Life In Color

A series of (puzzle) games that roughly follow the stages of life.

The first one can be played even by babies. Then you get little kids, youngsters, adolescence, etcetera.

Each game has 365 levels. (Or 52, as in weeks.)

Common Words

The games, therefore, should not contain ANY text and even their names should be words known in all languages.

In fact, I just learned UTF-8 is allowed in Play Store titles and itch.io titles. Only use that?

This word is then used to inform the whole theme and mechanic

Words known in all languages:

Huh
Ok / Okay
Ma(ma)
No
Ananas
Sugar
Tea / Coffee
Taxi
Soup
(Yogurt)
(Aye/Yee/Yes)
(Chocolate)
(Aaaah! => just general noises of pain/fear/danger)
(Most Persian origin words: pajamas, lemon, orange, bronze, pistachio, bazaar, caviar, spinach, mummy)
(Modern words, but not too modern: radio, TV, internet, Wi-Fi)

General helper words:

No
Stop
Internet
Mobile (as in phone)
Phone
Tv or television
Computer
Pizza
Sim (as in sim card)
Salon
Food (the word itself)
Water

Color Coding

All puzzle games in this series are color-coded. From “white” (the start), to loads of colors, to “grey” (elderly), to “black” (the end).

This isn’t just in name, it also determines the palette of the entire game. (They can only use that color, plus variations on it of course, and white/black.)

General Idea

The mechanic should be really simple. So it can be explained without words, played casually, and simulated/generated easily. There should be no assumptions on previous game knowledge (such as the idea of grids, or bosses, or lives, or whatever)

Additionally, these games can combine in different ways. Once you’ve played chapter 1, its mechanics might come back in chapter 2 and merge with whatever you’re doing there.

(How exactly, I’m not sure. A bonus to unlock? Something you only get if you have both games installed? Would need to store that information somewhere then. Or are those separate games, like “Red-Green”? )

Research

“Kid” age groups:

4-6
7-9
10-11
12-14

Think of children as adults with much less experience.

The one game that seems to click with all age groups: Minecraft.

Can we steal its idea?
Can we just make a game about dragging blocks to certain locations?
Or even simpler, the game starts with blocks already there, and you just tap them to get something going?

Why do kids play games?

When kids are asked why they play video games, more than half of them give reasons such as “to relax, to learn new things, and to create their own world.”

In a study conducted by Cheryl Olson, the top reasons children gave for playing is that games are “fun, exciting, and have the challenge to figure things out.”

Olson also found that 45% of boys and 29% of girls said they play video games “to get my anger out.”

Children in the same study reported that they played violent video games to “relieve stress, to be rebellious, and to test the limits of acceptable behavior in a safe environment.”

Jane McGonigal, in her book Reality is Broken, writes that “games make us happy because they are hard work that we choose for ourselves.”

She goes on to say that we take on games that may be difficult and even stressful because “we enjoy the stimulation and activation as long as we feel capable of meeting the challenge.”

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s theory of “flow” has also been used to explain why kids love to play video games. Csikszentmihalyi, a Hungarian psychologist trained at the University Chicago, describes flow as the experience of “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake.” The sense of flow is one in which an individual does not notice time and “every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one.” This is not unlike what many gamers experience when they are immersed in gameplay.

Chapter 1: Ma

Age: Baby/Kindergarten

Color: White

Mechanic:

It should be something a baby, naturally, understands. And nothing more.

Even a grid or something feels like too much, too many assumptions.
Colors are a no-go. We need great contrast, big things.

What would they understand? Tapping on something.

The puzzle has eggs.
Tap to break an egg.
Where’s the puzzle element?
- The order in which you tap
- Which things you don’t tap
- Or how many times you tap

I also feel that babies/kids would resonate most strongly with animate objects, preferably with a clear face and eyes (and hands?).

Goal?

Eggs Types?

Alternative Mechanic: more of an action game. In this case, something akin to flappy bird, where tapping means a jump/move.

