Submission to BYOG Game Jam 2024

Theme: Evolving Abilities

Dreamscape is a first-person adventure where you, the Dreamer, explore a surreal world guided by a mysterious voice.

Bringing Dreamscape to Life: 

Creating Dreamscape was a really fun yet exhausting process for me, as a big fan of storytelling and backroom games I've always wanted to create something that incorporates these elements. For this game specifically, I wanted to focus on belief and imagination, giving players a chance to explore their potential in a surreal world. 

The abilities—Ascend, Reveal, and Empower—represent different parts of personal growth and were designed to be straightforward and impactful as players move through the game. To make the abilities part stand out, so instead of having the player to equip or unlock them like in typical games, I made it, so they already have these abilities within them. Each level's theme serves to reveal their potential, guiding players to recognize and embrace these powers before they come into play. This way the journey feels more personal and organic.

As for the visuals, I aimed for a dreamy look with vibrant colors and imaginative environments that spark a sense of wonder. The gameplay is kept simple to make it easy for players to connect with the theme without getting lost. I' pretty sure I play tested the game at least 30-40 times making sure to balance the elements—visuals sound, and abilities— so each ability feels rewarding and enhances the overall experience.

Sound design played a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere, with audio elements that beautifully complement the visuals. I wanted the background sounds to feel otherworldly, and thanks to Pixabay for those audio clips. It was a time-consuming process testing each sound to make sure it fit perfectly within the game. For the narration, I used AI tool to bring the voice of Aether to life and then tweaked the audio in Audacity to ensure it matched the game's vibe. Overall, I aimed to create a game that's not just entertaining but also inspires players to believe in themselves. I hope you enjoyed playing Dreamscape as much as I enjoyed making it!