News & Press
December 26, 2017
December 7, 2017
Meet the Students Who Are Getting Their Big Break at Tonight's Game Awards
http://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-game-awards-student-game-award-feature
November 14, 2017
Meaning Nominated for Student Prize at The Game Awards 2017
November 14, 2017
Meaning Nominated for Best Student Game at The Game Awards 2017
http://thegameawards.com/awards/#best-student-game
​
April 25, 2017
Meaning wins 2nd for Most Innovative Design at DigiPen Game Awards 2017
https://newssg.digipen.edu/memory-leak-wins-grand-prize-at-the-2017-digipen-awards/
My Channel
Coming Soon
About Meaning
Meaning is a single button poetic expression game for mobile. The goal of the game is to create an experience where game mechanics express an open but thematically consistent narrative, informed by both the design and the player in a mutually expressive relationship.
​
The game uses an intuitive, single button input system, in which the player manipulates a paper plane as it travels through different environments. The mechanics are easy to pick up, with only one button, and a tutorial that gives the player the freedom to experiment and make mistakes without penalty or risk.
​
The game is inspired by life and how we are often unable to fully control our own destinies. We attempt to guide ourselves towards our goals without ever knowing exactly where our path leads. Each element in the game is an expression of life’s ups and downs. The player moves through a journey of emotions, with abstract music and visuals hinting at, but never fully explaining. Meaning is inspired by games like Journey and Flower to bring about a poetic experience for the player, with the ultimate goal to evoke a sense of wonder, as well as empowerment, where the player brings their own meaning to bear.
Innovation
Do games need to have to rely on the skinner box and Pavlovian methods to teach and give the player an experience? Traditional methods of tutorials are either having players already know recognised methods of controls or teaching the player how to play through rote methods. This forces the player to sit through and learn how to play the game.
​
This is similar to how we are forcing someone to sit in a classroom and learn subjects like math by rote. Most players would rather jump into the game immediately and to skip the tutorial if given the chance. Meaning uses an open play concept which allows the player to make mistakes and explore the mechanics in an open and free environment without much penalty. The player is able to learn and master the skills in their own time before progressing to the next stage.
​
The unique control mechanics are also part of the game’s innovation. Players can control the plane by either tapping and holding the screen. The player is never penalised excessively if the player makes a mistake and the player can retry again almost immediately. The mechanics provide the player a bit of guesswork and almost feel for the rhythm of flight without giving the player too much control or taking away too much control.
