Jared Bruhn
Game Developer and Professor
REPLAY
Made in collaboration with Tammi Tay, Yongjia Tan, Mikhail Baryshev, and San Jose State University Artists.
RePlay is a First Person Action Survival game that was developed for the Games and Playable Media graduate program. In this game, you navigate a mysterious underground facility in which clones follow your exact path. A beta version of the game was released on Itch.io in 2015, with a final version planned to launch on Steam in 2016.
I wore many hats for this project. My roles included:
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Lead Designer
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Gameplay, UX design, writing design documents, team communication
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Level Designer
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Constructed all level geometry, determined player goals
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Art Director
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Collaborated with SJSU artists for visual development, animation, and modelling
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Audio Director
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Selected/edited sound effects and music
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Level Design in REPLAY
The introductory level of REPLAY. In the very first hallway, the player is introduced to a clone. With ominous music playing, the player gets a sense that the clone is an enemy, runs away and hits a pressure pad that triggers a door opening. When he steps off the pad, the door closes, but shortly after the clone activates it again. This introduces pressure pads as switches, the ability to utilize clones, and an idea of on-your-feet puzzle solving to come.
We found the game to be the most interesting when we required players to cross their previous path and dodge incoming clones. If players walk in oil puddles, they'll leave footprints, giving a visual path for clones to follow. We end the level with a challenge to cross an extending platform which they can go about different ways: 1.) Do several small loops on the platform as clones trigger it to extend. 2.) Force the clones to fall down by traversing a spot that opens up as the platform moves.
This level provides a true challenge. It requires players to make several loops in their path as well as avoid environmental hazards such as steam and crushing walls. The level culminates in a few surprises: an encounter with a new mutant enemy, and a secret elevator which traps the player with the mutant.
The introductory level of REPLAY. In the very first hallway, the player is introduced to a clone. With ominous music playing, the player gets a sense that the clone is an enemy, runs away and hits a pressure pad that triggers a door opening. When he steps off the pad, the door closes, but shortly after the clone activates it again. This introduces pressure pads as switches, the ability to utilize clones, and an idea of on-your-feet puzzle solving to come.