About this project
$31,315
FUNDED!
Click here to play one of our levels!
Do you know which of Jupiter's moons has the largest orbit? Or when Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Notes from the Underground was published? Or who the first Holy Roman Emperor of the House of Habsburg was?
Maybe if you had studied, you would know the answers... but you didn't.
Luckily for you, your classmates did.
And they're dolphins.
Classroom Aquatic is the world's first cheat-'em-up. Players play as an exchange student in a school of dolphins, going through a semester that they're in no way prepared for. They must resort to cheating in order to be the best student in school!
- Cheat your way to an A like never before! Compatible with the Oculus Rift-- really take a peek at your classmate's answers!
- Let yourself be transported to an underwater world with virtual reality technology! Experience what it's like to be a foreign exchange student in a school of dolphins!
- Hours of creative play: be sneaky; be blatant; be cautious; be bold; it's smart to prepare for a test, but it's smarter to pass it without studying!
We currently have a playable build of one of the many kinds of challenges you'll face in Classroom Aquatic, downloadable here! In the demo, the player looks at the surrounding students' tests to get the right answers. If the students or teacher catch the player looking at another test, they won't be happy about it! The player must avoid angering their fellow classmates and the professor by sneaking glances or causing distractions. If the player avoids getting caught three times and finishes the test with all correct answers, the player wins!
We are planning on building this game into a full experience, with a campaign story encompassing an entire semester at school, multiple game modes, different classrooms, students, and professors, support for PC, Mac, and Linux, and localization! Playable with or without the Oculus Rift!
To help wet everyone's appetite for what we envision for the full game, we'd like to give you a peek at the different game modes we have planned for the full release version of Classroom Aquatic!
Science Fair!
The professors look at you with suspicion, and your classmates make fun of your smaller brain-to-body mass ratio. What better way to prove you're studious and intelligent than by winning the science fair? But when your classmates bring in portable hydro-electric generators, cardboard displays explaining Quantum Entanglement, and impressive mantis shrimp farms, you realize the only way you'll take away 1st Place is by ruining everyone else's projects without them or the judges catching you!
School Dance!
The Enchantment Over The Land dance is coming up, and lucky you has just been asked out by your best friend... AND the most popular dolphin in school! Caught in the wild current, you said yes to both of them! Can you take them to the dance without them finding out that you're double-dating?
Detention!
Professor Porpoise runs a tight ship: you've been sent to detention, and you'll stay there till you pass your remedial quiz. All the questions are easy enough, but the rest of the students don't know the answers-- they're going to copy them off of YOU! Show them you can't cheat a cheater by making them copy the wrong answers and making sure you remain at the top of the bell curve!
DSL Exam!
In this level, you’ll have to give the correct responses to questions asked by the professor. However, your responses have to be in Dolphinese, and you can’t remember whether it was two squeaks or three! You’ll have to keep an eye AND an ear out for the correct answers from your other classmates, whether they be answering directed questions, studying with flashcards (bean them with an eraser to have them drop all their cards!) or leaning in to hear their audio guides (cause a class-wide distraction, and they’ll take out their earbuds, making it easier to overhear!).
Open Book Exam!
An open book exam is like sanctioned cheating: you don’t have to hide the fact that you’re looking up the answers! The only problem is that dolphin textbooks are thousands upon thousands of pages long, and you only just unwrapped the plastic off the cover today (and then discarded the plastic wrap in a recycling bin-- that stuff goes straight to the ocean if you don’t properly dispose of it!). You’ll have to take a look at the pages your classmates flip to in order to copy the correct answer!
Class President Elections!
Throughout the campaign mode of the game, you’ll be competing against another student to be elected Class President. Just being a valedictorian won’t win you the race: you’ll have to take every chance to make them appear completely unelectable! Do you think you could get them sent to detention? Is there any way to make them drop all those seaweed cakes they’re carrying to the bake sale? And what is the most humiliating thing that could happen to them at the school dance? If your opponent wanted a friend in politics, they should have gotten a dogfish!
Download the demo for all operating systems now at ClassroomAquatic.com
"The premise of Classroom Aquatic could not be more fanciful..."
"Tests Are Even Worse When Dolphins Won't Let You Cheat Off Of Them"
"...the classroom in Classroom Aquatic is, well...aquatic."
"I’m taken by how novel a setting for a game it is."
"But here's the greatest game you ever need to hear about: Classroom Aquatic."
