HELL ON WHEELS!

Inspiration

I'm a wheelchair user and I want to bring awareness to the challenges that we face, especially on campus.

What it does

Hell on Wheels is a game based on the endless runner format where the player must try to dodge obstacles as they try to traverse campus on the run from a well-meaning ableist trying to push their chair without consent. (fun fact: this can break people's fingers. don't do this.) If the player runs into an obstacle, they must complete a minigame that simulates the issues that wheelchair users might face trying to get through accessibility obstacles. It's a simplified version of the experience, but a version nonetheless. Controls are simple, with the up and down arrows to move, space to complete minigames, and F for fullscreen.

How we built it

It was built in Gamemaker in the GML language, similar to JavaScript and C++. We also made our own soundtrack in FL Studio and our own pixel art in Procreate.

Challenges we ran into

Challenges we ROLLED into included learning how to use Gamemaker for the first time and compatibility issues with previous experience with Java and C (it's so close to the language, yet so far...) In addition, the endless runner format conflicted with the minigame features we wanted to add. We resolved this by making room transitions and adaptable objects in GML.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

This is our first game! Plus, two of three of our team members are new to &hacks and hackathons in general. We're proud of being able to carry out the idea and realize our artistic vision.

What we learned

We learned a new language and how to collaboratively scope a video game in a short amount of time. Also importantly, we learned how to innovate easy-to-play ways to simulate the various issues of mobility aid users, and that involved human-computer interaction and design thinking.

What's next for HELL ON WHEELS

New locations and obstacles for our Twamp protagonist to traverse! For example, one minigame that was cut for time was a maze minigame that would simulate trying to find a way around an insurmountable obstacle like stairs or a broken wheelchair lift. Additional accessibility features are also important for a game about accessibility. We'd also like to include different difficulty modes, including an impossible W&M mode. Dun dun dun... Much like our Twamp, this game still has many places to go.

Built With

• gamemaker
• gml