Project Introduction

OtherWordly provides thought-provoking word puzzles and an immersive narrative, wrapped in strategic physical mechanics. The game merges physics-based and word puzzle mechanics with the narrative backdrop of the Alphazoid Prime galaxy, offering both cerebral and tactical gameplay elements. Players navigate through dynamic word associations spanning topics from rockets to raspberries, and Picasso to penguins. The content feels varied and diverse and adaptive difficulty fits any player's vocabulary.

Gameplay Highlights:

Plot: Within Alphazoid Prime, celestial words form the fabric connecting diverse cultures. When these words disappear, the galaxy's balance is threatened. Characters such as Tyto the Termarian, Jaleen the robot, artist Glooper, and princess Barabell unveil tensions between the Lexiborgs and Glyphians, highlighting the power of unity and understanding in confronting challenges.

Thought-Provoking: OtherWordly contains a unique blend of everyday and lesser-known words. The game’s expansiveness invites players to engage in word association, recognize letter patterns, and engage with cross-cultural historic and social topics. It's a familiar space with many ways to win, whether your first thought for breakfast is fried eggs, pancakes, croissants, or dim sum.

Adaptive & Inclusive: OtherWordly is designed for all ages, abilities, and cultures. Vocabulary difficulty is auto-adjusted on a 15-point scale to accommodate everyone from non-native English speakers to wordsmiths. Alternative tailored content is provided for children grades 1-6, including fun subjects like ice cream and dinosaurs and important concepts like self-confidence and bullying. Players can also opt out of pop culture, sports, or American-centric content. Additional features, like varying speeds and dyslexic-friendly fonts, support wider accessibility. Alongside our handcrafted content, UGC introduces a dynamic element, with each level containing a player-authored topic. This UGC is meticulously vetted, relying on both AI and live player feedback to ensure quality and alignment with our ethos.

Innovative Mechanics: With just one finger, players navigate a unique gameplay experience that combines linguistic puzzles (crosswords, "Connections") with physics-based strategy (Breakout, Arkanoid, Zuma, pinball). They engage in mental gymnastics by launching a central word into related words while dodging obstacles and activating power-ups. Players maneuver through formations of explosive drones and strategically detonate antimatter vortexes. Precision aims unlock power-ups with abilities like revealing related words or transforming into a space anemone to hunt associated words. In opposites missions, thinking is reversed as players seek out antonyms.

Visual Design: OtherWordly’s polished aesthetic combines minimalist design with tranquil animated elements and algorithmic geometric motion. The ambient soundscape and visual design work in tandem, offering a balanced, immersive, Zen-like experience. The immersive environment and tactile experience propels and complements play.

Game Modes:

Main Story Mode: Enjoy a relaxed, untimed pace with an intriguing layered narrative mystery centered around communication.

Endless Mode: Stay in the word flow as long as you can with minimal distraction, facing continuous waves of word topics and gentle, closing-zipper-patterned obstacles.

Daily Challenge: Take on a timed trial where speed is paramount and delicious candy awaits collection.

About Developer

"Street food" ranges from tacos to takoyaki. "Childhood" evokes snowball fights for some and kite-flying for others. IDEA Games is exploring what inclusivity means for word association games, so players from all backgrounds feel seen and valued. Our goal is to bridge cultures, challenge perceptions, and foster a deeper understanding of the linguistic richness of English. Further, we want to mix silly and spunky topics with topics that encourage players to reflect on their values and life experiences. In our first game, we are exploring new twists on word puzzles, marrying the word puzzle genre with projectile physics dynamics, and building game mechanics that adapt to different abilities and different levels of English vocabulary.

Our team's connection to the Canadian indie game scene is through our narrative designer. Davis G. See, an Edmonton-based writer, has crafted the narrative for our game. Recognized as an EPL Featured Writer, Davis’ works have been showcased in various publications and platforms, including the Edmonton International Airport’s short story dispenser. Additionally, our junior level designer, Jason Ye, in Waterloo, has worked three summer breaks on level design.

Michael Douma is the creative director at IDEA Games, focusing on integrating game design, education, and inclusivity. Since its inception in 1999, IDEA has emphasized the importance of linguistic, scientific, and cultural literacy in various digital projects. The team includes members like Yann van der Cruyssen, a chip tune maestro who has previously worked on soundtracks for games such as "A Game of Thrones.” Michael, Greg, our lead programmer, and Sally, a content developer, have been collaborating for 17 years, and are now striving to deliver meaningful entertainment to millions of mobile players.