Muncha

Introduction

Game Summary Pitch

Muncha is a fast-paced typing game where players control the growth of a lovable character named Muncha. By rapidly typing the names of increasingly absurd foods, players nourish Muncha, causing him to expand in size. Incorrect typing shrinks Muncha, adding a thrilling element of risk and reward. The ultimate goal is to grow Muncha as large as possible, competing for high scores and dominating leaderboards.

Inspiration

Osmos 

Osmos presents a similar concept of growth through consumption, albeit in a different genre. The core mechanic of absorbing smaller orbs to increase in size shares some parallels with Muncha's growth mechanic.

TypeRacer 

As a typing game, TypeRacer offers a direct influence on Muncha's core gameplay loop. The emphasis on speed and accuracy in typing is a fundamental aspect of both games.

Snake 

The classic game of Snake provides a basic framework for a growing entity. While Muncha's growth is more abstract, the concept of a character expanding in size based on actions is shared.

Player Experience

In Muncha, players will embark on a frantic, yet rewarding journey to grow their character, Muncha, to colossal proportions. The core gameplay loop of typing food names to increase size is simple to grasp, but mastering the art of rapid, accurate typing will be essential for achieving maximum growth. As Muncha expands, the challenge escalates, requiring players to adapt to increasingly complex food names and potentially introduce time constraints or obstacles to maintain engagement.

Platform

The game is developed to be released on Windows PC

Development Software

• Unreal Engine 5

Genre

Singleplayer, Typing Game

Target Audience

Muncha is designed to appeal to a broad audience. Casual gamers will enjoy the simple, addictive core mechanic of typing to grow. The emphasis on speed and accuracy provides a satisfying challenge for players seeking a more competitive experience. With its potential for high scores and leaderboards, Muncha can also engage hardcore gamers who enjoy pushing their limits and competing against others.

Concept

Gameplay overview

In Muncha, players control Muncha, a growing character who expands based on successful typing. The core gameplay revolves around rapidly typing food names displayed on the screen. Correct inputs cause Muncha to grow, while incorrect inputs result in shrinkage. The objective is to maximize Muncha's size within a given time or by reaching a specific growth target. As the game progresses, food names become more complex, increasing the challenge and requiring faster typing speeds. Additional game modes or challenges can be introduced to provide variety and replayability. 

Theme Interpretation (Built to Scale)

Built to Scale implies growth, expansion, and progression. In Muncha, this theme is embodied through the core mechanic of increasing Muncha's size by successfully typing food names.

The game's progression mirrors real-world scaling as players face increasingly complex challenges as Muncha grows larger. Faster typing speeds, more intricate food names, and potential obstacles represent the increasing demands placed on a growing entity.

By visually representing Muncha's growth and implementing corresponding audio cues, the game reinforces the concept of scaling, creating a satisfying and immersive experience for players.

Primary Mechanics

Food Variety: Expand on the food types to include different categories like fruits, vegetables, desserts, and even fictional foods for added fun.

Combo System: Implement a combo system to reward players for consecutive correct answers, increasing the growth rate for each consecutive correct word.

Difficulty Curves: Introduce gradual difficulty increases, such as faster typing speeds, longer words, or more complex word patterns.

Obstacles: While there won't be physical movement, consider visual obstacles like flickering letters or disappearing words to increase challenge.

Secondary Mechanics

Power-ups and Penalties: Introduce power-ups like "double points" or "slow-motion" and penalties like "letter reversal" or "word scramble" to add excitement and unpredictability.

Leaderboards: Implement online or local leaderboards to foster competition and replayability.

Customization: Allow players to customize Muncha's appearance or the game's background for personalization.

Art

Theme Interpretation

Given the fast-paced nature of the game, a vibrant and energetic color palette is essential. To avoid a visually overwhelming experience, a limited color scheme is recommended. Primary colors and their complementary shades can be used as a foundation, with black and white for contrast.

Design

A minimalist approach to character and environment design is crucial for maintaining focus on the core gameplay. Muncha should have a simple, rounded shape with large, expressive eyes. The game environment should be clean and uncluttered, using basic shapes and clear color distinctions. A low-poly art style for efficiency will be chosen.