Around

[PROTOTYPE]

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Around is an attempt at creating a game based around circles and an experiment in circular level design, all centered on the aesthetics of abstract geometrical shapes.

You control the white circle on each level. Avoid obstacles and reach the center of the level to progress.

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How to play : 

Windows and web platforms
- Move the mouse around until you highlight an adjacent node
- Click in the direction you want the white circle to move when a node is highlighted
- Click while moving to alter the speed of the white circle
- Alt-F4 to quit the game (if you downloaded the game on Windows)

Android
- Press and drag a finger around until you highlight an adjacent node
- Release your finger in the direction you want the white circle to move when a node is highlighted
- Tap while moving to alter the speed of the white circle

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"A 'point and click' circular obstacle course"

I wanted to experiment with circular level design. My intention was to prototype a quick experience to test an idea I had about designing a game literally and geometrically around its objective. 

Circles have an aesthetic that is wholly minimalistic and interesting to me. All of their affordances and gameplay possibilities stem from two simple properties : their center, and their radius. I wanted to take advantage of the minimalistic nature of circular shapes to try and extract a game from the navigation they afford. 

The point is simple, get to the end of a level to win. Levels are built so that you gradually get the player closer to its end and center by navigating concentric circles, their circumferences and radii. 

The visual presentation of the levels that emerged from this game design experiment is very pleasing. I was happy to find out that my intuition about circles and their aesthetics were proven fruitful in that they invite players very satisfyingly to play with them. The node-base navigation also was very effective to create a movement scheme that was easy to grasp and to engage with. The result is a small prototype of a game that solidified by appreciation of circles as a game design environment and inspiration for gameplay mechanisms