#allergenie

[4-gaenge-studio-blog]

While finishing our booklet and the presentation for next week, we´d like serve you our delicious poster. 

[4-gaenge-studio-blog]

Fine-tuning allergenie

After completing the basic game concept it was high-time to analyze possible weaknesses of our game. To improve it even more we gave a foretaste to a member of our target group.

Iteration is essential. Therefore we checked allergenie several times for potential flaws. The Player enjoyment evaluation matrix helped us to examine every aspect of the game. First of all, 4 Gänge // Studio took a closer look at allergenie themselves. Afterwards, we swapped a group member with another team. We explained him our concept and received feedback including some nice ideas. Finally, we asked someone who fits in our target group. “Gladly” Michaels 20 year old neighbor Tanja suffers from gluten intolerance and is therefore an ideal representative of our target audience. Together we went over the evaluation matrix and asked her for her thoughts and suggestions. According to the matrix - which can be found on the next pages in detail - she gave allergenie on average four out of five points (we were a bit proud, to be honest).

During this process we found some issues and also received some helpful suggestions:

One aspect that was criticized was that the goals of the game and the individual sections are not clearly presented. Therefore we added an “welcome page” which is now shown at the first start of the application. It can also be accessed in the help section anytime. Apart from that, we also included information on the task of the following level while loading it.

Apart from that, they also suggested us support our players after they “died” within a level. Thus we decided on decreasing the degree of difficulty when repeating a level. So future allergenies will not get frustrated so quickly while gaming.

There were also some other proposals which we did not implement out of various reasons. For example, adding some sound when starting the game, using our world as a possible way to die (eg. by slipping or falling) or increasing collaboration between players.  

Dinner will be ready soon,

your 4 Gänge // Studio

[4-gaenge-studio-blog]

4 Gänge // Studio is currently extremely busy with allergenie. Every department is working hard on every detail of the game. From artwork, technical stuff to marketing and the preparations for the final presentation. So much that you would just skip reading this blog article - thus you get a picture of Alice - one of our character - being surprised by a pack of milk.  Nevertheless stay curious for our final booklet - it will be delicious. We promise!  Enjoy you meal, 

Your 4 Gänge // Studio 

[4-gaenge-studio-blog]

The place where allergenie happens!  Your allergenie has to run through different sections of a supermarket where he has to avoid food he can not stomach. Here you are served one small preview on how this supermarket looks like - huge probs to our awesome visual artists Daniel and Anna. They managed to create a market that looks way better than our Lidl next to university <3  Dinner will be ready soon, 

your 4 Gänge // Studio 

[4-gaenge-studio-blog]

Gendergenie?!

During the development of allergenie also the issue on how we can make our game gender-neutral came across. So we thought about how we can make our game appealing for both males and females. 

Well, since the topic allergenie is dealing with concerns everyone, we believe that the game will suite both genders. Allergenie therefore tries to create a humorous, well designed a fun gameplay including an educational aspect. But we do not force our players to learn the facts by hard – they can choose themselves how much they want to learn. To emphasize the gender neutrality we will serve a male and female version of our character - as you already saw in the preview last time. So you can choose in the beginning whether you´d like to become an allergenious by controlling a girl or a boy.  During this process we also received our first feedback from our colleagues. Beside some small remarks concerning the screens and the gameplay they thought that the game will indeed fit for both genders and they also claimed that suits our targeted group perfectly. Apart from that they admired our visual appearance - which will be offered on this blog step by step in the upcoming weeks. (However, probs to our excellent graphic-chefs Anna and Daniel <3 )  Enjoy your meal, 

your 4 Gänge // Studio

[4-gaenge-studio-blog]

Today we serve you the first preview of our super delicious characters. In the meantime we work hard on the gameflow and the screendesign of allergenie - more on this will be offered in the upcomming weeks.   Enjoy your Meal,

your 4 Gänge // Studio 

[4-gaenge-studio-blog]

Allergenie in a nutshell

Quite often less is more and for everyone who does not want to read all those blog posting we summarized allergenie in a few sentences: 

What is allergenie? 

A educational jump n run game that raises awareness on allergens. The game is aiming at people who suffer from food intolerances and people who are interested in that subject.

How do I play allergenie? 

You have to guide your character through a supermarket where he encounters various products. Thus you have to decide whether the character can stomach certain items or not.

Whats makes allergenie unique? 

Allergenie is the first game to place this serious issue into a fun and modern setting. So you can learn which products contain which allergens without having to learn all the allergens by hard.

However, now you know what you will be served in a few months.

Bon appetite, 

your 4 // Gänge Studio

[4-gaenge-studio-blog]

Allergenie = delicate learning

Well, as we already told you our game allergenie will be a practical guide to raise awareness on allergens and getting to know which products can contain which allergens. So it can be really useful for your everyday life. In order to spice the learning outcomes of allergenie, we asked ourselves some important questions: 

#1 How will allergenie help you learning? 

The essence of allergenie is the fact that hard facts are packed in a fun environment with at tasty visual appearance. (and we promise you, it will be really delicious!) 

Apart from that, you get to know the products and what they contain and not the other way round. So you do not need to learn where certain allergens can be included but the products and their possible contents. This leads towards a more practical and useful knowledge for our gamers.

#2 How does allergenie communicate learning issues and objectives?

During the game you can notice physical changes of our character. If he eats something he can´t stomach, his facial expressions and his look will change. This will be supported by appropriate sound effects. In case he eats lot of crap, he will even puke (yes, he will puke). It will work also the other way round if he gets something good.

After each level you will be forwarded to screen where you can see your score. Apart from that you can check what you character has been eating during the game (and how much of each product). If you click on the product you can get detailed information on each product. In addition, you may also receive further information on the allergy dealt with in this level.

#3 What about advanced allergenies? 

During the first levels the gamer only encounters „obvious products“ (where its easier to say whether it contains the allergen or not). As you get better and proceed further in the game more difficult products will appear. These products may not be as obvious as previous ones and may contain hidden allergens. Furthermore, also the speed of the approaching items will increase with the levels.

#4 How do I know whether I am an allergenious or not? 

Basically, you can earn points by eating the right items (100 per item) and lose some (-50 per item) in case you ate a product your character can not stomach. Apart from that you can also lose lives by eating wrong items. After losing three lives you have to start the level again. 

At the end you can see your score and also the high score. The high score of each level will be added throughout the game. So the gamer will be encouraged to play a level again in order to increase the overall high score. In addition, you can achieve different rankings with a certain amount of points (eg. Allergenious). To stimulate our players further, there will also be an worldwide online ranking which can be viewed anytime.

#5 How is the learning adapted to individual skills?

As there are different stages of difficulty within the stages, more skilled players will be challenged by later levels while newcomers can enjoy easier stages first.

Well, know you know how to become an allergenious. Stay tuned for more!  Have a nice meal, 

your 4 Gänge // Studio