Overview Description

Video games have come a long way in terms of development, from the simplistic Pong (1972) to the revolutionary Doom (1993), the greatest game of all time based on Metacritic, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) or the game that earned 800 million dollars in just first day, Grand Theft Auto V (2013), with their genres are sports, first-person-shooter, and action-adventure game , respectively. These games and their genres are among the most popular in the past and nowadays gaming scene, so you might have heard about them before. But today, our group will explore a less popular genre that is not entirely new, but only got much more prominent recently, bullet heaven, and introducing our fist game, abOveTHeskY

---

1.Product background

First, we have to understand that bullet heaven is a subgenre of bullet hell, or sometimes called as maniac shooter because of its insane difficulty and chaotic experience. Plainly explain, you dodge bullet and shoot enemies. Detailed version, we recommend you check out the most prolific fan-made series, the Touhou Project (1997) series (bad apple!!). bullet heaven, on the order hand, instead of trying to dodge enemy's projectiles, the player's character generates bullet to take out waves of enemies while the player moves. You can check out Vampire Survivors (2022) because it is more famous, but the writer of this recommend HoloCure - Save the Fans! (2023) because it is a lot more fun. For our game, abOveTHeskY is a pixel-art roguelike action game where players fight against endless waves of monsters. The game captivates players with its simple yet addictive gameplay, diverse upgrade system, and strategic depth.
This project was developed to meet the demand for quick entertainment, catering to players with limited time while still delivering an intense combat experience. The product aims to enhance game accessibility by optimizing gameplay, interface, and character progression systems.

• Objective:
  • Enhance player experience: Increase game appeal by expanding the skill system, equipment, and character variety.
  • Optimize character progression: Implement a balanced upgrade system that offers players more strategic choices.
  • Ensure a balance between challenge and reward: Adjust game difficulty to maintain player motivation in exploring and conquering levels.
• Vision:
  • Become a leading roguelike survival game: Expand the game’s scale and improve its quality to compete with top titles in the genre.
  • Build a sustainable gaming ecosystem: Continuously develop new content, including updates, game modes, and special events to maintain community engagement.
  • Expand to multiple platforms: Support various devices such as PC, consoles, and mobile to reach a broader audience.

This product aims not only to provide entertainment but also to foster a connected community where players can explore, share, and challenge themselves in a dark and thrilling world.

---

2.User characteristics

bullet heaven is known for its fast-paced, action-packed gameplay where players fend off endless waves of enemies while growing stronger over time. Therefore, our target audience consists of gamers who enjoy challenging yet rewarding experiences, particularly those who appreciate roguelike mechanics, progression systems, and skill-based gameplay.

• Demand:
  • People always crave new experiences that offer fresh challenges, unique power-ups, and interesting progression systems. So while many games already existed in this genre, we always seek innovation - whether in enemy variety, player abilities, or modes. Gamers have long fond the feeling of rapid power growth, where they start weak but become unstoppable as they collects and upgrades more. They want games provide an addictive loop of survival, strategy, and escalation. Not only mechanically satisfied, but also visually appealing, well-designed combat arenas with smooth motions that keep them immersed. A compelling art style, satisfying sound design, and well-balanced can make a bullet heaven game stand out.
• Behavior:
  • Players interact with abOveTHeskY through intuitive controls allow for fluid movement and attack execution. They must constantly dodge waves of enemies while strategically choosing upgrades to enhance their character's power. Because bullet heaven games often focus on survival and progression, players are expected to engage in repeated runs, experimenting with different builds and strategies to achieve better results. They often fond of comparing their best runs, completing in-game challenges, and sharing strategies online, therefore fostering a competitive yet cooperative community.
• Purpose:
  • The primary goal of abOveTHeskY is to provide players with an exhilarating, skill-driven experience where they can test their reflexes, strategy, and adaptability. The game offers a sense of achievement through progression - allowing players to refine their skills, unlock new abilities, and discover powerful synergies with each playthrough. Beyond entertainment, the game serves as a fun way for players to relieve stress, challenge themselves, and experience the thrill of chaotic yet controlled gameplay.

