded and a great sandstorm is waging to further complicate things. Your mothership in orbit provides a moving shield bubble to protect you from the sandstorm. The challenge of the game is to strategically dodge the projectiles, approach the pyramids to activate them while trying keep inside the shield bubble to stay safe from the sandstorm.

Gameplay screenshots:

Play the game:

The game is free to play right inside your browser. Just click on the capsule image below: