Dinner Is Served
About the game
Dinner is Served may seem like a cozy housekeeping game at first, but it hides a deeper, unsettling narrative. As the master of the house, your task is to prepare everything for an upcoming dinner by organizing and cleaning your home. However, as you progress, small, eerie details start to surface, subtly shifting the cozy atmosphere into something more psychological. What begins as a relaxing chore becomes a mind-bending experience, blurring the line between reality and imagination. Can you finish preparing the house before the impending guests arrive, or will something far more sinister unravel?
The Team and My Role
As a member of StarDice Games, I contributed to several key areas in the development of Dinner is Served:
- Task System: Designed and implemented a complete task system to guide player progression and enhance the gameplay experience.
- Camera: Managed the camera system, ensuring smooth transitions and an immersive perspective for the player.
- UI: Developed and optimized the user interface for clarity and ease of interaction, ensuring the game mechanics were communicated effectively to the player.
- Sound Design: Integrated and balanced the sound effects and ambient audio, creating an atmosphere that supported the cozy tone of the game while foreshadowing its psychological twists.
Problems Encountered and Solutions
Although Dinner is Served was developed during a one-week game jam, where time constraints were the main challenge, the team managed to deliver a surprisingly polished experience. Despite the tight schedule, the game presents refined mechanics, a strong atmosphere, and a seamless balance between cozy aesthetics and psychological tension.