The Adventures of Cuthbert Tattersall, Stalwart Hero (In Training) is a browser-based adventure game (in progress) set in a fairy tale world. You take on the role of a wannabe adventurer out to prove himself in a kingdom in need of a hero. Just as soon as he files the requisite paperwork.
As well as creating something thoroughly daft in homage to the classic point-and-click adventures like Monkey Island and Every Other Game From My Entire Childhood, I wanted to make a game where your choices have a tangible impact on the story, opening (or closing) new rooms, characters and puzzles depending on the decisions you make.
Annoy someone and they won’t help you. Make a choice and see its consequences carry forward. And forward.
It’s a game where every puzzle has more than one solution because, sure, you could hire that marching band to wake up Sleeping Beauty but then what the heck have you been carrying around that bucket of water for…? And where the solution you come up with will completely change the story. (Turns out people aren’t that prone to helping you when you chuck water in their face. Who knew?)
It’s… ambitious for a first-time game developer, maybe. Most definitely. But with twelve years’ web development experience under my sensible yet stylish belt and an incredibly talented artist at my side, also wearing a cute belt, I’m going to give it a whirl.
Find out more about why I decided to build this game, or poke through the blog archives to read what it’s like to build a game, alone, with no experience, in your pyjamas.