Game Design at WVU Arcade

So, what's this game about?

In this 3d narrative adventure arcade game, you have purchased an actual arcade and need to get each machine working in order to prepare for opening day. Each game you "fix"/ get in working condition will launch its own game as well as provide juicy character backstory. Why did you buy a defunct arcade, abandoned in the 90s? What did you hope to accomplish in this tiny mountain town that you returned home to? Fixing the games also allows you to earn tickets to get prizes, because despite the fact that you own the place, you'd never think of being dishonest and just grabbing that prize for yourself. 

We wanted to make a game that highlighted the most interesting projects the students at West Virginia University have dreamed up since the Game Design and Interactive Media program's creation. This first compilation game is to celebrate our students, the program's anniversary, and help better support the mission of the studio (MonRiverGames): "to provide educational opportunities in game development to our members." Whether that's attending conferences or funding stipends, we want to be able to have an impact on our members' growth.

Games are made in West Virginia?

Yes! There's a few cooperative studios, contract studios, and for-profit studios. There's also- us!  We're a non profit community game development studio that works in close partnership with the Game Design and Interactive Media undergraduate program at West Virginia University (WVU). We were founded in 2021 during the pandemic as a space for students and community members to gain experience making games locally in a professional studio environment. Check out our website for more information.

How'd you pull this off?

In the summer of 2024, the MonRiverGames team members played through hundreds of WVU student work located in instructor google drive and through itch.io. Selections were made and invitations were sent to desired participants for permission to use their project. A second round of selections and invitations were also made in December 2024. Our development team formed to start creating the project in January 2025. We intend to use beta branches here on Steam to start testing as soon as possible and we'll onboard additional team members this Fall. Our anticipated release schedule is an Alpha for this summer, Beta by Christmas, and a more polished update by summer 2026. We'd really appreciate your support!