Game Design at WVU Arcade

If you like this game and want to support our mission, donate on our website . Donations go towards operation costs, getting students/community members to conferences to demo their work, and other professional development opportunities. 

Our Game:

Hidden away in a small town in the heart of Mountaineer Country, an old arcade waits for you to rebuild it. In this 3d narrative adventure arcade game, you have purchased an arcade and need to get each machine working in order to prepare for opening day. Each game you "fix"/ get in working condition will launch its own game as well as provide juicy character backstory. Why did you buy a defunct arcade, abandoned in the 90s? What did you hope to accomplish in this tiny mountain town that you returned home to? Fixing the games also allows you to earn tickets to do upgrades and refurbish more machines, because despite the fact that you own the place, you'd never think of being dishonest and just do whatever you wanted without doing the work needed first. 

Why did we make this?

We wanted to make a game that highlighted the most interesting projects the students at West Virginia University have dreamed up since the Game Design and Interactive Media program's creation. This first compilation game is to celebrate our students, the program's anniversary, and help better support the mission of the studio (MonRiverGames): "to provide educational opportunities in game development to our members." Whether that's attending conferences or funding stipends, we want to be able to have an impact on our members' growth. We hope to use this game to promote our students and raise the funds needed to help their professional development. 

Games are made in West Virginia? There is a game program at West Virginia University?

Yes! There's a few cooperative studios, contract studios, and for-profit studios. There's also- us!  We're a non profit community game development studio that works in close partnership with the Game Design and Interactive Media undergraduate program at West Virginia University (WVU). We were founded in 2021 during the pandemic as a space for students and community members to gain experience making games locally in a professional studio environment. Check out our website for more information. The game design and interactive media program at West Virginia University has been around for several years. Our website also links to them. 

How'd you pull this off?

In the summer of 2024, the MonRiverGames team members played through hundreds of WVU student work located in instructor google drive and through itch.io. Selections were made and invitations were sent to desired participants for permission to use their project. A second round of selections and invitations were also made in December 2024. Our development team formed to start creating the project in January 2025. Capstone of computer science as well as game design and interactive media, and community members of the studio, worked together in the 2025-2026 school year to get the project ready for Early Access. Our early access release contains our earliest design, hints of the story, fully functional arcade, and insider game design jokes that some might get and also find amusing. This is our Alpha release. We intend to hit Beta by Christmas, and Gold by summer 2027. We're hoping that in the future we'll be able to offer DLC through themed WVU game jams. We'd really appreciate your support!

A few reminders

These are student games pulled together by a volunteer indie community and student studio that learns by the process of making this game. This is not assembled by a AAA or AA studio. That means, do not expect polish. They are sometimes rough and flawed. Enjoy them as they are, we do. You can exit any of them at any time. Some are infinitely playing games, and others have endings. We believe it's clear enough which are which while you play. Big, game breaking bugs should be reported to us immediately. You can use the community channels here or email info@monrivergames.com