GMTK 23: Snake Teeter

I partook in the Game Maker's Toolkit 2023 Game Jam, in which I was tasked to create a game with the theme of 'Roles Reversed'. Below, I describe the game I submitted:

GMTK 23: Snake Teeter - a game where you, Big Badd, are a mole and commander within the private military organisation Inner Heaven, and have agreed to help Valid Snake enter the Inner Heaven base without getting caught so that he can bring down their villainous leader - Validus. However, as you, Big Badd, are being watched and will be killed if you are caught doing anything physically to help Valid Snake, your only choice is to plan a patrol route for Inner Heaven soldiers on each floor such that Snake can run through the room without getting caught. This will require strategic placement of soldier units along their patrol lines.

- This game is inspired by the VR Missions from the first MGS. Instead of playing as Valid Snake and observing the set paths of the patrolling enemies, you control the soldier patrol strategy after observing the set path of Snake. For example, on the first level you have to place 3 soldiers on a map in such a way that it ensures Snake is not caught (he will follow a pre-determined route).

- Each enemy has a triangle of sight which will catch Snake if he crosses it. If this happens, an ! icon can appear above the head of the Snake which will play the Game Over sound and restart the level.

- The game will restart every time Snake is caught (it is expected) and you will have another chance at placing the enemies. After placement, the enemies will walk according to their placed direction, and walk until they reach the end of their patrol route, then turn anti-clockwise until facing the opposite direction and walk back. If done correctly, you should allow Snake to run past and reach the end as he is programmed to do along his set route. At the end, a winning jingle plays.

Future gameplay mechanics / development plans:

- I can add a variety of levels with larger or smaller maps and different level design, so the player can create many unique strategies

- I can add a knock feature, through which the player can click on a wall and "knock" on the wall, causing all soldiers to walk towards the knocked point for 3 seconds, stand for 4 seconds, then walk back the same way. This can help Snake get by certain points, but also cause soldiers further away to walk towards him

- I can also add cameras which stay in place but rotate it's triangle of sight back and forth slowly

- I can add sleeping soldiers who do not move from their position or have a triangle of sight, until a knock is heard. After 10 seconds of walking there and back, they go back to sleep. This can add complexity as they are easily passed when asleep, but if a knock is required to pass a different guard, they will need to be taken into consideration as an extra obstacle while awake

In this game, you do not play as Snake (who's focus is to sneak into Inner Heaven) nor do you play as the Soldiers (who's focus is to stop Snake). Instead, you play the role of his unseen collaborator and spy within the enemy group that compromises their security and orchestrates his victory. How else do you think one man takes down an entire military organisation?