The document summarizes research on existing pixel games to inform the development of a new side-scrolling pixel game. Key aspects noted include: - Games analyzed are 2D side-scrolling with goals of defeating enemies, collecting items, and progressing through levels. - Art styles range from simple pixel art to more complex but all appeal to the target audience of 16+. - Useful elements identified include scoring systems, background/character sync, changing environments, time/resource limits, and boss battles.

1. Research
Grace Gilbert

2. Existing Product
This is gameplay from the pixel game
Super Mario bros. This game has
inspired most of my ideas as this is
the type of game I want to create,
especially the P.O.V as a side scrolling
game as I think it is effective but also
simple
I like the purpose of the game
where you have to get to the
end but you have to defeat
enemies along the way and
sabotage the other players
In this screenshot Mario is
seen jumping whilst
attacking the enemy and I
think this is a good idea as it
makes the game challenging
as you have to attack the
enemy before they attack
you
This would be simple to create
something similar and it would
appeal to our target audience of
16+ because it is simple but
enjoyable and also can become
easily addicted
I like the location that this game is set as it
isn't a precise location and it is just set in the
sky with the bricks as platforms but by
adding certain features such as the castle I
think it gives the game some character but it
also makes it more excitable to play
When the characters are
jumping it is effective but
not too detailed or
complicated which means
in my project I could have
the same effect in my
project and it would be
effective but not too
complicated to do
• I think there will be
quite a few
similarities between
this game and my
own project as this is
very similar to what I
want to create
• However in my game I
would want to add
the score in the top
corner for when you
collect a certain item
that gains you more
points

3. Existing Product
This is Sonic pixel perfect and
even though this is a more
complex use of pixels this is still
relevant to my game as much
like the Mario game the side
scrolling type of game I would
like to create
With Sonic there is a clear
sound when you pick up rings
which is positive, this indicates
to the audience that you need
to collect these it’s like positive
reinforcement
I like the idea of a title screen to
introduce the game, and this
would be something I would
consider doing in my project if I
have enough time
Not only does it show the amount of rings you
have collected it shows how long it takes you to
complete it and what score you’re on. I like this
idea as it makes the game more exciting because
you’re not just collecting things for no reason and
it shows
In this game there are
more obstacles in the way
than in Super Mario bros.
This is something I would
consider doing because it
makes the game more
difficult, however it would
differ depending on the
level
At the end of this level there was
another character that was stronger
and you have to defeat them and
this would be something I would
include in my game and you have to
win to get through to the next level

4. Existing Product
This game is Shovel
Knight and like the
two previous games
it is a 2D side
scrolling game
I like the idea of starting off in
one area and being set a mission
but then through out the game it
progresses to a different area as
this gives an illusion of the length
of the game but it also makes it
more exciting to play as you’re
not restricted to one area
This game was made a while after the
two previous games and it still looks
very similar but in more detail than
Super Mario bros, this represents
how pixel games a timeless which
also allows me to take ideas from
both the games and combine them
At the beginning of the
game at the tope of the
screen it tells you what the
aim of the mission is but it is
still part of the game and I
like this idea as it gives the
impression of talking to the
characters in the game
I think the background to
this game is something I
would consider doing as it
is simple and it fits with
the side scrolling game as
the background can be
continuous
I like the color change in this game for
example when there is no danger the
sky is blue and the lighting is bright
however when you go to fight the
dragon the background changes to
black which indicates danger
It also shows the mount of
points and the amount of lives
you have left which adds a bit of
tension to the game as you are
aware of how close you are to
death

5. Existing Product
This game (Terraria) is a little
different to the one I have in
mind however the way it runs
is how I want my project to be
the way Terraria runs is similar
to how I want my game to run
I like how the character is small
compared to the surroundings –
this is something I would want
to include as it means the
character doesn't have to be in
too much detail
In Terraria the relationship between
the character and the background is in
sync so when the character runs the
background speeds up and then slows
down when the character does, I want
this aspect in my game as overall it
looks better and a higher quality as it
looks like more thought has gone into
the game. It also makes the ‘world’
seem bigger than what it actually is
It also changes the time
between night and day,
this is something I would
consider however I don’t
think it would work with
the theme of the game
because it isn't a survival
game
I like the background idea because
it is plain and simple, and having
the clouds move slowly gives the
illusion of the world moving and
time is passing. I like this idea of
the clouds moving as it makes it
seem more realistic and you aren't
restricted

