Video Game Project- Research

1. Research
Alice Leeman

2. Existing Product
This is a screenshot of a game that I
discovered called ‘Pixel Quest’ and
it’s a platform game. You use the
keys ‘A’ and ‘D’ to move left and
right and click space or ‘W’ to jump.
The aim of the game is to collect the
box objects and complete each level
in a timer. The timer on the first
level is about 3 minutes. You will
have to face challenges through
each level such as dodging fire pits
and jumping to the next platform.
The setting of the gameplay is in a
jungle and is similar to how I want
my gameplay to be like. The
character looks like a typical explorer
and there is green and brown colors
used to make it look like a jungle
scene.
The gameplay view is from a side
angle and show’s the full platform,
unlike games like temple run where
you are a first person runner and are
playing the character from behind
The creator of the game has made the
background lighter where the
character is crossing so it is clearer to
see the character as the character has
darker colors on it.
Music and sound effects:
The music on the home screen
is quite cheery and lasts about 6
seconds before looping again. I
quite like the music used for
this as the music isn’t annoying
or high-pitched
In the actual game itself, the
music seems to be quite
relaxing. The music isn’t really
on a loop as some of the notes
keep changing throughout the
song so this is good as the
music shouldn’t be seen as
repetitive and boring to the
players.
There are also quite a lot of
sound effects used in this game.
Firstly, there is a short high-
pitched sound when the
character jumps. Also, when the
fire rises every 2 seconds there
is a sound effect for the fire
rising.
Lastly, as you move your mouse
across the different button
choices on the menu there are
sound effects that happen as
you hover over them.

3. Existing Product
This game is ‘Temple Run
2’ and is an app that
players can download
onto their phones. It is
the perspective of a first
person runner and has an
endless timer as you play
the game. The aim of the
game is to keep
outrunning the jungle
monster until you die
(falling off edges, tripping
over, etc) and then repeat
and beat your high score.
The location of the gameplay is set in
a jungle-like environment and a lot of
the main colors used for this game are
colors that I find I could use for my
game e.g. the different shades of
greens and browns.
The games visuals are highly animated and
not pixelated or created in blocks. What I
find interesting about the game is the
objective and also the challenges you have to
face along the way such as collecting coins
and jumping over barriers. These are
challenges that I will likely be using in my
video game.
‘Temple Run 2’ does have
music in the background as
you are playing the game.
You mainly hear drums
playing, like Moroccan or
African drumming. The
music is quite dramatic
and speedy so this is
supposed to make the
player feel like they should
be going quite fast and
hurrying up.
There are some sound
effects used in this game.
For example if you trip
over some stone or barrier
then the jungle monster
will make a noise and be
closer to catching the
character. Other than the
noise of the jungle
monster there is just the
music playing in the
background.

4. Existing Product
This game is called ‘Raymon Jungle
Run’ and is a platform game set in a
Jungle. The main aim of the game is
to collect as many of the yellow flying
objects as you can and complete the
level without falling down holes, etc.
The levels get harder as you go along,
more enemies to attack and more
complex platforms to get across.
There are levels in this game where
you are in different locations
throughout the jungle e.g. the trees,
sky, the volcano stone walls, etc. It’s
good that the game has different
locations in it as it is more interesting
and fun when there are new locations
and enemies each time.
The creator of the game has made
sure that the objects to collect are a
bright color (yellow) so it’s clear for
the player to see what to collect.
There is music in the background of
the game. There is a different song for
each level most of the time (some
levels don’t have any music). The
music most of the time is quite jolly
and you can hear things like the drums,
or the tambourine. In the ‘scary’
locations such as the volcano the
music is faster and more worrying for
the player.
Lots of sound effects are used for this
game. For example when the character
is collecting the coin objects you hear a
shimmering sound. Also, you can hear
the characters footsteps as they are
running. The character also comes out
with small words like “yipee!” if he
reaches a platform of completes a
level. This lets the player know that
what they are doing is right.

5. Existing Product
This is a platform game called
‘Fireboy and Watergirl: In The
Forest Temple’. This game has
a similar objective to my game:
you have to cross the
platforms to get to the end
door where you will have
completed the game. I also like
the layout of this as the
platform is all on one screen.
• There are challenges you
need to overcome
• There are higher platforms
the character will need to
reach
• You can collect objects (the
blue and red diamonds
The pace of the music is
quite slow and mysterious.
This is good background
music as in this game you
take your time with it so
the player won’t want fast-
paced, high-pitched
background music. It may
stress the player out as the
song doesn’t fit the pace of
the game.
There are some sound
effects, for example when
one of the characters turn
the lever you will hear the
sound of the lever turning.
You can also hear the
sound of the diamonds
once you collect them.
You get the jungle vibe as you play this game, you see
the effects and colours used (the different shades of
green and brown) which are the main colours I will be
using in my game.
The visuals of the game has lots of detail in it and
collectives which makes the game appealing to
the audience as players will want to overcome the
challenges. The layout changes as you get to the
next level and the game is supposed to get harder
so the player is always expecting the unexpected
when playing.

6. Research Analysis
In all my research that I have looked at and analysed, all the games have the same colour theme, with different
shades of green and brown to fit the jungle theme. This is the kind of colour theme that I will be sticking to when
it comes to my production work.
Also, during my research I have looked into games that all have similar objectives. For example, in the games ‘ Raymon
Jungle Run’ and ‘Fireboy and Watergirl: The forest temple, both the games are platform game and the aim of the game
is to get passed all the challenges you face and reach the end of the level so you can move onto the next level. In both
games you can collect objects like coins and diamonds as you play the game and this is an aspect of the games that I am
going to use in my game. I could create objects such as diamonds, or shiny objects, or I could stick to the jungle theme
and add in objects like coloured leaves, or animals, or health resources.
In the games ‘Pixel Quest’ and ‘Fireboy and Watergirl: The forest temple’ they both have the same kind of layout. The
level that you have to complete is all set out on the screen and the player has to guide their character through the
platforms to reach the final door/point to reach the next level. The platforms are above each other and you have to
basically keep climbing and jumping from platform to platform, collecting objects and passing challenges along the way.
This is a layout that I am most interesting in using for my game, with platforms rising above each other. I may add in
techniques in my game that aren’t used in these existing products, such as moving the platforms up and down or side to
side.

7. Bibliography
1. Developer: HardCircle (Year of Release: 2011) Game: Pixel Quest
https://www.coolmathgames.com/0-pixel-quest
1. Developer: Imangi Studios (Year Of Release: 2013) Game: Temple Run 2
(mobile game)
2. Developer: Pasta Games (Year Of Release: 2012) Game: Rayman’s Jungle
Run (mobile game)
3. Developer: Olso Albert (Year Of Release: 2007) Game: Fireboy and
Watergirl: The forest temple
https://www.coolmathgames.com/0-fireboy-watergirl-forest-temple