---

3.Product functions

We are aiming to create an engaging and action-packed bullet heaven game, abOveTHeskY, where players must survive relentless waves of enemies while progressively growing stronger. The game is designed to provide an addictive power-scaling experience, rewarding strategic choices and reflex-based gameplay.
We will divide the functions of the game into two divisions, Core features and Supporting features.

• Core features:
  • Dynamic Power Progression: Players start with basic abilities and progressively gain new weapons, upgrades, and power-ups throughout each run. These enhancements allow them to deal with increasingly difficult enemy waves, creating a satisfying loop of growth and escalation.
  • Diverse Enemy Waves & Boss Fights: The game features various enemy types, each with unique attack patterns and behaviors. As players advance, they will face intense boss battles that require skillful dodging and strategic decision-making to overcome.
  • Synergy-Based Upgrade System: Players can combine different power-ups to create unique and powerful synergies. This encourages experimentation and different playstyles, making each run feel fresh and rewarding.
• Supporting features:
  • Multiple Playable Characters: Players can choose from different characters, each with distinct abilities and stats, adding variety and replayability to the game.
  • Procedural Level Generation: Environments and enemy spawns change dynamically, ensuring that no two runs feel exactly the same.
  • Unlockable Content: Players can unlock new characters, weapons, and upgrades by achieving milestones, keeping them engaged and motivated to continue playing.
  • New Maps & Progressive Challenges: After beating the last map, players unlock new environments with different layouts, enemy formations, and challenges, providing fresh experiences and increasing difficulty.
  • Leaderboards & Achievements: A competitive ranking system and in-game achievements encourage players to push their limits and compare their progress with others.
  • Controller & Keyboard Support: The game offers flexible controls, allowing players to use a controller or keyboard, ensuring a smooth and comfortable gaming experience.

---

4.Constraints

• PC Hardware Variability: The game must run well on a wide range of PC hardware, from low-end systems to high-end gaming. This requires careful optimization for different CPU, GPU, and memory configurations.
• Resolution and Aspect Ratios: The game must support various screen resolutions and aspect ratios (e.g., 16:9, 21:9) to ensure compatibility with different monitors.
• Performance Optimization: The game must handle a large number of enemies, projectiles, and effects efficiently to avoid performance issues on lower-end systems.
• Development Timeline: Tight deadlines may limit the number of features that can be added.

---

5.Assumptions and Dependencies

• Assumptions:
  • Roguelike Appeal: The game assumes that players will appreciate procedurally generated levels and permadeath mechanics, which encourage replayability.
  • Minimalist Controls: The game assumes that players will find the simple control scheme (e.g., movement with keyboard or gamepad) engaging and accessible.
  • Target Audience: The game assumes that its target audience includes PC gamers who enjoy retro-style games, roguelikes, and casual gameplay sessions.
  • Competition: The game assumes it can stand out in the PC gaming market by offering a unique blend of simplicity and depth.
  • Tool Reliability: The game assumes that the chosen game engine (gamemaker) will be stable and capable of handling the game's requirements on PC.
  • Team Expertise: The game assumes that the development team has the necessary skills to implement core features like procedural generation, enemy AI, and progression systems.
• Dependencies:
  • Game Engine: The game depends on a game engine for core functionality like rendering, physics, and input handling.
  • Third-Party Tools: The game may rely on third-party tools for asset creation (Aseprite for pixel art), sound effects, or music.
  • Libraries and Plugins: The game may depend on libraries for features like particle effects, pathfinding, or save systems.
  • Player Feedback: The game may depend on early player feedback to refine mechanics, balance difficulty, or fix bugs.
  • Community Engagement: A strong community can drive word-of-mouth marketing and long-term player retention.

---

Conclusion

abOveTHeskY aims to deliver an exciting and immersive bullet heaven experience, offering players intense action, strategic decision-making, and rewarding progression. With its dynamic power-scaling mechanics, diverse enemy encounters, and unlockable content, the game provides endless replayability and a sense of achievement with every run. By combining fluid gameplay, engaging challenges, and visually captivating environments, abOveTHeskY is designed to keep players coming back for more. Whether they are casual players looking for a fun challenge or hardcore gamers seeking mastery, our game will provide an exhilarating and unforgettable experience.

---