The Healing Tree by The Taywild is an artgame platformer prototype exploring themes of how communities can help foster therapy of grief and trauma.
Developed in 14 weeks for Abertay University's 2023 DES310 module.
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About
The Great Dream Tree is covered with brambles and weeds, and you just so happen to have the power to clear them away. Traverse the branches of the tree, help its residents with their woes and decorate any space of it you want to! Together, through willpower and empathy, you and the residents can not only heal yourselves, but the tree itself.
Gameplay
Adventure around the Great Dream Tree with a variety of different mechanicsLearn about the tree's residents and help them growClear away thorns and pluck weeds on the goDecorate any part of the tree that you pleaseHelp the tree grow stronger through your actionsFeatures
A cosy pastal art style with relaxing music to suitExperience calming and cathartic gameplayBefriend the residents of the tree, learning about their own personal lives and woesControls
Movement| Key | What it does |
| A/D or Left/Right Arrows | Move left and right. |
| Space | Jump. Jump while in the air to double jump. You will start gliding while you fall. |
| S or Down Arrow (hold) | (While falling) Cancel gliding. |
| Mouse | Left click (hold) on a bramble or weed and pull back to tear it out! |
| Key | What it does |
| Tab | Enter decoration mode while on the ground. |
| Ctrl | Reposition camera. |
| Mouse | Move cursor. Left click on the drawer to open the crafting menu. Left click on an object |
| Key | What it does |
| E | Interact when prompt is shown. |
| Left click | Progress the conversation. |
| Left click on choice (Or 1,2,3 keys) | Select a bubble to choose dialogue option. Alternatively, use the keyboard to select. |
Known Issues
Expand me for details! MajorThere is not an end screen when story content is finished There is no pause menu 10% of each level is missing an Art Pass Moderate
TextEffect on Dialogue sometimes keep happening even after intended end point Warsan’s dialogue sometimes refers to events/things that do not happen. Minor
Player can get stuck in glide animation while in dialogue Furniture can be placed in front of Warsan’s door Small animation animation glitch when jumping through a platform
Full Gameplay Video
Credits
Harry Petch - Game Design, Gameplay Lead & Audio DesignMax Ansell- Tools Implementation, Shaders & Programming
Jaime Williams - Game Design, QA & Writing
Tally Summers - Production, Narrative Design & Writing
Lewis Mackay - Programming & Level Design
Tiarnan Lavery - Environment Art
Cristi Dumitru - Character Art & Animation + Additional environment art
Katya Dix - UI Art + Additional environment art
Testers Bruce Durning
Glitch Mackay
Conor Smith
Special Thanks Martin Lynagh
Robin Griffiths
Hailey Austin
Lydia Cooper
Attributions '(Unity) Better Minimal WebGL Template' by Sean
This game's audio design was possible thanks to people kindly offering these resources:
"Balance", "Dreaming of You" & "Frozen Jungle" by Komiku 'It's Time For Adventure Vol. 2', licenced under CC0 "Cloud Audio Ambiences Sounds Vol. 1" by Cloud Audio, licenced under GDM Licence 4.A "Footsteps Sound Pack" by Cafofo, licenced under GDM Licence 4.A "Tool Sound Effects Pack" by StormwaveAudio, licenced under GDM Licence 4.A "Combat Whoosh" by EminYILDIRIM, licenced under CCBY 4.0 "Cat Meowing" by lextrack, licenced under CC0 "Knocking on Wood Door" by Flem0527, licenced under CC0 "Clay Pottery Drop'n'Break" by kinoton, licenced under CC0 "Wood_Creak_02" by dheming, licenced under CC BY 4.0 "Text & Dialogue SFX Pack" by Chris Logsdon, licenced under CC BY 4.0 "OpenBag.wav" by TriqyStudio, licenced under CC BY 4.0 "CloseBag.wav" by TriqyStudio, licenced under CC BY 4.0 "Cartoon_Spring_Bouncing_01" by Denis Chapon, licenced under CC0 "Whoosh" by qubodup, licenced under CC0 "Woosh" by freakinbehemoth, licenced under CC0 "Cloth Flapping On A Clotheslines Gently" by leonelmail, licenced under CC0 "Wood Creak Single V5" by Rudmer_Rotteveel, licenced under CC0 "pop" by anagar, licenced under CC0 "Household, Lamp - Reading Lamp Opposable Neck Bending, Torsion, Creaking" by jaegrover, licenced under CC0 “branch breaking forest twig snap crunch.wav” by kyles, licenced under CC0 "Crumple Dry Leaf 2" by elliotp, licenced under CC0 "22 Book/Parchment UI SFX" by Leohpaz, licenced royalty free."Kenney Music Jingles, Impact Sounds, UI Audio, Interface Sounds" by Kenney.nl, licenced under CC0.
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