Game Overview

Crazy Stingerette is a solo player driving game about a Stingerette driver on Tech campus. The point of the game is to pick up students and drop them off at their destinations all while avoiding the constant construction obstacles found all around the roads on Tech’s campus

Gameplay

Crazy Stingerette is played in an arcade style, where the player has the option to customize their vehicle (the Stingerette car) with different modifications based on how many coins they have accumulated so far or if they decide to make a monetary purchase. The player is placed in a generated digital version of Georgia Tech campus and can drive around endlessly, picking up students and dropping them off day in and day out. Each person they drop off rewards them with points/coins that can be used for customizations of the Stingerette vehicle (only usable in arcade mode).

The arcade mode will also have a normal and hard mode feature. The normal mode will include the concept of driving a Stingerette vehicle with the mechanics already so far mentioned, however, hard mode will allow the player the option to play as a Stinger bus driver, allowing them to pick up more students in one sitting. Now, they must be more wary of how they turn and avoid obstacles, since they’re driving a larger mode of transportation that isn’t as agile as a normal van/car (hence why it is the “hard” mode).

Setting

The setting of the game will be a digital representation of Georgia Tech’s entire Atlanta campus and parts of Midtown. The obstacles included will be construction vehicles, props, and detours found throughout our everyday travel around the campus in reality. Certain obstacles, such as the construction vehicles will be able to move, forcing the player to make split-second decisions and constantly stay aware of their in-game surroundings, making sure they don’t get hit, losing points. Throughout the playthrough, players will go through a day/night cycle with obstacle visibility becoming increasingly difficult as the sun goes down. An additional function is the change in speed levels.

Mechanics

             

In terms of central mechanics that haven’t already been mentioned, the player will have access to a mini map to aid in transporting students to their destinations and picking up any students that need a ride. Controls for mobile devices will consist of a button layout with choice of using only buttons and a thumb stick to maneuver the vehicle or a button and screen tilting system. On desktop players will use the normal “WASD” to move around within the game.

Inspiration/Issue

Our game explores the Stingerette rideshare system on the Georgia Tech Atlanta Campus. Specifically on the final's week, the demand for rideshare increases, as students that study until late time in different parts of the campus away from their dorms need to come back home, and the estimated time can be very long, and usually unprecise, resulting in several minutes waiting for transport. In addition, the bus system (Stinger Bus) does not work after 2.a.m., thus, there are no other free options other than Stingerette. During finals week this generates an inconvenient stress after spending hours studying for tests and expecting to go back home as soon as possible to rest as much before the exam.

After asking the opinions of students outside the classroom on campus about the Stingerette system, one of the main complaints we received was their unpredictability when it comes to pick up times. They are usually late, sometimes on time, and very rarely early.  This can make the already stressful life of a college student even more stressful. This of course, can not all be attributed to the drivers themselves, but also obstacles like construction on campus that prevent them from picking students up on time. In an attempt to model this situation, we have created this game with you, the player, as the driver to truly understand the situation.

Concept Art

Nighttime Delivery

Soundtrack

Bluegrass banjo - country banjo (Plays throughout each playthrough, it speeds up as you run out of time when dropping off students).
Escape From The City (Instrumental) - Sonic Adventure 2 [OST] (This is our in-game lobby menu music).

Research

Public opinion on Stingerettes: 

After asking the opinions of students on campus, the general consensus about Stingerettes is that they are very unpredictable when it comes to pick up times. They are usually late, sometimes on time, and very rarely early.   

How construction affects traffic: 

While construction on campus is something that is often necessary and good for the public, it is important to mitigate the disruption it causes. Some of the negative effects caused by construction are “ These adverse impacts include (1) delays and traffic congestion caused by the additional traffic volume of construction traffic, (2) loss of parking spaces, (3) additional traffic conflict points at construction access and egress gates and (4) safety hazards associated with moving heavy equipment and oversized loads” (97, Hyari Et al.). These are obstacles that can make it hard for the stingerette system to work as efficiently as its supposed to.

Framework for Managing the Traffic Impacts of BuildingConstruction Projects.pdf    

Benefits of campus transportation:

This article focuses on TDM which means Transportation Demand Management. “TDM strategies seek to reduce or mitigate the negative aspects of automobile travel including congestion, air quality, and transportation inequity.”(126, Bond and Steiner) working to implement TDM strategies is useful for creating more viable and efficient options for transportation on campus. Its also good for the environment as it shifts students from using single occupied vehicles to those occupied by multiple people like vans or buses, thus reducing air pollution. This also allows for more housing options for students who don't have a car as well as more room to build academic buildings instead of parking lots.

Sustainable Campus Transportation through Transit Partnership and Transportation Demand Management: A Case Study from the University of Florida

*Beware, some of the images and visual content was created with the help of Generative AI and is only to be used as a mockup/frame of reference; it is not indicative of the final product.*

Rationales

Individual Rationales