The Doodle team at Google has just a few seconds to capture a user’s attention with a fun game, interesting artwork, or interesting bit of history when they visit the website. In the spirit of Halloween, Google is promoting a multiplayer online game reminiscent of the iconic phone and arcade game, “Snake.”
Like in “Snake,” the new Google Doodle is a game in which the user navigates a map while collecting pixels that attach to and lengthen their avatar. Players may join the game by clicking on the Doodle, then splitting into two teams of four to try to gather as many “spirit fires” as they can by guiding a little ghost around the screen with a mouse. In a twist, rival squads may steal their opponents’ flames. Whoever has the most flames at the end of the allotted two minutes is declared the victor.
Recreated from “The Great Ghoul Duel,” one of Google’s most visited pages of 2018, this Doodle is a fan favorite. Google has upgraded the game with additional features this time around, including updated maps, playable characters, and a more potent new item. Accomplishments also allow players to unlock cute tiny caps for their avatars. The Google Doodle was scheduled to return in 2021, however the date was pushed back. In-house Googlers complained about a lack of scalability to accommodate the millions of users they anticipated would want to play their multiplayer game.
Jacob Howcroft, lead engineer on the Google Doodle, told The News Source, “It was simply making sure that the servers were going to be dependable enough to launch for the large amount of demand.”
Preparing a Spooky The online version of the Google doodle had problems beyond server downtime: Even kids use Google, so the Doodle couldn’t be too terrifying for them.
According to Google Doodle creative head Nate Swineheart: “You want it to remain very squarely in the fun zone.” An abandoned amusement park was suggested as a setting for a new level. The artwork was fantastic and entertaining, though a little risky. We’re still recovering from the epidemic, so the concept of deserted objects isn’t exactly setting the right mood.
The Google Doodle crew substituted a late-night museum level. The popularity of walking simulations like ‘Journey’ is on full display.
Google Doodle staff stated that they were influenced by popular, more complex multiplayer games like Nintendo’s “Splatoon,” the online battle arena game “League of Legends,” and the independent adventure game “Journey,” despite the similarities to earlier arcade games like “Snake” and “Pac-Man.”
Swineheart claims that “Journey,” an odd source of inspiration, was the driving force for the game’s cooperative multiplayer mode. To promote teamwork, we included a “buddy benefit” that grants extra spirit fires to those who travel with a companion.
Swineheart claims that Google’s Halloween Doodle is a parody of “League,” a game in which users level up their champions, earn money, and purchase stuff in a significantly more intricate progression system.
Swineheart said that if you gather fifty flames, you’ll have the ability to run faster and eventually break through barriers. As a reward for your hard work, your abilities will increase as you play.
According to Swineheart, the mechanism of having the chain of spirit fires grow longer and follow players about was inspired by the fight mode in “Splatoon 3,” in which players may be followed around by a trail of clams, making it easier for the opponent to grab them. The “high risk, high return” mechanics were described as “balanced pretty nicely,” he added.
However, such idea did not originate with the ‘Snake’ team. In a firm “never,” he declared his firm refusal. You may check out the Google Doodle from the 30th to the 31st of October.
