UT Shield

Fall 2020

2D

GDAD Capstone Course

The 2D Capstone Course in the GDAD Program at the University of Texas at Austin occurs each fall, and challenges students to utilize all their new skills to create a final project. Undergraduates from the Center for Arts and Entertainment Technologies, Computer Science Department, and Radio-Television-Film Department were assigned to one of five teams, and each team developed their own unique 2D video game.

Below are the results of the Capstone.

 

Spektacles
Spectacular Games

title image for "Spektacles" by Spectacular Games featuring the cast of human and mythical characters

High school is tough… especially with a snake bun. Spektacles is a unique RPG that crosses 2D Visual Novel & Action genres. Play as Melita, the daughter of Medusa, as she tries to navigate the world of Norse High in hopes of wooing her crush, Irving, the headless horse-kid but be careful: high school isn’t all fun and games. Watch out for students that might not be so warm hearted…

 

Genre: Simulation/Rhythm Runner
Platforms: Mac, and Windows
Expected ESRB: E10+

 

  • Kat Byers – Narrative Design / Programmer (AET)
  • Alex Carriles – Pixel Artist / Animator (AET)
  • Ben Clark – Sound Designer / Scrum Master (AET)
  • Zac Galer – Programmer (CS)
  • Courtney Huynh – Gameplay & UI Programmer (CS)
  • Jordan Jenkins – Gameplay Designer / Unity Animator (AET)
  • Sohee Katherine Na – UI/UX Designer (AET)
  • Soumya Kovela – Visual Development / Character & Background Artist (AET)

Play | Trailer

 

A Murder of Crows
Birds of a Feather

title image for "A Murder of Crows" original video game

A Murder of Crows follows Crowley Corvo as he investigates the mysterious death of businessman James Elk by looking for clues and speaking with the inhabitants of Cawtham City. Take on the underground mob in turn-based, grid-based combat, and solve the case all while concealing your own dark secret– the fact that you are three crows in a trench coat!

 

Genre(s): Adventure, Strategy, Mystery
Platforms: Itch.io, Steam, Android
Expected ESRB: T

 

  • Grace Carter – Art, Scrum Master (AET)
  • Madeline Fisher – Programming, Narrative Design (AET)
  • Noah Galloso – Programming, Design (CS)
  • Terry Nguyen – Art, Programming (AET)
  • Colin Pool – Music & Audio, Narrative Design (AET)
  • Ian Thorne – Programming, Design (CS)
  • Matthew Umana – Programming, Level Design (AET)

Play | Trailer

 

Trust NoBirdy
Wing It Studios

title image for "Trust NoBirdy" an original video game. a pigeon writes in a file while looking over its shoulder

With a declining population of natural bird species, a humble pigeon, Ralph, must
 take to the streets to collect evidence of conspiracy theories, expose the government drones posed as birds, and take back what’s rightfully his! Waddle and hop through skyscrapers, sneak past those mean city cats, and don the tin foil hat – remember, Trust NoBirdy!

 

Genre(s): Narrative Platformer
Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Android
Expected ESRB: E

 

  • Evelyn Barber – Environment Artist/Level Designer (AET)
  • Jonathan Cope – Programmer/Composer (CS)
  • Julian DeLaRosa – Programmer/Narrative Design
  • Reed Giunta – Prop Artist/Scrum Master (RTF)
  • Madeline Huang – Programmer/Level Designer (CS)
  • Maddy Kerr – Character Artist/Animator (AET)
  • Matthew Maxwell – Technical Sound Designer (AET)

Play | Trailer

 

University of Adventure: Tiko’s Tail
Trash Panda Studios

 

Title image for "University of Adventure: Tiko's Tale" a raccoon sits on a subway seatUniversity of Adventure: Tiko’s Tail is an action-adventure platformer. You are put in the shoes of Tiko, an adorable raccoon, in order to discover secrets throughout the university and survive your exam.

Genre: Metroidvania, Action Platformer
Platforms: PC, Mac, Microsoft Store
ESRB: E10+
 

  • Jordan Bogaards – Programmer (CS)
  • Cooper Fryar – Programmer & Scrum Master (CS)
  • Caden Harman – CharacterArtist/Animator (AET)
  • Ean Herrera – Music & Sound Designer (AET)
  • Zach Yarbrough – Environment Artis (AET)

Play | Trailer

 

Helltrail
Brimfire Studios

Title image for "Helltrail" an original video game

As the border between the afterlife and the mortal realm begins to weaken, the Divine has taken the opportunity to send a mortal, the only beings who can traverse both heaven and hell, to reclaim lost souls who have been improperly cast into the depths of Hell. In this action roguelike, guide Aiden as they travel through the first Circles of Hell to reclaim lost souls and defeat its most wicked demons. In the first chapter of the Helltrail saga, we will be traversing through Limbo and Gluttony on our way to fight the demon general of Gluttony, Hoggish.

 

Genre(s): Action Roguelike
Platforms: Mac, Windows, and Web
Expected ESRB: T
 

  • Peyton Breech – Tech Animator and Scrum Master (AET)
  • Skylore Evans – Programmer (CS)
  • Presley Hoyl – UI Programmer and Sound Designer (AET)
  • Travis Scott – Artist (AET)
  • William Suh – Programmer (CS)
  • Brinnah Welmaker – Artist (AET)

Play | Trailer