Introduction

As part of the Digital Entertainment Technology (DET) program in Nanyang Polytechnic, we have semester projects in which students form teams to conceptualize a game, create their own engine, play-test the game and carry out basic logistics in a development team. Dungeon Revival is our first OpenGL 3D game and a testament to the effort and dedication put in by us despite being freshly graduated from secondary school and having a tight schedule.

Dungeon Revival is a hybrid of the classics Pac-Man (Namco) and Doom (Id Software). It has the player assume the role of a carefree character, Uru-chan, who was framed by a corrupt official and thrown into the depths of the prison dungeon. As corruption in the kingdom is rife, our character finds an opportunity to escape: a guard in the prison sets him free and promises to let him take the lift to the level’s exit if he collects all the coins scattered throughout the dungeons.

As the character moves through the dungeon, he will encounter guards who will try to apprehend him. The only weapons for Uru-chan to defeat his enemies are colored gems also scattered around. Traps (blinding oil, teleporter) are built into the prison to ensure it will not be all smooth-sailing for any inmate trying to escape.

Our game revolves around the idea of the lift always taking Uru-chan up one level of the dungeon where another desperate guard is eager to let him use the next lift for a small fee. It challenges the player’s dexterity to move through the maze in a given time limit. Along the way, careful pre-planning of a path through the level and the ability to quickly notice traps are crucial.

This is an account of the project; challenges, successes and lessons learnt by the student developer team, Mikonos Studio.

Mikonos Studio is a team of second-year students enrolled in the Digital Entertainment Technology Diploma from Singapore’s Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP). The team is made up of four very dedicated and active people, namely, Hansel Koh, (team leader), Nigel Low (lead programmer), Chen RenHao (audio person + marketing), and Melissa Lim (designer + artist).