March 28, 2023
ArtCenter College of Design Students' Immersive Video Game Takes Centerstage at Prestigious International Game Developers Conference
Wacky, struggling food truck story unfolds in an arcade on wheels as players dive in to a magical physical game world with innovative gameplay
"Kitchen Kauldron" won the 2023 alt.ctrl.GDC Audience Award at the Game Developers Conference.
A group of game creators from ArtCenter College of Design presented their original game, “Kitchen Kauldron,” at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), a prestigious annual conference for video game developers at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco from March 20 to 24, 2023.
“We’re extremely proud of this talented team of seven game designers and concept artists who came up with a wildly innovative approach to this wacky and wonderful cooperative game,” said Ken Bielenberg, acting chair, Entertainment Design, ArtCenter College of Design. “The genius of this game concept is that it takes place in an actual physical space which was important to the students especially because they developed the project during the pandemic. Students built a magical, immersive world with fun, physical props that they scavenged, designed, and 3D printed within the interior of a beaten down trailer parked on the ArtCenter campus.”
The creative team expertly navigated the intersections of alternative controllers, themed entertainment and game design. GDC organizers praised the original game for featuring an innovative alternative game controller crystal ball device.
“While our “Kitchen Kauldron,” team members have strengths in their respective fields, they’ve never worked together as a whole to create a game, yet alone an entire immersive physical experience that embodied the co-op game itself,” said Justin Finuliar, project mentor and assistant professor. “Despite this, through experimentation and tinkering, together we created a charming, magical fantasy-food-truck business.”
“Kitchen Kauldron” players join Wendy the Witch's crew and help turn a struggling magical food venture around as they embark through a gamified food truck experience. Working together, players take and make orders throughout various magical lands.
The game, “Kitchen Kauldron,” delivers an entirely immersive physical adventure for three players who enter the magical fantasy food truck world that delights all those who decide to help Wendy the Witch and her struggling business. Players inhabit the roles of a server, a barista and a chef.
The progression of the story moves through three different lands. The first stop is at the Mellow Marsh Retirement Home where a slow and patient team of old folks encounter grumpy nurses. Next, at the hottest music festival in all the realms, Shroomchella, Wendy wants to capitalize on all the inebriated youngsters who have the munchies. Players are warned to not slack off as orders begin to pile up. Finally, the favorite food editorial corporation Hydohub is where Wendy believes her food truck business will bring much needed public attention and big corporate money.
The creators of “Kitchen Kauldron” are
● Simon Smith, game designer and lead programmer
● Sammy Gerolaga, game designer and producer
● Avery Taylor, game designer and fabricator
● Stella Golden, writer, voice actor, concept artist and character designer
● Nicholas Huang, concept artist who came up with the style guide, developed environments and game mascot, Wendy the Witch.
● Jenelle Yuan, concept designer who designed the ingredients, food and some of the characters
● Wilson Huang, concept designer and producer
● Justin Finuliar, project mentor who helped direct the game production
In 2022, "Kitchen Kauldron” was nominated for an IndieCade Award in the Live Action category.
Game Design is the third curricular track in the Entertainment Design department that also offers tracks in Concept Design and Animation. ArtCenter’s Game Design program prepares students to create and convey game concepts through prototyping and production for multiple platforms. Students explore all aspects of video game design with training in user experience, programming, design languages, and the production process. With a focus on hands-on experience, students have ample opportunity to practice navigating artistic expression, worldbuilding, storytelling and level design. They also get a chance to tackle real-world challenges to solve complex design problems.
Combined, the three tracks in Entertainment Design create an exciting production ecosystem for working on collaborative projects such as video game prototypes and animated shorts. These projects reinforce the need to work in a team and simulate real-world production pipelines. The Entertainment Design program is unique in that it culminates in a bachelor of science degree, not a bachelor of arts. This underscores the confluence of storytelling, gameplay and visual development alongside the technical rigor required for success. Alumni work in the video game, animation, theme park, live-action film/television and toy design industries. Graduates have been sought out by leading companies such as Pixar, Disney, Dreamworks, Sony Pictures Animation, Blur, 343, Riot Games, Paramount, Activision Blizzard, Santa Monica Studio, Netflix, and Marvel.
For more information about admissions requirements related to the Game Design track, visit artcenter.edu/admissions or call 626 396-2373.
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About ArtCenter
Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education. ArtCenter offers 11 undergraduate and 10 graduate degrees in a wide variety of art and design disciplines. In addition to its top-ranked academic programs, the College also serves the general public through a highly regarded series of year-round online and on campus extension programs for all levels of experience. Renowned for both its ties to industry and its social impact initiatives, ArtCenter is the first design school to receive the United Nations’ Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status. Throughout the College’s long and storied history, ArtCenter alumni have had a profound impact on popular culture, the way we live and important issues in our society.
Contact
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ArtCenter College of Design
teri.bond@artcenter.edu
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Emily Logan
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ArtCenter College of Design
emily.logan@artcenter.edu
626 396-2206 office
