Are We There Yet

Co-Op Adventure Game

Frantic-fuelled mayhem as a party of 4 try to enjoy their road trip in an uncontrollable RV. (Work in Progress)

Project Overview

The gameplay consists of embarking on a road trip with your choice of characters with up to 4 players. Character choice is non-restrictive, players can choose to have any combination of characters for their playthrough. Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses that play into the overall gameplay. One example is the height of each character which gives characters different viewpoints and perspectives of the RV and landmarks they encounter. The mixture of careless driving, players frantically trying to keep everything in order and the cramped space for four players will hopefully lead to emergent narratives that players will remember.

High Concept

Frantic-fuelled mayhem as a party of 4 tries to enjoy their road trip in an uncontrollable RV.

Game Genre

Couch co-op simulation game sprinkled with light puzzle-solving and open world elements.

Target Audience

A family friendly game for all ages.

Plot

After seeing your dads’ interest in motorhomes peak more and more every day, it’s no surprise when you see him finally pull up on the drive. Now, along with your family, you head off into the sunset of what should be a simple road trip exploring the country. Until it’s apparent this motorhome is second hand. Now it’s up to everyone in the back to make sure everything stays intact.

Game Objectives

Short Term

Explore for tools, navigate obstacles, keep the RV working.

Mid Term

Reach destinations, overcome puzzles, use teamwork.

Long Term

Reach the end of the level without breaking the RV.

Key Features

1

Navigate through clogged back roads and hectic highways as your passengers try to help, or hinder you in the back of the RV.

2

As the passengers, keep everything in order at the back. Furniture, plumbing, or eachother!

3

Procedural events that happen on each playthrough shift the dynamic of the game.

4

Extended driving may require repairs on the RV. Consult the real world manual to fix any issues.

5

In addition to the manual, use a real world map to navigate through each of the levels.

6

Different members of the party have their own attributes. Height is a key factor needed to succeed.

Gameplay Mechanics

Players will have to utilise a wide range of unique, exciting, and engaging gameplay mechanics. From using tools to repair vehicles, random events that impact the tempo of the game to exploration using compasses and maps. Read more below.

Driving

One player is required to drive the RV at any time to progress through the game. However, to keep the game less restrictive, players can only drive for a limited time. This ensures that players need to have a strategy for getting from A to B whilst also allowing players to experience other aspects of the game. Whilst players are driving, they have direct control over the physics of objects inside the vehicle through physics affected objects, causing objects to come out of cupboards that will require players to navigate around or use. Should a player exceed their character’s exhaustion rate, their vision will begin to blur and driving becomes increasingly hard.

Repairing

During the game, there may be situations where components of the RV either sustain too much damage or has a chance for something to happen. Once this happens, players will need to pull over to attempt to fix it. Players should consult the real-life manual that directs them to fix whatever the problem is. This aspect of the game will require light puzzle solving skills to ensure the vehicle is fixed and the RV can drive at the optimum pace.

Random Events

Puzzle Solving

In addition to the puzzle/problem solving that is needed for the repairing section of the RV, other puzzles can be solved in the game world that require a combination of communication and perspectives of players. For example, players that can see closer to ground will need to communicate with what they see to players that are taller to combine clues. Completion of these puzzles will allow players to access new items for them to interact with the Gameworld. For example, managing to open a lock box may reward the player with sunglasses that can be used to negate the effect of sun glare.

Player Height

This dynamic means that players can choose their character that has their own advantages and disadvantages. With player height, those picking a smaller character will be able to see different perspectives which has its own positive and negatives. Players perspectives will also allow different characters to communicate with each other when attempting to gain access to new places within the RV.

Exploration

Whilst observing the map, players will find different landmarks on their way to the destination. Players can use these landmarks not only as a way of navigation, but also to explore and be used to rest from excessive driving.

Dynamic Weather

Clear Skies

Ideal driving conditions, no effects present.

Rain

Darkens the game world slightly, the RV itself may be more unpredictable to drive but still controllable.

Ice

Makes the RV a lot more unpredictable to drive, causing items within the RV to be unstable.

Characters

Father

Advantage: Able to solve timed mechanical problems quickly.

Disadvantage: Has the lowest energy levels out of the 3 characters.

Mother

Advantage: Able to hold the most items out of all the characters.

Disadvantage: More susceptible to the weather effects.

Child

Advantage: Small character height allows for new perspectives within the RV.

Disadvantage: When driving, children will not be able to see where they are going and will need to be guided by someone.

Comparative Games

Overcooked is similar in the way it portrays fast pace problems that require players to talk quickly over each other that allow narrative stories between players to happen. The combination of puzzle solving whilst working with or against constraints is something that players of all ages find enjoyable.