Fail Project #3

Race, Sabotage, Triumph!Stumble Dudes is a hilarious and chaotic platformer where up to 16 players race towards a goalpost, navigating through a maze of absurd obstacles.

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About the Project: Stumble Dudes

Stumble Dudes is a chaotic and hilarious multiplayer game built within Horizon Worlds, where friends and strangers come together in a colorful, physics-driven race filled with wild obstacles and sabotages. Designed for fun, fast-paced action, the game thrives on unpredictability and camaraderie.

Inspirations

The design of Stumble Dudes draws from a blend of influences that emphasize chaotic fun, intense competition, and clever sabotage:

  1. Squid Game: The whimsical yet high-stakes dynamic of the popular TV show inspired the unpredictable nature of the game. Obstacles are designed to be both hilariously challenging and unforgiving, keeping players on edge while ensuring everyone has a blast.

  2. Battle Royale Platformers (e.g., Fall Guys): The hilarity and chaos of games like Fall Guys informed the multiplayer experience. From backstabbing antics to moments of teamwork gone wrong, the game thrives on the unpredictable interactions between players.

  3. Mario 64: The classic platforming mechanics of Mario 64 served as a foundation for creating tight, enjoyable platforming gameplay. Levels are tough but rewarding, ensuring players feel accomplished when they succeed.

  4. Mario Kart: The concept of in-world purchases and power-ups was inspired by Mario Kart. Players can collect or purchase abilities to sabotage opponents or give themselves an edge in the race, adding layers of strategy and mischief to the experience.

Mechanics

The core gameplay mechanics of Stumble Dudes are designed to create fast-paced, chaotic fun while encouraging skillful play, mischievous interactions, and competitive replayability. These mechanics include:

  1. Platforming:

    • Running and Jumping: Players navigate obstacle-filled courses with precise running and jumping mechanics, testing their agility and timing.
    • Bumping and Colliding: The chaotic multiplayer design encourages players to bump into each other, creating hilarious moments of sabotage and unpredictable outcomes.

  2. Item Usage (In-World Purchases):

    • Power-Ups: Players can collect or purchase items during the game to gain an edge, such as speed boosts, shields, or temporary invincibility.
    • Sabotage Items: Players can also deploy traps or projectiles to slow down opponents, adding a layer of strategy to the chaos.
    • Points-to-Purchases: Points collected during the game can be used to buy power-ups, allowing players to customize their approach mid-game. Alternatively, points can be purchased directly via the in-world purchase system for quicker access.

  3. Points and Scoring:

    • Point Allocation: Players earn points based on their performance in the race.
      • The first player to reach the goalpost gets the most points.
      • Second, third, and fourth places receive progressively fewer points.
      • All other players receive one point based on their position at the end of the timer.
    • Daily Leaderboards: The player with the best time of the day earns bonus points and a coveted spot on the leaderboard. This feature not only fuels competitive spirit but also encourages players to return daily to improve their scores and dominate the rankings.

  4. Timers:

    • Each race is timed to create urgency and maintain a fast-paced dynamic. Players must navigate obstacles and race to the finish line before time runs out, adding to the adrenaline-fueled chaos.

By combining competitive point systems, time-based challenges, and engaging platforming gameplay, Stumble Dudes fosters a dynamic environment that keeps players coming back for more.

How We Built It

Stumble Dudes was created using Horizon Worlds, leveraging both the desktop editor and VR tools. The design process included:

  • Crafting immersive environments and obstacles using the desktop editor for precision.
  • Testing and refining the experience in VR to ensure it felt intuitive and fun for players.

Challenges We Ran Into

  1. Mobile Playtesting: One of the biggest challenges was ensuring the game worked seamlessly on mobile platforms. The links generated often function inconsistently, making it difficult to test and optimize for mobile players reliably.
  2. Balancing Mechanics: Fine-tuning obstacles and gameplay to keep the experience both fun and fair required multiple iterations and community feedback.

Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

  • Successfully integrating a competitive scoring system with daily leaderboards to encourage player retention.
  • Building an engaging and dynamic multiplayer experience that has players laughing, sabotaging, and competing together.
  • Learning and utilizing the Horizon desktop editor effectively to create a polished and visually appealing game world.

What We Learned

Throughout the development of Stumble Dudes, I gained invaluable insights, including:

  • Level Design: Enhanced my understanding of how to create challenging yet enjoyable platforming mechanics that cater to both VR and mobile players.
  • Horizon Desktop Editor: Learned to maximize the potential of Horizon's desktop tools for precision building and design.
  • Camera Angles: Discovered how to optimize camera angles to improve the experience for mobile players.

What’s Next for Stumble Dudes

The future of Stumble Dudes is filled with exciting possibilities:

  • More Collectibles: Adding unique items for players to discover and use in-game.
  • New Power-Ups: Expanding the arsenal of tools players can use to enhance their performance or sabotage others.
  • Dynamic Seasonal Obstacles: Introducing rotating seasonal themes with new and challenging obstacles to keep the game fresh and engaging.

Join the fun and stumble your way to victory in Horizon Worlds!

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