Class War

This project explores the cyclical, often futile nature of class struggle through the lens of asymmetric local multiplayer. The game physicalizes the divide between the entrenched elite (the 1%) and the marginalized masses (the 99%) by fracturing not just the mechanics, but the literal hardware of the play space. By dedicating an entire display to a single player while forcing four others to share a compartmentalized screen, the physical layout of play mirrors the systemic inequality coded into the game.

Requirements:

• Two screens
• 5 controllers

Basic play:

• The 1% and the 99% play on different screens. The 1%er gets a screen to themselves (and can see the whole world), the 99%ers play in splitscreen mode on the other screen (and can only see a tiny piece of the world).
• The 1% should aim to stay alive as long as possible.
• The 99% should try and overthrow the 1% -- at which point they will become the 1%.

Playing as the 1%:

• Move legs: left and right sticks combined with left and right triggers (e.g. push both sticks left and alternative pressing triggers)
• Jump: X (on PS controllers). Throws 99%ers off. Has a five second cooldown
• Move arms: left and right sticks combined with left and right bumpers (L1 and R1 on PS controllers)
• Collect powerups: put all your limbs inside the circles

Playing as the 99%:

• Move tiny men: left stick (they will obey you mostly)
• Bunch up: hold X (on PS controllers)
• Kill offscreen tiny men: hold triangle (on PS controllers)
• Jump attack on 1%: hold O (on PS controllers) while near the 1%
• Collect powerups: put tiny men inside each of the circles (all 1% can cooperate)