REMY KARNS // PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
Remy Karns is a graduate student studying Interactive Media and Games at USC. He doesn't know that a dolphin isn't a fish. Don't correct him-- we find his ignorance amusing. https://twitter.com/RemyKarns
MIKAL SALTVEIT // PROGRAMMING
Mikal Saltveit is a programmer who dreamed one day of making the perfect game. That game turned out to be a dolphin cheating simulator. www.homebrood.info
MICKEY GOESE // CHARACTER ANIMATION
Mickey Goese is a self-taught 3D artist and loves polygons. http://www.mickeygoese.com/
ADELINE 'AMMONITE' DUCKER // ENVIRONMENT ART
Ammonite always wanted to be a sea monster when she grew up. http://cargocollective.com/adelineducker
HEATHER PENN // ENVIRONMENT ART
Heather Penn thinks that the ocean is really great. http://penn.pithytwigs.com/
ERIC CAPPELLO // MUSIC & SOUND DESIGN
Eric Cappello is a young, award-winning film composer. He spent 8 months living with the dolphins to prepare for this role. http://www.ericcappello.com/
DEVIN KARNS // PROJECT MANAGER
Devin is an engineer and a gamer. He plays around with algae sometimes, which are kinda like dolphins.
Special Thanks:
Alix Nicholaeff // Manatee Psychologist
Lauren Lewis // Sandcrab Spotter
GAME
It's the game! The game you've been waiting for! The game where you play as a dolphi-- er, scuba diver exchange student!
PDF ART BOOK
The best part about getting a video game is checking out all the additional materials that come with it! Enjoy this pdf art book of the game! It even comes with a bundle of wallpapers so you can look at dolphins all day long.
SOUNDTRACK
Let's be honest: whales can't sing for peanuts. Enjoy the sounds of the ocean, courtesy of the supremely talented and almost aptly named Eric Cappello!
T-SHIRT
I shirt you not, you'll be overdressed for the pool with this backer-exclusive t-shirt! (Design TBD)
WRITE A QUIZ QUESTION
The easiest tests are the ones you write yourself! No need to write the answers on your hand, because you'll have them written in your brain! You'll be given a special mention in the game's credits, forever enshrined in Classroom Aquatic lore.
POSTER
Is your room ugly? Does it have one of our posters hanging in it? The answer to one of these is always the opposite of the other. (Design TBD)
PRINTED ARTBOOK
Finally, a reason for eyes! This physical hardcover art book has never-before seen art not included in the pdf version. Seriously, they've never been seen before. Can you send us a copy? We need to know what our game looks like.
DONOR NAME
Your name will be found somewhere in the Classroom Aquatic world! Not only that, we're certain someone will put it in the fan-made wiki.
DOLPHIN-TO-HUMAN ETIQUETTE GUIDE
The dolphin government distributed these hardcover handbooks to schools accepting exchange students that advised them on the peculiarities of the "Humans, their culture, and their ways." If you ever have a dolphin over for dinner, have them read this before you set the table.
DIVER HOODIE
These stylish backer-exclusive hoodies will make you look like an antique diver! This does not mean you should go diving in one: all that'll happen is you'll get wet and water will get in your eyes and ears and you will cry and you'll look like an antique diver-- stylish!
DESIGN A DOLPHIN
Help create a memorable student with hopes and dreams and aspirations for everyone to mercilessly cheat off of!
DESIGN A TEACHER
Remember that horrible teacher you had? Who always assigned weekend homework? Who never let you go to the bathroom? Who would always call on you when they knew you didn't know the answer? Relive the nightmare by putting them into the game!
MEET THE TEAM
Wow, you like us! You really like us! Wanna come to our party? It'll be a classy soiree of exotic delicacies, fine dress, and a starfish-studded affair with all the big names of Classroom Aquatic. We even have awesome party favors for you-- all custom made!
Risks and challenges
There are considerable challenges in bringing this game to fruition: polishing the mechanics, creating new environments, designing new campaigns and game modes-- there's a long list of homework to finish by semester's end! Not only that, but we are developing for an entirely new platform that hasn't even been released! But your enthusiasm motivated us to push forward with this project, and we have a talented group of professional artists, programmers, and designers eager to make this an unforgettable experience. With your support, we can make something awesome!
Learn about accountability on KickstarterFAQ
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You certainly can play this without an Oculus Rift! Although Classroom Aquatic is designed with the Rift in mind, it works great on a standard monitor as well. It is available on all operating systems, and we invite you to try our demo (Rift or no) at ClassroomAquatic.com!
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You bet! And the demo will remain free forever, and will be updated!
The main game will have more classrooms, more mechanics, and more... everything!
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Part of why we want to make a Kickstarter was to fund translating the game into as many languages as possible!
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We have big plans for expanding the game: we want to add new game modes, mechanics, environments, characters, and a story that will kraken you up. If we don't get funded, we're ready and willing to continue development of the game and relaunch a new Kickstarter campaign!
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The kickstarter fund will be used roughly as follows:
- Development Funding: We’ll need to purchase new Oculus units, get Unity Pro licenses, and of course pay our seven hard-working devs.
- Conventions/Festivals: One of our favorite activities is showing the game off to the public! This includes travel, hotel rooms, and equipment. On that note, join us for some dol-fun at PAX East and SXSW!
- Kickstarter Rewards Fulfillment: We want to thank everyone who donates to our Kickstarter by offering totally awesome rewards!
Rewards
Funding period
- (30 days)