Mall Mayhem | Devpost

Inspiration

Mall Mayhem was inspired by similar games I created in other worlds, but I challenged myself to amplify the fun and intensity to create a game that’s much more engaging, fast-paced, and competitive than a typical scavenger hunt. I also loved the idea of a mall world — it takes me back to my childhood. It’s a place where I’d want to play and connect with my friends.

What it does

In Mall Mayhem, players explore a beautiful mall while searching for items on their shopping list. The shopping list is a custom UI for mobile users, and each item is a picture (instead of words) for greater fun and inclusiveness. There's a time limit to add excitement: no game lasts longer than 5 minutes. Powerups give players increased speed or jumping ability, and traps slow players down — or even send the current first-place player to the bathroom! Any player who finds all 5 items during a single game is declared a winner and rewarded with a visit to the Arcade, where they can play a mini game or teleport to the roof to shoot fireworks. Leaderboards, quests, and selfie spots prompt social engagement. A lobby zone serves as a gathering spot between games; it has player stats, leaderboards, and visual guides to playing Mall Mayhem.

How I built it

I combined many tools and skills in Mall Mayhem, starting with the Horizon platform, including Typescript and Custom UI. I spent several weeks grayboxing the world with primitive shapes so I could hone the game concept before building and importing the custom assets built in Blender and Gimp Photo Editing. Playtesters provided great feedback.

Challenges I ran into

My background is in 3D art, music, and game design, so the complexities of coding, conceptualizing, and debugging in Typescript really challenged me. At times it felt like I was just troubleshooting code errors nonstop, but I was determined to learn. With dedicated study and trial-and-error, I’m now a far more proficient scripter than I was before this project.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

I’m most proud of my new knowledge of Typescript, Custom UI, and mobile optimization, and I’m excited to apply it in new worlds and enhancements to Mall Mayhem. I’m also proud of how my 3D skills help me optimize complex graphics, allowing players to enjoy a smooth, responsive mobile game experience within a rich and detailed setting. And I’m proud of the iterative and methodical process I used to create and refine the world design, game mechanics, scoring systems and leaderboards, and the player experience overall.

What I learned

I learned how to design a game for greater effectiveness and efficiency, and how to optimize code and graphics. Rigorous playtesting helped me hone the custom UI to give players helpful information without distracting from core gameplay. I experimented with several ideas and features, testing and learning, and keeping only the best elements. Building a high-quality game is a complicated process; I learned to trust myself, be patient, and keep learning. So many things are possible with Meta Horizon.

What's next for Mall Mayhem

I’m promoting Mall Mayhem across social platforms, inviting new players and old friends to join our mobile community. I’m excited to update the world with new powerups, obstacles, and items for players to find. I’ll bring new mini-games into the arcade zone, and add fun seasonal themes. I’ll enhance player engagement with new quests and rewards. And I’m planning a team mode that will reward cooperation.