Four University of Hawaiʻi students have created an online video game where players of all ages can explore a pixelated Windward Community College.
The role-playing game Windward Chicken Chasers can be played in English or Hawaiian. Players create an avatar, complete quests, catch chickens, and plant kalo.
The game also has practical features for UH students.
Walking through the different buildings takes the in-game avatar to various campus resources. There is also a planner to help keep track of school assignments.
The game started in the Instructional Development Services department. Patricia Brubaker is the creative director and a supervisor at the IDS department. She noticed the skillset of her student employees and wondered if they could create something fun for the school.
Alex Daraban, one of the artists behind the game, says the game was inspired by popular and relaxing video games such as Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley.
"The fact that it was such a small team and we only had one coder who was self-taught — a lot of the problems came around that. It’s hard for one person to do so much," Daraban tells HPR when asked about the difficulties of making the game.
The developer team's sole programmer recently left to study abroad in Spain. The remaining students are currently looking for a new student worker with coding experience.
The team is planning to add more mini-games and a field trip option in the future.
