Sustainable Development City Builder
Team: Solo Project
Role: Game Designer
Timeline: 2 Weeks
DESCRIPTION
Sustainable Development City Builder, or “SD City Builder”, is a text-based tycoon game that teaches the importance of sustainable city infrastructure through its mechanics. I created it as a first-year game design assignment to convey an important message through gameplay.
TOOLS
- Twine
- Adobe Illustrator
JUMP TO SECTION
PROJECT SHOWCASE
You can also play SD City Builder in browser on itch.io:
GAME DESIGN
MESSAGE THROUGH MECHANICS
Most tycoon games are built purely on the idea of maximizing profit. I decided to subvert this expectation to convey my game’s message.
In SD City Builder’s first phase, the player is only shown variables connected to profit. This simplifies the mechanics and matches their mental model of what the gameplay should be. Unsustainable infrastructure is the most profitable, so players will pursue this first.
At the end of the first phase, the player is then shown variables related to sustainability, highlighting how unsustainable their first city (likely) was.
The player then gets a chance to play again with all variables visible, adding complexity to the gameplay and enforcing the importance of green infrastructure and public spaces.
PRESENTATION
I chose to design my game with black-and-white iconography, making it simple and approachable for new players.
By using black and white only, I was also able to make key elements such as buttons stand out through the use of colours. Because the game is mostly text, this was extra important.
GAME DESIGN TAKE AWAYS
Creating SD City Builder taught me how a game can be greater than the sum of its parts when its narrative supports its gameplay, and vice versa. If a narrative is slapped onto a game last minute without thought, it becomes awkward and unengaging, which is why it’s important to consider both factors early in development.