Game Design 1

The basic game designer

The  game designer allows you to build simple regimes of ferry services and feedback system without any programming. A compiled demo of the game designer is available at http://u311.org/FerryServiceGame/ but for practical implementation you will want to use the Unity IDE (select World -> game options -> stand alone). Either way, you will see the same designer menu while running FSG in a standalone. We first go over the basic virtual features you can set via menu choices: 

1. Select world: By default FSG contain three distinct worlds: Red islands, green islands and yellow islands:

FSG2.1.png

Each of those worlds include a chain of 20 islands. Each world can be designed to have different landscape and resources.  For example a world can have many of few obstacles, many or a few coins, etc. As needed, you can add graphical objects to worlds using the Unity IDE. 

2. Number of ferries:  By default FSG include either one ferry, which simulates a a monopolistic environment, or two ferries, which simulates a market environment. 

FSG2.2

Note that in the monopolistic environment, the player cannot select between different ferry services, but she can still be able to decide how much time or money to invest in the service or avoid using the service altogether (see 'Allow Bridge below). Note also that user ratings and dashboard may have different utility to the user in monopolistic vs. market environment. 

3. Show bridge: Adding a bridge to a world provides the player with a "do it alone" alternative to the ferry. That is, instead of using the service, the player can choose to walk on the bridge. 

FSG2.3

By avoiding the ferries, the player would opt out from the service and from its information sharing (rating) environment. Ferries can be unpredictable. Service may improve or deteriorate. They may cost coins or time, etc. The bride option is always the same. Walking speed by default is 8 seconds.