Apophenia

## Description

_Apophenia_ was developed for the TIGSource Procedural Generation contest and
creates different introductions, environments, characters and movement based
on the seed name entered. This is not randomized as using a name a second time
will yield an identical result. Gameplay is almost identical in each
environment with only a small amount of changes. Technically, not a single
game can be won. Players control a character with the mouse in a single-screen
environment where certain moving objects make it grow or just smaller.
Colliding with another object produces a sound effect. Usually, when a unique
character in the game shrinks to nothing (having the player grow), the game is
over.

Since there are no clear goals, as a metagame, it exists mainly for
humouristic value in the way it mocks the symbolism of art games. Players can
enable a “Pretentious Mode” on the main screen where each environment is
introduced by a short text explaining the symbolism in the most random of
ways:

_In this game you are the ideal embodiment of a newborn, passively wishing to
stare at an ill-advised decision._

or:

_In this wacky misadventure you are magically transformed into a third
nipple, creatively risking life and limb to raise a good wizard, proving
conclusively that games are legitimate art forms._

Apophenia