Cards with the Devil is a 3D first person card strategy game in which players need to win points from the devil before all health is conducted. In order to win, players need to make necessary sacrifices of body parts (as gaming chips) for a better chance of winning. However, with the loss of organs, there will be lasting negative impacts throughout the game. How much of you can you keep to survive the devil’s game?

Game Genre

3D first-person card strategy game

Postion & Contribution

Game Designer | 3D modeler | Progammer | 2D Artist

Platform

Level Scale

5-10 min length

Tool

Unity, Maya, Substance Painter, Procreate, Photoshop

Please check on the playable itch version here if interested.

Completion Date: 2024/10/25

A Life-or-Death Game between a Sinner and a Ruthless Devil

“Wait, what? Aren’t bad guys supposed to be supporting each other? ”

Fine, tough luck, this devil is different. This is how the devil declares things will go:

(Do I seriouly have to listen to this thing? He looks so stupid, geez.)

You are a sinful person who has committed crime for a dozen times and escaped. You had no idea how you got here, but you are clear that the devil knows all your dark secrets and worse, he wants you DEAD.

“Fair game. You try to earn enough points before I consume all your health, which I certainly would, heh-heh.” [the devil laughs with a dumb face]

Win the card game to live, otherwise…you will be at the devil’s mercy.

“Cherish your last moments, mortal.“ [the devil says, still looking like an idiot]

“‘Cause I will enjoy toying with your soul.“

To Win at All Cost! Using Body Parts as Chips for Better Chance, with Consequences!

The devil is no good being. He is desperate to win you decently so that he can…(devour you, maybe)?

In the game, you will be faced with a condition in which you are expected to admit your crime. If you do, the devil can legitimately deduct your health.

“Oh I will love this…“ [the devil giggles with a dumbface]

But who are you? You are the wrost human being they can find on Earth! You survived a dozen crimes, you are not going let this thing take your precious life away!

Even if you need to sacrifice an eye, ear or a hand…

The game iterates between Number Rounds and Event Rounds

The Number Round follows a rule similar to Blackjack, it’s a potential reward round for you:

A random number (0-20) will be shown to you and the devil, and you two will each play two cards (each 1-10) from four and try to near your added sum to the number. The closer wins.

The Event Round is purely a penalty round for you in which you might lose health:

But before the Event Round, the devil will deliver a message through text box telling you if this round conducts normal punishment or double punishments.

In the Event Round, four cards will be given to you, two organ cards (two of left/right eye/ear/hand) and two crime cards. You need to play one card in this round, whereas the devil doesn’t need play any cards.

Organ Loss Impacts:

If you win, you earn 1 point. However, if you lose there will be no penalty.

Normal punishment means that if your health is deducted, you lose 1 health value. Double punishment will deduct 2 health values in this case.

If you play a crime card, it means that you admit you’ve commited it, and the devil will conduct your health once.

One eye lost

One ear lost

You can also choose you play an organ card to avoid health reduction. In this case, you will lose that organ and it will bring you lasting influence throughout the game.

o If one eye is lost, one side of the vision will be darkened; if both, players will see only blankness on their cards.

Both eyes lost

Both hands lost

o If a hand is lost, the player model loses a hand, but can still play normally; if both, there are chances that the devil will randomly play your cards for you.

One hand lost

o If an ear is lost, players will miss out certain words or letters of the devil’s dialogue; if both, players will totally miss it out. The message indicating punishment type (double or normal) is delivered via devil dialogue.

Both ears lost

An Evil Ruthless Funny-Looking Devil

A Restrained Sinner

The devil is designed to have a typical devilsh appearance with certain changes. Generally, this devil has a 1:1.5 head-body ratio, a rather small size and a funny face to look harmless, in order to form a contrast to the evil character in the game story. Also, I removed the wings and weapons from the classic devil designs and made the arms of this devil laggy. In this case, the devil (theoretically) will be able to play cards on the table with ease, given its small body.

The player character is designed to look like a normal working class man with heavy eye bags to appear gloomy. I want to create a sinner character that has a very ordinary appearance, which also leads to a contrast to his evil past experience.

Ear Cards Front

Crime Cards

The sinner has commited a dozen crimes, and in the game there are ten specific crime cards in the Crime Card deck. Two of them are randomly selected in every Event Round.

Specifically, they are:

- Kinapping

- Stalking

- Drunk Driving

- Murder

- Arson

- Internet frauds

- Drug-selling

- Harassement

- Theft

- Bullying

The description on the cards reveals that the sinner has little guilt over what he’s done.

Number Round Cards:

Eye Cards Front

Card Front

Event Round Cards:

Card Back

Hand Cards Front

Organ Cards

Crime Cards Front

In order to avoid repetitive experience, I applied different devil locations to the game. They are randomly selected after every event round. Players need to move the camera and find the devil for the next round to begin.

At the Side of the Table

Kidnapping

Below the Table

From Above

Interaction view

Pushing You to the Ground

To Your Side

Also, I want to prevent dull experience as players play the crime cards. Given that crime cards will reduce character health because the protagonist is admitting a crime, hence I believe it’s intriguing to design some interactions that provides visual effects to the crime beings.

Outcome

This is a click interaction in which five items will be shown to players and shift order in every 2s. Players need to click the candy item for 5 five times to successfully lure the girl.

Stalking

Interaction view

Outcome

This is a key-press interaction in which players need to press the left key to move along the lady’s direction and stalk her.

Murder

Interaction view

Outcome

This is a click interaction in which a knife will scroll top-down and reverse, requiring players to pause the knife tip within target area to stab.

Drunk Driving

Interaction view

Outcome

This is a drag interaction in which player mouse turns into an arm, requiring players to drag the wheel and spin to drive.

Internet Frauds

Interaction view

Outcome

This is a click interaction in which players need to pause the arrow at different letters to spell “SEND“. The arrow moves from left to right and then reverse repetitively.