RPP Round 4 - Anchor

The fourth round of prototypes was meant to focus on storytelling.  Along with Gabe Lopez, Dylan Micheli, Ryan Fisher, and Ciara Sadaka, I helped make Anchor, a story-based platformer about a couple living in the Arctic who meet up each week to watch the Northern Lights.  The game features 4 levels, with several voice lines, animated cutscenes, cloth physics, and a warmth meter.  Each level has environmental changes as winter progresses, including different paths (areas blocked off by snow, new areas that open because water has frozen over, etc.), water turning to ice, increasingly deeper snow, and a warmth meter that depletes faster.

This was the first round that we were able to use asset packs (which we did for the rocks, snow, trees, and some other environmental assets).  I modeled and textured the two characters for this game, as well as making the text for the start screen.

The story (WARNING: SPOILERS):  The nights start out with moderate weather - everything seems fine as the player meets his partner for their weekly date under the Northern Lights.  As the weeks progress, the partner's health declines, and her voice lines are more cryptic, hinting that she may be leaving soon, that he should keep exploring, and that she loves him.  After showing up late on the third week, she doesn't show up at all to the next date, and when the player goes to search for her, he sees a medical helicopter and flashing lights at her house.

The player character (left) and partner (right)

Textured models for the player and partner (poncho on the partner not pictured here)

Start screen

Level one - jumping ability, with scarf cloth physics and fire that refills warmth meter

The river, not yet frozen over

Approaching the Northern Lights - notice the deep snow and warmth meter almost empty

Final cutscene