6. Existing Product This game is called Avenger
Bird, It is a bit more detailed
than the one I am going to
make however the concept of
the game is similar – where
you have to collect the coins
and avoid the enemies
Watching the gameplay on YouTube this
game is pretty simple and there isn't much
detail into the jumping or the flying of the
bird
In the top left corner there is a
bar and it tells you how much
‘energy’ you have left to fly,
this makes the game harder as
it is limited to how much you
can fly until you run out of
energy and have to wait until
it fills up again
In the top right corner there is a red
bar which shows the amount of
energy you have left to glide, similar
to the flying bar it makes the game
more exciting as you have to be
aware of how far you can go before it
runs out
I like the idea of it all being connected in a maze
setting, as it makes the game feel more 3D even
though it isn't
This game starts of as a
birds eye view shot of the
game and you control the
bird to go down each path
to choose a level and the
different colored dots
indicate whether you have
completed the level or still
need to do it

7. Existing Product
This game is called Drop
Wizard and even though it
isn't using pixels the way I
would be using them the
concept of the game is
similar to how I would
want to have my game
Having the different platforms is
what I want to include in my game,
and having the entrances and exits
is similar to what I want to do, the
look of this game is simple and
what I would want to do is create a
similar set out but not as much
detail
Having the different
backgrounds change when
the level changes is
something I would want to
include in mine because it
suggests the levels getting
more difficult
I also like the idea of the
enemies being on different
platforms is something I would
want to include and have them
moving across because it creates
more difficulty as they aren't in
one set position
This game is simple in
terms of the layout as the
background doesn't move
etc. However I like the
simplicity of the game and
it would appeal to the
audience as it doesn't take
too much thinking but it is
still fun to play

8. Research Analysis
• In the games I have researched they are all very similar as I looked at a specific
type of game. They are all 2D side scrolling games and have pretty much the
same concept as each other for example they are all trying to have the
characters defeat enemies and get through the ‘world’ that they are in. On most
of the games there is a points score to see how many of an object you can collect
for example in Sonic it is coins where as in Avenger bird you have to collect coins,
Furthermore the art style of them differs in complexity however they do all use
pixel art effects. In terms of the audience all the games that I have studied
appeal to my target audience because they don’t take too much thinking but
they are still fun to play, however Terraria is the odd one out because it is a
survival game and the concept is completely different to the other games I have
looked at, I included it because the way it runs and the look of the game was
similar to what I want to do.
• In my work I will combine all the different aspects form each game and put them
into one, I like the layout of the game Avenger Bird and they way it runs with the
bird moving simply but effectively. However I do like the art style of the
characters in Mario as the style of them is simple but it works, this will allow me
in my work to create a simple character which can run jump etc. without having
too much to do and making it look like it has been done badly. In Terraria the
background moves along with the character so when the character runs the
background speeds up, and I think the sync relationship between the character
and the background is something I would want to include in my work as it gives
an illusion of the world being bigger than what it actually is.

9. Bibliography

10. Bibliography
1. Avenger Bird (2017) Gameplay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqS8eoLnIag
2. Nintendo (2008) Sonic Pixel Perfect [Internet]
3. Nintendo (1985) Super Mario bros [Internet]
4. RE-Logic (2011) Terraria [Internet]
5. Sonic Pixel Perfect (2008) Gameplay -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bALKnKdOQgg&t=10s
6. Super Mario bros (1985) Gameplay -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxHciXRmS5Y
7. Terraria (2011) Gameplay -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31v2DpFQdzU
8. The 40 best IPhone and IPad games right now [Internet]
https://www.stuff.tv/features/40-best-iphone-and-ipad-games-right-
now/platform-games
9. Top 10 retro pixel games of today video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDHC7JGz6b8
10. TillaSoft (2017) Avenger Bird [Internet]
11. Yacht Club games (2014) Shovel Knight [Internet]