Jason Fennell Portfolio
Games
Working with various teams of developers, I have gained experience in almost every facet of game development, from sprite art to quality assurance to game design document upkeep. My primary fields of interest, however, are gameplay design and level design. As a solo developer, I like to create games with colorful visuals, easy-to-understand gameplay, and a boatload of charm. Below are some of my favorite projects that I've worked on over the past three years.
Bratricide
Role: Solo Developer (Designer, Programmer, Artist, Writer)
Latest Release: October 31st, 2024
Engine: p5.js (JavaScript)
Platform: itch.io
Trailer: YouTube
Soundtrack: YouTube
Protect your ant colony from the evil little boy Bratrick who has the power of the magnified sun at his disposal. Collect grapes, avoid foxglove, and prepare yourself for all-out backyard warfare in this simple but addicting real-time strategy game!
Bratricide has three levels, each with different challenges, as well as a highscore-based Endless Mode. It also has an original soundtrack with 7 songs from composer Natalie Dolan. Working with a musician to round out the overall aesthetic was a fun learning experience and it has given me insight into yet another aspect of game development.
T0-B1 Through Time
Role: Level Designer, Narrative Designer
Original Release: June 2024
Engine: Unreal Engine 5
Trailer: YouTube
Created for my Senior Capstone project, T0-B1 Through Time is an action game in which T0-B1 (Toby) the robot must jump between different eras to stop a cult of librarians from resurrecting their ancient god and shattering the intelligibility of linear time. In addition to writing and creating a majority of the cutscenes in the game, I also designed the first level, which is set in an abandoned subway station based on Chicago's Red Line. In the gallery, you can see my process for creating the level - how it progressed from a rough sketch to a basic blockout to a polished, final build.
Climate Cleaner
Climate Cleaner is a frenetic action game that sees protagonist Dr. Terra taking on huge hordes of sentient greenhouse gases in the post-apocalyptic city Industria. As the lead programmer, I created a highly modular infrastructure which allowed for levels to have randomly-generated elements (position of obstacles, enemy spawn locations, etc.) while still letting designers adjust important parameters (time limit, arena size, etc.).
Climate Cleaner was created during my internship with IndieCade for their annual Climate Game Jam. It was the first time that I had worked with a completely remote development team, which was a challenging but valuable experience. In addition to conceptualizing, programming, and bugtesting mechanics for my group's game, I also gave meaningful feedback to other development teams as part of my internship.
Fat Usagi
Role: Lead 2D Artist, Designer
Original Release: June 2024
Engine: Unity (C#)
Awards: Honor for Creativity
Fat Usagi is an arcade-style game created for the 2nd Annual Trident x DePaul Game Jam, which was a collaboration between Trident College in Nagoya, Japan and DePaul University in Chicago, USA. At the beginning of the jam's 48-hour run, participants were split into groups, each of which had five Japanese students and two American. Creating a game under a strict time limit while also overcoming a significant language barrier was an incredibly unique experience. My group, Team Budou, created a dodge-'em-up in which you play as a rabbit that balances a diet of carrots while avoiding the police. After presenting our game in front of the Trident College upperclassmen and professors, we were presented with the Honor for Creativity, one of two awards given out at the jam.
Solarus
Solarus is a narrative-heavy platformer in which Marl the lizard sets out on a quest to protect his planet from an oncoming meteorite. As the player travels through several different biomes, they will encounter NPCs, learn more about the game's lore, and begin to question their own motivations. When Marl reaches the end of the game, he is faced with a choice of apocalytic consequences: Should he save the world that lied to him about everything or let the meteorite burn it all down as an act of passive retribution?
Invertigo
Invertigo is a physics-based, 3D puzzler that lets the player change the direction of gravity. Working as part of a team, I created a playtesting methodology which included interview questions and a light script that left room for spontaneous conversation about the game's flaws and strengths. We conducted playtests over the span of a few weeks, seeking out a diverse group of playtesters with varying levels of video game experience. Then, we compiled the data from the playtests into an easily-digestible report which the developers used to improve Invertigo and get a better sense of direction for future development.
The Wandering Caveman
Role: Solo Developer (Designer, Artist, Writer)
Original Release: March 2024
Engine: Bitsy
Platform: itch.io
The Wandering Caveman is a cute, humorous Bitsy game about prehistoric creatures. I have extensive experience in Bitsy, having made everything from murder mysteries to deconstructed dating simulators. Working within the engine's strict limitations is a great way to become better at pixel art and game writing because it forces designers to make the most of scant resources. In this particular game, you control Gruggle the caveman in his quest to find some semblance of meaning in his lazy, lollygagging life.
Ghoul-B-Gone
Role: Lead Programmer, Level Designer, Gameplay Designer
Original Release: November 2022
Engine: Unity (C#)
Ghoul-B-Gone is an action platformer where you play as a real estate agent who has the less-than-envious task of selling a haunted house. Armed with only a Holy Water Super Soaker, you need to take out as many ghosts as you can within a time limit in order to make the house as normal as possible before it goes to market. The platforming features an unconventional physics system in which the player can't jump very high, but can gain a lot of height and momentum by running up ramps.
Oil Spill!
Role: Lead Game Design Document Editor, Gameplay Designer
Original Release: November 2021
Platform: Analog
Oil Spill! is an asymmetrical analog game that can be produced for free with any materials available. One player controls the powerful oil rig, with the goal of spreading their toxic oil to the shoreline. The other players control cleaning boats, with the goal of surrounding the oil rig and containing the spill. To spice up the nautical-themed gameplay, there are buoys that grant cards when flipped over, sea creatures in need of rescue, and a High Tide/Low Tide system which changes the movement options available to all players. Striking just the right balance between simplicity and complexity, Oil Spill! is a great family game that also teaches players about the potential hazards of offshore drilling.
Sphere of Influence
Role: Solo Developer (Designer, Programmer, Artist, Writer)
Release Date: TBA
Engine: Unity (C#)
In Sphere of Influence, your goal is to become friends with all 8 billion people on planet Earth. You control a green hoop that can swing back and forth utilizing a momentum-based physics system, collecting friend dots along the way. Tactically change your best friend in order to get a better vantage point to meet new people, as well as to read unique dialogue from a colorful cast of characters.
The game is playable from start to finish, with three levels that escalate in size and complexity. However, I still plan to continue working on Sphere of Influence to add more levels and increase accessibility.
