Space Pizza

Winner of the Pizza Game Jam on Itch.io

About the game

Space Pizza is a fast-paced management game where players take on the role of an unlucky astronaut who, after crash-landing on an asteroid, is forced to work at an alien pizzeria. The goal? Serve bizarre extraterrestrial customers, manage a chaotic ingredient dispenser, and earn enough money to repair the spaceship and escape.

The Team and My Role

As the lead programmer, I was responsible for most of the game’s technical implementation. A teammate contributed to minor additional programming tasks.

  • Gameplay Mechanics: Implemented the pizza-making workflow, including the ingredient dispenser, baking system, and order management.
  • UI & Interaction: Designed and programmed all UI elements, customer orders, and feedback notifications.
  • AI & Customer Behavior: Developed the logic for alien customers, order requests, and timed satisfaction levels.
  • Game Flow & Balance: Adjusted difficulty progression and economy to keep gameplay engaging.
  • Bug Fixing & Optimization: Ensured smooth performance and seamless mechanics within the short development period.

Problems Encountered and Solutions

Problem: Balancing Randomness & Playability The random ingredient dispenser often generated unfair situations where players couldn’t complete orders.

Solution: Adjusted probabilities order We adjusted probabilities to ensure every order could be completed within a reasonable timeframe while still maintaining challenge and unpredictability.

 

Problem: UI & Clarity Initial UI was unclear, making it hard for players to track orders.

Solution: Improved order visuals Added clearer indicators, and refined the HUD layout to ensure a more intuitive experience.