Theft at Academies of Loudoun

Who is it?
Dungeon crawling
Encounter sequence
Fight sequence
Encounter sequence
Encounter sequence
Game over
The arrest

Inspiration

Our project draws inspiration from the unique environment of the Academies of Loudoun and the memorable teaching styles of its faculty. We wanted to create a game that captures the essence of ACL while providing players with a challenging and enjoyable experience. The idea of a Mystery Dungeon Crawler, featuring familiar NPCs as bosses, allowed us to blend personality with strategic gameplay. The core gameplay and aesthetics aim to mirror classic dungeon-styled RPGs like Shin Megami Tensei and Baldi's Basics. Each boss in the game is modeled after real-life teachers, incorporating their distinctive teaching styles and personalities.

What it does

"Theft at Academies of Loudoun" is a Mystery Dungeon Crawler game that takes players through a life-sized replica of the Academies of Loudoun, tasking them with fighting various boss fights against NPCs modeled after real teachers. The goal of the game is to deduce the thief of the missing AcademiesHacks prizes by collecting clues from each teacher. Once this is done, the player can use the information to guess the culprit.

How we built it

We developed the game using a combination of the following tools:

Blender: For creating detailed 3D models of the Academies of Loudoun.
Krita: For designing the game's artwork and sprites.
Godot: As our primary game engine, handling all game logic, physics, and interactions.
Shotcut: For editing cutscenes and trailers, ensuring a flawless visual experience.

Challenges we ran into

Balancing the game's difficulty was a significant challenge. We aimed to create a game that is both challenging and fun, requiring several iterations and playtesting. Additionally, integrating assets from Blender and Krita into Godot posed technical challenges that we had to overcome to ensure a smooth and cohesive gameplay experience. Lastly, we faced implementation-related difficulties in aesthetics, textures, and overall art style.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of several key achievements:

Successfully creating a game that is both engaging and true to the spirit of the Academies of Loudoun.
Accurately modelling the entire first floor of the Academies of Loudoun building.
Creating an engaging turn-based combat system, power-ups, and a social deduction mechanism.
Developing unique and challenging boss fights that reflect the personalities of the NPCs.
Seamlessly integrating multiple tools and platforms to create a polished final product.

What we learned

Through this project, we gained valuable experience in:

Advanced game development techniques, including asset creation, coding, and debugging.
Effective use of tools like Blender, Krita, Godot, and Shotcut.
The importance of balancing RPG gameplay mechanics to enhance player experience.

What's next for Theft at Academies of Loudoun

Our future plans for the game include:

Expanding the game with additional levels and boss fights.
Refining existing gameplay mechanics and graphics based on player feedback.
Introducing new features and improvements to enhance the overall user experience.