Summary
For a UEFN Game Jam with the theme “Shared Experience in an Alternate Universe,” our team of four developed a cooperative two-player experience built around communication and teamwork. The game features two distinct roles: the Sniper and the Runner. The Sniper begins stranded on a floating island above a lava pit, armed with a sniper rifle and a locked container nearby, while the Runner spawns on the main island below. The Runner must explore dangerous zones filled with enemies, searching for keys and puzzle elements, while the Sniper provides cover fire and guidance from above. Success requires players to solve multiple puzzles scattered across the map, relying on clear communication to coordinate actions. The ultimate goal is to free the Sniper from the floating island before the 8-minute timer runs out—otherwise, the island collapses into the lava, ending the game.
Contributions & Responsibilities
- Implemented core gameplay systems, including puzzle logic, player interactions, enemy spawning, and time-based objectives.
- Designed and scripted unique puzzle mechanics that required cooperation and communication between the two players.
- Coordinated tasks across the 4-person team, ensuring deadlines were met and responsibilities were clear throughout the jam.
- Conducted rapid playtests to refine mechanics, pacing, and balance within the 8-minute game loop.
Research Summary
Hanguir et al. (2024) show that designers can tune constraints and parameters so different strategies become more optimal as game conditions and environments change, encouraging players to adapt rather than repeat the same tactic making gameplay feel repetitive. In our Unreal Fest submission, we applied this idea by creating mechanics that rewarded players using varied approaches to shifting environments (Hanguir et al., 2024; Team Grey, 2025). Different enemies are prone to different types of guns, and players are required to use different strategies and think out of the box in order to progress through the game (Team Grey, 2025). These design choices were informed by Hanguir et al. which led us to winning first place in the category for “Best Multiplayer Game” (Hanguir et al., 2024; Team Grey, 2025).
References
- Epic Games, Inc. (n.d.). Unreal engine logo [Logo]. https://www.unrealengine.com
- Full Sail University. (n.d.). Full sail university logo [Logo]. https://www.fullsail.edu
- Hanguir, O., Ma, W., Han, J., & Ryan, C. T. (2024). Optimizing for strategy diversity in the design of video games. Mathematical Programming, 210 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10107-024-02126-8
- Team Grey. (2025). Shared experience in an Alternate universe [Video game].