Ever wonder what your cats are up to when you're not home? Perhaps we have the answer, going on secret missions for their spy cats agency. Secrets are hiding behind every corner and things to be seen that aren’t to be found on the regularly beaten path. Want to experience their life for yourself? Here’s your chance. Explore the world through the eyes of the spy cats! Spy Cats is the most recent game we have developed here at MonRiverGames, and we are very excited to share it with you!
This project ended its development in May 2024. You can still enjoy the remastered version (and additional prototype level) inside of the Game Design at WVU arcade on Steam and the original version on itch.io for free!
Project Timeline
Spy Cats Original
Link to playable project on itch.io
This concept was first created in the Fall 2022 session. Each member started a specific level design as part of the overall concept. These levels were then mixed together. This was primarily handled by dnw0002@mix.wvu.edu[David Wolfe] and Nicholas Kowalski. Supporting development members for this project were Tessla Muir, Kayla Stein, and Zach Hubbard. Tessla Muir produced a web build for this project in January 2023.
This idea/pitch was selected/voted on from one of our first sessions of the semester. The idea initially came from Tessla Muir and was based on, “What if our cats are spies?” Each team member took this as a guiding theme while designing their own special level design or mechanic for it.
SpyCats Remastered
In the Spring 2023/Summer 2023 sessions, community and student members decided they wanted to try to make a remastered slice of the original Spy Cats to demo. It was felt that while the concept was great and original was fun, that we wanted a more polished and quick product to demonstrate at conventions and conferences. David Wolfe led this initiative, and was supported by members Joshua Robinson, Heather Cole, Madison Roy, Michael Morris, Zachary Hubbard, Tessla Muir, Tom Heckman, and Ted Eicher.
In the Fall 2023 session, student members were working towards creating a new level and overall design structure for this remastered version. The group’s community lead is Joshua Robinson and student lead is Colwyn Bordeaux. Members of this session’s project group also include: Ted Eicher, Tom Heckman, Lucas Stout, Brady Sayre, Jennifer Corona, Madeline Teel, Carter Kiss, and Frank Bonnano.
Credits
Fall 2023 Session:
Project Leaders
Joshua Robinson and Colwyn Bordeaux.
Student and Community Members
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Ted Eicher - Asset Creation and Design
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Tom Heckman - Coding, Implementation
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Lucas Stout - Level Design
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Brady Sayre - Development, Design
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Jennifer Corona - 2D Art, Asset Creation, Marketing Assistance
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Madeline Teel - 2D Art, Asset Creation
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Carter Kiss - Programming, Design
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Frank Bonnano - Programming, Design
Spring 2023/Summer 2023 sessions:
Project Leaders
David Wolfe, Joshua Robinson, and Heather Cole
Student and Community Members
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Madison Roy - Art Lead, Asset Creation, 2D Art
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Michael Morris -2D Art, Asset Creation
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Zachary Hubbard - Coding, Implementation, Programming
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Tessla Muir - Coding, Implementation, Programming, Sprite Creation
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Tom Heckman - Coding, Implementation, Programming
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Ted Eicher - Asset Creation, Concepting
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Ryan Lee Eicheldinger - Music
Additional credits:
“Continue with Confidence”, Background music for the one level demo, created by Ryan Lee Eicheldinger
Platform Jump Sound, Spy Cats, CC 0, https://freesound.org/people/Jofae/sounds/362328/
Ancient Egyptian Desert Music Free Pack, Spy Cats Desert Level, Standard Unity Asset Store License,
https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/audio/music/ancient-egyptian-desert-music-free-pack-131425
Spy Cat alternative sprites, initially created by Lauren Cook for Meowgantown MRG spring 2022 session and altered by fall 2022 session members.
Rat Sprite Sheet, Spy Cats, created by Malachi Ruffin
Enemy Mouse sprites, Spy Cats, created by Tory Webb-Johnson.
Desert Environment sprites, Spy Cats Desert Level, created by Nicholas Kowalski
Desert prop sprites, Spy Cats Desert Level, created by Nicholas Kowalski
Pottery Vase, Pixabay License, https://pixabay.com/vectors/pot-container-closed-lid-32715/
Pottery Vase(2), Pixabay License, https://pixabay.com/vectors/vase-pottery-flower-pot-roman-295341/
Narrative Elements- Lucas Stout was working in this area in the Fall 2023 session. Caleb Miller worked on the original story version.
Joud Sabag completed a UI/UX review of the demo during the Summer 2023 session. Feedback was used to polish the one level slice build further.
Tory Webb-Johnson and Emma Chase produced and managed content for this game/Fall2022 session via the MonRiverGames website, youtube channel, facebook, instagram, and twitter platforms.