Coffee Chaos

A short Twine-produced barista simulator.

Time Frame: 3/1/22-3/18/22 (~3 weeks)
Skills:
- Game Development
- Game Design
- HTML/CSS
- Javascript
Tools: Twine, Procreate, & Illustrator

For the final project for ENGL M138.2: Gaming Experiments and Multimedia Scripting at UCLA, I created a short visual novel game using Twine based on my experience being a barista at a corporate coffee chain.

Design Phase

Mechanics - Pathing

The game is built on Twine so it is a simple point and click visual novel. You will start over if you make a mistake. The story works as paths that can loop, move forward, and end the game

Building paths in the software

Mechanics - Timer

To simulate the fast paced environment of a cafe, a timer was implemented. Inspired by the timer used in the Twine game Queers in Love at the End of the World.

Example Code

How it looks in-game

Failing to reach time

Creating Art Assets

Inspired by the look of Corporate Memphis for the character creator.

Playtesting

Friends provided feedback:
- Simulated the experience for users who were baristas and illuminated the experience to those who weren’t.
- They enjoyed the character creator and spotted the art style easily.
- All pathways led to its proper target, but some typos had to be corrected.

Play It Here

Reflections
Introduction to Twine

Other than the week spent on Twine Poetics for the course, it was my only other time using the software and I’m proud of what I was able to accomplish with it.

Capacity & Scope

I learned a lot about what I am able to accomplish within the timeframe. Creating artwork for the entire project and writing more scenarios would be too time-consuming, so only making art for the character creator and stopping the game after ~10 scenarios were decisions I had to make. This involved communication with my professor and coming to agreements over the scope of the final.

Further Development

There is so much room for extension into a longer game. One could be more CSS elements and artwork to stylize the game. Working in a team setting would be amazing. I have friends who do music and sound design that would create that would add the chaotic noises that go into being a barista. Additionally, friends made recommendations on writing from their own barista experience that would make for great collaboration.