Screenshots
About This Project
In "A Moon of Cheese," players take on the role of a laboratory mouse who has gained enhanced intelligence through experiments. Looking out the laboratory window each night, the mouse gazes longingly at the moon, which it perceives as a giant ball of cheese. After observing rockets being launched from the facility, the mouse decides to sneak onto one of these rockets to reach the moon and have all that cheese to itself. The game was developed for the GitHub Game Off 2020 game jam under the theme "MOONSHOT."
Key Features
- •Stealth System: Hide behind objects to avoid detection by scientists
- •Platforming: Navigate through the laboratory by jumping across platforms and obstacles
- •Time-based Challenge: Timer adds tension and encourages speedrunning
- •Simple Controls: Keyboard-based movement with intuitive controls
- •Pixel Art Aesthetic: Charming visuals with a science laboratory setting
Technologies Used
Game Jam Performance
"A Moon of Cheese" performed admirably in the GitHub Game Off 2020, which featured over 500 submissions. The game was rated on several criteria by other participants:
Technical Challenges & Solutions
Stealth Mechanic Implementation
Developed a line-of-sight system for AI scientists that would detect the player based on distance and obstacles.
Platform Detection
Implemented custom collision detection to distinguish between platforms and background elements.
Creating Intuitive Level Design
Iteratively designed levels with natural progression of difficulty and clear visual cues.
Lessons Learned
- •Visual Communication: The importance of clearly telegraphing interactive elements to players
- •Scope Management: Setting realistic goals within a limited timeframe
- •User Testing: The value of early feedback for identifying unintuitive game elements
- •Audio Impact: How music and sound design significantly enhance gameplay experience
Conclusion
"A Moon of Cheese" represents a significant milestone as my first released game project. Despite the limitations of being developed within a month-long game jam by a first-time developer, the game achieved respectable rankings among hundreds of submissions. The experience provided invaluable lessons about game development that continue to inform my approach to future projects.