【Game Development】Personal Ideation Exercise

NAME: LEE XIN YI, CINDY | STUDENT ID: 0373299 | PROGRAMME: BACHELOR'S OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING



Introduction

In a world where cooking has been fully automated, one young dreamer dares to challenge the machines to prove to the world that cooking is an irreplaceable art. This story-driven pixel RPG blends narrative choices with strategic cooking battles, where every decision influences the outcome of the journey. At its core, the game challenges players to explore the tension between human creativity and a world that has surrendered to automated conformity.

Gameplay & Mechanics

X

Core Elements

→ Exploration, discovery, and competition
  • Explore towns and hidden areas
  • Uncover secret recipes
  • Battle AI cooking bots
O

Player Activities

→ Interactive gameplay mechanics
  • Interact with environment items
  • Experiment with ingredients
  • Unlock new dishes
  • High-stakes competitions

Cooking Battle System

→ Strategic cooking challenges
  • Combine skills and timing
  • Strategic ingredient use
  • Outperform NPC opponents

Branching Storylines

→ Player choices matter
  • Choices affect narrative
  • Unique outcomes
  • Recipe usage impacts story

Inspirational Game References

Video:   Stardew Valley Year 1 Week 1 (Spring) - Relaxing Gameplay | Longplay | No Commentary by Marigold Longplays on Apr 20, 2022

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Video:   5 Minutes of Overcooked Gameplay - E3 2016 by IGN on Jun 16, 2016

Watch full video ↗

Stardew Valley

→ Pixel art RPG inspiration
  • Blends farming, exploration, storytelling
  • Simple mechanics with depth
  • Player-driven progression
  • Lighthearted yet meaningful tone
  • Inspiration for pixel aesthetics

Overcooked

→ Cooking game inspiration
  • Fast-paced, chaotic kitchen challenges
  • Highlights urgency and decision-making
  • Inspiration for competitive cooking
  • Adapted for AI battles

Challenges & Concerns in Development

!

Design Challenges

→ Narrative and guidance
  • Witty hints and dialogue design
  • Guiding players toward endings
  • Multiple meaningful endings
?

Balance Issues

→ Difficulty and engagement
  • Balancing NPC cooking bot difficulty
  • Challenge without frustration
  • Engaging gameplay experience

Narrative Integration

→ Story and gameplay balance
  • Heavily text-driven narrative
  • Keeping gameplay engaging
  • Balancing story with interaction

Market Potential & Sustainability

Initial Appeal

→ Universal and timely themes
  • Food culture = universally relatable
  • AI and automation = hot theme
  • Strong viral potential

Sustainability Concerns

→ Long-term engagement
  • Engagement drop after all endings
  • Need for replay value

Longevity Strategies

→ Extending game lifespan
  • Seasonal updates with new content
  • DLC featuring global cuisines
  • Community-driven content

Conclusion

In conclusion, the game should be more than just about food and cooking at its core. Instead, the story should be about rediscovering human passion in a world that has chosen convenience over creativity. Through a combination of narrative choice, exploration and competitive cooking battles, the game seeks to offer players an experience that is both engaging and thought-provoking while witnessing how the story unfolds. Ultimately, it reminds us that cooking is not merely an act to survive from starving ourselves, but more likely an expression of culture, memory and soul.

Cooking is not just about feeding the body, but nourishing the soul.
To next blog: https://cindyleexy2818.blogspot.com/2025/10/game-developmentpersonal-asset-creation.html

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