Contributions:

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Pre-Production Phase:

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• Co-designed the original game concept and core gameplay loop, establishing the creative vision for the game.

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(Driven by the jam's "Contrast" theme, our team conceptualized a "Dream vs. Nightmare" setting. The core gameplay emerged from exploring mechanical contrast, leading us to the power reversal dynamic of Pac-Man. This inspired our core loop, where the player and monster switch roles, creating a tense game of cat-and-mouse.)

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Production Phase:

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• Owned the implementation of the core "Dream and Nightmare" mode system in Unreal Engine 5 using Blueprints, creating the fundamental mechanic that governed the switch in gameplay and behaviour for the player and the monster.

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• Architected a unified health component for both the player and monster, establishing a single source of truth for game-critical stats. This promoted code reusability, streamlined the workflow for other developers, and ensured consistent damage behaviour across all entities.

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• Balanced the core mode-switching mechanic, tuning Dream mode to a brief 15-second respite and Nightmare mode to a tense 45-second hunt. This intentional 1:3 ratio amplified the horror by extending periods of player vulnerability and tension, while making the short-lived Dream mode feel like a critical and empowering reward, thereby heightening the core theme of contrast.

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• Established the game's visual language through UI/UX, designing distinct, recognizable icons for key items and a clean HUD layout. This ensured players could parse vital information at a glance without distracting from the core action.

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Official Recognition:

Below is the official Ukie article featuring all three winners, including Bartholomew.exe:

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https://ukie.org.uk/news/meet-the-2025-ukie-student-game-jam-winners/

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