A series of **(puzzle) games** that roughly follow the **stages of life**. The first one can be played even by babies. Then you get little kids, youngsters, adolescence, etcetera. Each game has 365 levels. (Or 52, as in weeks.) ## Common Words The games, therefore, should **not contain ANY text** and even their **names should be words known in all languages.** In fact, I just learned UTF-8 is allowed in Play Store titles and itch.io titles. **Only use that?** This word is then used to inform the whole theme and mechanic Words known in all languages: - Huh - Ok / Okay - Ma(ma) - No - Ananas - Sugar - Tea / Coffee - Taxi - Soup - (Yogurt) - (Aye/Yee/Yes) - (Chocolate) - (Aaaah! => just general noises of pain/fear/danger) - (Most Persian origin words: pajamas, lemon, orange, bronze, pistachio, bazaar, caviar, spinach, mummy) - (Modern words, but not *too* modern: radio, TV, internet, Wi-Fi) General helper words: - No - Stop - Internet - Mobile (as in phone) - Phone - Tv or television - Computer - Pizza - Sim (as in sim card) - Salon - Food (the word itself) - Water ## Color Coding All puzzle games in this series are color-coded. From "white" (the start), to loads of colors, to "grey" (elderly), to "black" (the end). This isn't just in *name*, it also determines the *palette* of the entire game. (They can only use that color, plus variations on it of course, and white/black.) ## General Idea The mechanic should be **really simple**. So it can be explained **without words**, played casually, and simulated/generated easily. There should be *no* assumptions on previous game knowledge (such as the idea of grids, or bosses, or lives, or whatever) Additionally, these games can **combine** in different ways. Once you've played chapter 1, its mechanics might come back in chapter 2 and *merge* with whatever you're doing there. (How exactly, I'm not sure. A bonus to unlock? Something you only get if you have *both* games installed? Would need to store that information somewhere then. Or are those separate games, like "Red-Green"? ) ## Research "Kid" age groups: - 4-6 - 7-9 - 10-11 - 12-14 Think of children as *adults* with *much less experience*. The one game that seems to click with all age groups: **Minecraft**. - Can we steal its idea? - Can we just make a game about dragging blocks to certain locations? - Or even simpler, the game starts with blocks already there, and you just *tap* them to get something going? ### Why do kids play games? When kids are asked why they play video games, more than half of them give reasons such as **"to relax, to learn new things, and to create their own world."** In a [study conducted by Cheryl Olson](http://www.grandtheftchildhood.com/GTC/Research_Papers_files/Olson_Motivations%20for%20Play_final.pdf), the top reasons children gave for playing is that games are **"fun, exciting, and have the challenge to figure things out."** Olson also found that 45% of boys and 29% of girls said they play video games **"to get my anger out."** Children in the same study reported that they played violent video games to **"relieve stress, to be rebellious, and to test the limits of acceptable behavior in a safe environment."** Jane McGonigal, in her book [Reality is Broken](http://www.amazon.com/Reality-Is-Broken-Better-Change/dp/0143120611/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364729000&sr=8-1&keywords=mcgonigal), writes that **"games make us happy because they are hard work that we choose for ourselves."** She goes on to say that we take on games that may be difficult and even stressful because **"we enjoy the stimulation and activation as long as we feel capable of meeting the challenge."** Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's theory of "flow" has also been used to explain why kids love to play video games. Csikszentmihalyi, a Hungarian psychologist trained at the University Chicago, describes flow as the experience of **"being completely involved in an activity for its own sake."** The sense of flow is one in which an individual does not notice time and **"every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one."** This is not unlike what many gamers experience when they are immersed in gameplay. ## Chapter 1: Ma **Age:** Baby/Kindergarten **Color:** White **Mechanic:** It should be something a baby, naturally, understands. And nothing more. - Even a *grid* or something feels like too much, too many assumptions. - Colors are a no-go. We need great contrast, big things. What would they understand? **Tapping on something.** - The puzzle has eggs. - **Tap to break an egg.** - Where's the puzzle element? - The *order* in which you tap - Which things you *don't tap* - Or *how many times you tap* I also feel that babies/kids would resonate most strongly with *animate* objects, preferably with a clear face and eyes (and hands?). **Goal?** **Eggs Types?** **Alternative Mechanic:** more of an action game. In this case, something akin to flappy bird, where *tapping* means a *jump/move*.