Module 13: Data Science
20XX: Early Access to the Future of Megaman
This week's module talked about data science and analytics. Our game design challenge for the week was to make a match 3 game that isn't simply just a clone of Bejeweled or Candy Crush Saga. We had to make a match 3 game with an innovative mechanic that sets it apart from other match 3 games.
The part of this I would like to focus on is not the match 3 part, but the fact that the game has to have a unique mechanic to make the game stand out and give it an identity of not just being a clone of another game. This brings me to the game I will be writing about today, not just a clone of Megaman, but the spiritual successor to it: 20XX.
20XX is a 2D platformer sold through Steam that is currently in Early Access. In many ways, the game is just like Megaman. Nina runs, dashes, jumps and shoots just like Megaman. Ace plays alot like Zero, using a sword instead of a blaster. The soundtrack is awesome and has an upbeat, high energy tone that you would expect in a Megaman game. This is where the similarities end.
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| Nina |
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| Ace |
What sets 20XX apart from Megaman games is that it is an online game that randomly generates the levels. There are distinct themes to each level, and those themes repeat, but the layout of each level is different each time you play. If this was made by Capcom, it would likely be called "Megaman X Infinite". The game offers two daily challenge levels each day, one normal challenge and one hardcore challenge that has 3 skull penalties that you must deal with.
The game also offers a normal campain mode in 3 different difficulty settings: normal, casual, and defiant. I usually play the game in casual mode. In casual mode, you get to bring three buff items that offer different bonuses. This game is extremely hard, even in casual mode and the game uses a permadeath system- there are no continues and only one life per run. As you play, you will collect Soul Chips. Soul Chips can be used to buy and unlock new buffs between runs. The buffs you start a run with are not necessarily the only buffs you can get in a run. You can get additional buffs in levels by completing challenges in the "Glory Zone", where you fight a bunch of enemies with a restrictive challenge, such as "don't dash". If you complete the challenge, you will unlock a buff. Sometimes, you can even find items in levels that can change how your character's weapon works. Other than the "Glory Zone", some items can be found at the end of difficult platforming sections, in a box or chest.
I believe that this game may be using some data science information gathering behind the scenes. They are likely collecting data since the game has to be played online anyway. They are probably using this data to find out where enemies are spawning, what enemies are spawning, and to track bugs. Sadly, the run I had where I encountered enemies floating in midair did not record correctly. They are going to be looking at leaderboard data to see where to make adjustments to their algorithms to either increase or decrease the difficulty by adjusting things such as enemy spawn rates. Also, more evidence that they may be using data science is the length of time the game has been in Steam's Early Access. It was released on Nov. 25, 2014. With two years of the game still in early access, it's clear that the developers wanted to take their time ironing out the mechanics and making sure that the game is perfect before leaving early access. They must have been collecting information from their game to help shape it. A lot has changed since its release, even the graphics. Here's an old article that has some screenshots from the alpha with very different character designs:
In conclusion, 20XX is an awesome indie game that shows how Steam Early Access should be used. Developers should use Early Access as a period to help shape the game, find bugs, push updates, and collect data, including user reviews. Honestly, the game is almost out of early access, with the game at version 0.965b. I would say it is worth buying, even though it is in Early Access.
You can buy the game here:
One of my runs of the game (172 MB, 720p) (Onedrive):
Note that the game probably looks better than the video. The recording is a 1080p image downscaled to 720p.
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