Disparity Games, known for Run Fatty Run on iTunes and Google Play, has 18 days left to meet the $35,000 goal for one of their newest projects: Ninja Pizza Girl (NPG). Gamers play as Gemma, the ninja pizza girl, through various levels that “[adjust] to the player’s skill level while rewarding improvement,” according to their Kickstarter page. The story focuses on “bullying, emotional resilience and the importance of boundaries” that aren’t normally seen as the focus of most video games. It’s a fresh take on a new game – with an old problem.
With all the commercials on TV about ending the vicious bullying cycle, this game is right on the money with the U.S. audience. Bullying is a real problem, and this game aims to encourage resilience. For example, when Gemma messes up by not avoiding an obstacle or falling, other ninjas stop and laugh at her as the background goes gray and ugly. When Gemma’s “on a roll”, the background becomes a vibrant neon rainbow of colors.
Gemma’s world is fast-paced, timed (since no one wants a cold pizza delivered to their house), and side-scroll. According to their Kickstarter page, NPG “draws inspiration from Mirror’s Edge and the Sega 16-bit classic Sonic The Hedgehog.” The best part is that it’s based off of a girl’s real life experiences – and her family is a part of Disparity Games!
Jason Stark, the dad, programmer and design guy for the project, spoke about his daughter and how the game came to fruition in an exclusive video on the Kickstarter page. She was taking a kung-fu class, working as a pizza delivery girl, and she’d come home telling a wide array of stories about her job. Ultimately, this led to Ninja Pizza Girl.
His wife, Nicole Stark, who does art direction and design for the game, had this to say: “A teenage girl’s greatest enemies are other teenagers…and herself.” One of their four daughters, Raven Stark, also helps with the project. She helps with the concept, comic and cutscene art. According to the video, Raven believes that “there’s no point in making a game that’s no fun.
With 865 backers and counting, Ninja Pizza Girl needs $14,532 Australian Dollars to meet their goal. Backers who have pledged received anything from a simple mention in the official NPG forum to a custom appearance in the game, along with a credit as an executive producer! Be sure to check out their Kickstarter page, try out their free demo, and maybe give a dollar to help the cause.
Published: Jul 25, 2014 01:24 pm