Y2K: Survival Protocal

Inspiration

We drew inspiration from the Y2K panic that the world was experiencing as the new millennium approached. The fear that technology might fail and cause widespread chaos provided a unique backdrop for our survival game. We wanted to capture the uncertainty of that era while giving players the chance to relive those final 24 hours before midnight.

What it does

Y2K: Survival Protocol is a text-based survival game where players have 24 hours to make decisions that determine their fate during the Y2K crisis. Players are tasked with managing technology, resources, and their community to survive. With each decision, they shape the outcome of their survival, facing challenges like finding scarce resources, dealing with communication breakdowns, and navigating societal tensions.

How we built it

We built the game using React with Next.js for a smooth user experience and easy routing between different game scenarios. For styling, we used Tailwind CSS to create a simple and retro aesthetic. Additionally, we incorporated conditional logic and state management to ensure that player decisions dynamically affect the game’s outcome.

Challenges we ran into

One of our biggest challenges was designing a game that balances simplicity with meaningful choices. We also had to ensure that every branch of the game (Technology, Resources, and Society) felt distinct but equally engaging.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud of creating a Y2K-themed survival game in such a short time. We are a group of friends with limited coding experience, which proved to be one of the hardest tasks, learning coding on the spot. We’re also proud of the collaborative effort it took to design the game’s multiple survival paths and outcomes.

What we learned

Throughout this project, we learned a lot about game design and the importance of pacing and planning. We also gained valuable experience in web design.

What's next for Y2K: Survival Protocol

Next, we plan to expand the game by adding more complex decision trees, random events, and deeper societal interactions. We also aim to refine the storyline to include more diverse outcomes based on player actions, making the replayability factor stronger.