The Healing Tree

The Healing Tree by The Taywild is an artgame platformer prototype exploring themes of how communities can help foster therapy of grief and trauma.

Developed in 14 weeks for Abertay University's 2023 DES310 module.

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About

The Great Dream Tree is covered with brambles and weeds, and you just so happen to have the power to clear them away. Traverse the branches of the tree, help its residents with their woes and decorate any space of it you want to! Together, through willpower and empathy, you and the residents can not only heal yourselves, but the tree itself.

Gameplay

• Adventure around the Great Dream Tree with a variety of different mechanics
• Learn about the tree's residents and help them grow
• Clear away thorns and pluck weeds on the go
• Decorate any part of the tree that you please
• Help the tree grow stronger through your actions

Features

• A cosy pastal art style with relaxing music to suit
• Experience calming and cathartic gameplay
• Befriend the residents of the tree, learning about their own personal lives and woes

Controls

Movement

Key	What it does
A/D or Left/Right Arrows	Move left and right.
Space	Jump. Jump while in the air to double jump. You will start gliding while you fall.
S or Down Arrow (hold)	(While falling) Cancel gliding.
Mouse	Left click (hold) on a bramble or weed and pull back to tear it out!

Decoration mode

Key	What it does
Tab	Enter decoration mode while on the ground.
Ctrl	Reposition camera.
Mouse	Move cursor. Left click on the drawer to open the crafting menu. Left click on an object

Dialogue

Key	What it does
E	Interact when prompt is shown.
Left click	Progress the conversation.
Left click on choice (Or 1,2,3 keys)	Select a bubble to choose dialogue option. Alternatively, use the keyboard to select.

Known Issues

Expand me for details!

Major

• There is not an end screen when story content is finished
• There is no pause menu
• 10% of each level is missing an Art Pass

Moderate

• TextEffect on Dialogue sometimes keep happening even after intended end point
• Warsan’s dialogue sometimes refers to events/things that do not happen. 

Minor

• Player can get stuck in glide animation while in dialogue
• Furniture can be placed in front of Warsan’s door
• Small animation animation glitch when jumping through a platform

Full Gameplay Video

Credits

Harry Petch - Game Design, Gameplay Lead & Audio Design

Max Ansell- Tools Implementation, Shaders & Programming

Jaime Williams - Game Design, QA & Writing

Rosemary Ann Summers - Production, Narrative Design & Writing

Lewis Mackay - Programming & Level Design

Tiarnan Lavery - Environment Art

Cristi Dumitru - Character Art & Animation + Additional environment art

Katya Dix - UI Art + Additional environment art

Testers

Bruce Durning

Glitch Mackay

Conor Smith

Special Thanks

Martin Lynagh

Robin Griffiths

Hailey Austin

Lydia Cooper

Attributions

'(Unity) Better Minimal WebGL Template' by Sean

This game's audio design was possible thanks to people kindly offering these resources:

• "Balance", "Dreaming of You" & "Frozen Jungle" by Komiku 'It's Time For Adventure Vol. 2', licenced under CC0

• "Cloud Audio Ambiences Sounds Vol. 1" by Cloud Audio, licenced under GDM Licence 4.A

• "Footsteps Sound Pack" by Cafofo, licenced under GDM Licence 4.A

• "Tool Sound Effects Pack" by StormwaveAudio, licenced under GDM Licence 4.A

• "Combat Whoosh" by EminYILDIRIM, licenced under CCBY 4.0

• "Cat Meowing" by lextrack, licenced under CC0

• "Knocking on Wood Door" by Flem0527, licenced under CC0

• "Clay Pottery Drop'n'Break" by kinoton, licenced under CC0

• "Wood_Creak_02" by dheming, licenced under CC BY 4.0

• "Text & Dialogue SFX Pack" by Chris Logsdon, licenced under CC BY 4.0

• "OpenBag.wav" by TriqyStudio, licenced under CC BY 4.0

• "CloseBag.wav" by TriqyStudio, licenced under CC BY 4.0

• "Cartoon_Spring_Bouncing_01" by Denis Chapon, licenced under CC0

• "Whoosh" by qubodup, licenced under CC0

• "Woosh" by freakinbehemoth, licenced under CC0

• "Cloth Flapping On A Clotheslines Gently" by leonelmail, licenced under CC0

• "Wood Creak Single V5" by Rudmer_Rotteveel, licenced under CC0

• "pop" by anagar, licenced under CC0

• "Household, Lamp - Reading Lamp Opposable Neck Bending, Torsion, Creaking" by jaegrover, licenced under CC0

• “branch breaking forest twig snap crunch.wav” by kyles, licenced under CC0

• "Crumple Dry Leaf 2" by elliotp, licenced under CC0

• "22 Book/Parchment UI SFX" by Leohpaz, licenced royalty free.

• "Kenney Music Jingles, Impact Sounds, UI Audio, Interface Sounds" by Kenney.nl, licenced under CC0.