A 2D sidescroller, which satirises 90's TV sitcoms. The game features a branching narrative, which serves as the core driving aspect of game play - players must unlock all the possible plot and narrative possibilities by completing the levels with all combinations of characters.

The game mechanics follow the formula of Super Mario World, where the MC takes a 'journey' - a string of pearls narrative, as he reaches the inevitable ending of the game. 'Anatomy of a Sitcom Plot Recipe', creating a multi-branching tree of 'what if' single narratives that the player is in control of unlocking – this is the purpose of the game.

Players take control of an ensemble team of 6 unique characters, which are all players at the same time and cycled through by the player as they traverse each level - similar to 'Little Big World'. Each character is based on typical TV character tropes:

• The eccentric head case
• The quiet pragmatic loner
• The over-sensitive dumb muscle head
• The self-righteous cynic
• The ideal hero
• The clumsy girl next door

Players begin in a game lobby, where you select which character starts off. The game always begins and ends in this central location, with the same characters - much like an episodic TV sitcom. What makes the game interesting is the 'butterfly effect'-like theme, which changes levels and narratives slightly or drastically. Each time a player completes a narrative in a unique way - a different narrative unfolds, with different levels unlocked.

The levels take after the narrative formula, in the form of Acts:

• Act I: The Introduction. This will be the same level in every new beginning, with small subtle details altered with every character. These subtleties become more noticeable as more narratives are unlocked
• Act II: Incident. Something occurs.
• Act III: The Journey.
• Act IV: The Twist.
• Act V: The Heroic Struggle.
• Act VI: The 'Ending'.

Each 'level' may be the same in same cases, or lead to completely new levels and plot developments, depending on the circumstances of how the level was reached. Much like TV sitcoms back in the day, will feature the full spectrum of TV known tropes - ranging from ridiculous OTT sci-fi situations, romance tropes, and 4th wall breaking meta (i.e. the game characters are self-aware, know they are game characters).

In this game, no one really 'dies', but lead to one of many possible endings. Of course, if all your characters die, or you find yourself following the exact same path, you purpose of unlocking all narrative and endings will be effectively stymied. This is how the game handles the staple concept of 'lives' in video game lore - you don't every experience a 'game 'over' screen, but practically you never finish.

Essentially this game explores all things memorable able TV sitcoms of the 1990s. It is deliberately methodical in approach, and out rightly uses the stale, linear format, and to explore how this exact constraint made TV sitcoms so diverse.

Platform: Gaming consoles: Microsoft Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Wii U.
Target Audience: Young Adults/ Adults.

Reference Images:
http://www.moviefone.com/2015/10/23/the-breakfast-...
https://gifsoup.com/view/888126/senor-chang-paintb...