PED XING is a 2D game inspired by the streets of Manila. Its gameplay is similar to the the classic arcade game Frogger, wherein the user needs to cross multiple roads and avoid the moving vehicles and barricades, while collecting coins. Users gather points every time they collect coins and finish each level. It is similar to arcade games in which users play to get the highest score they possibly can.
This game was programmed using Unity and C#.
As I’ve become more of a commuter in my adult life, I’ve noticed a lot of unique characteristics around the streets of Metro Manila. I’m still no navigation expert due to my bad sense of direction and hatid-sundo upbringing, but frequently riding the trains, jeepneys, buses, taxis, and ride sharing apps like Grab and Angkas has exposed me to a lot of realities in our public transportation system. Despite the exhaustion from the grueling hours stuck in traffic and frustration from the inefficient system, I still find commuting interesting. From watching other commuters go on silently with their days, to the sea of vehicles incessantly honking their horns– everything is stimulating.
PED XING has several Filipino references, starting with the title and its namesake, the Ped Xing street sign, short for Pedestrian Crossing, which is used to indicate a designated place where pedestrians can cross the road.
The goal of the game is simple: cross the road without dying. This is exactly how I feel whenever I cross a road especially in areas where drivers seem to think that rules don’t exist.
I decided to add a cheeky story to the game and it references the line “bumili ka ng suka sa kanto.” A saying that is often said by parents to children, asking them to buy something from the nearby store. The end point of each level is Aling Nena’s sari-sari store, a reference to the song Tindahan ni Aling Nena by Eraserheads.
The assets in the game also include jeepneys, cars, motorcycles, Philippine taxi cabs, a Peso coin, and various iconic MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) markers such as the orange barricade, the fuchsia “Walang Tawiran Nakamamatay” signs, and foot bridge.
