Among Us Report

Introduction

Among Us was developed by PlayEveryWare and InnerSloth LLC, which was also responsible for publishing it. It falls in the genre of murder mystery and it is multiplayer. Despite the quarantine in 2020, Among Us spiked in popularity and made people forget the lonely times that had passed. It mainly became popular from Twitch streamers playing it from Brazil and South Korea. The player base has decreased since but Among Us is still an incredibly unique game worth analysing.

Story and Gameplay

The game is set aboard a spaceship, space station, or planetary base, where players take on the roles of crewmates or impostors. The primary objective for crewmates is to complete a series of tasks around the map while identifying and eliminating the impostors among them. Impostors, on the other hand, aim to sabotage the crew's efforts and eliminate them without being caught.

At certain intervals, sometimes chosen by the players, a meeting happens where the players can discuss suspicious behaviour. The game provides a texting mechanism to do this. However, most people play the game with friends and chat via voice through another platform, which is more fun and convenient. An example of this is using Discord.

In-game tasks range from simple activities like diverting power or fixing wiring to more complex duties such as inspecting samples in the laboratory or monitoring security cameras. These tasks serve as both a means to progress the game and as opportunities for impostors to blend in with the crew. In the meantime, the impostor can cause mayhem by depleting the oxygen in the ship, venting to the nearest victim and even eliminating them from the game.

Mechanics

Among Us is played in a top-down design, where the player can navigate the 2D map with their character. Like most other games, it has a typical introduction screen where the player can choose to play and join a room. It is also possible to change certain settings about the GUI and in-game settings from within the game. As mentioned before, different tasks are assigned to each crewmate. The crewmates can interact with certain objects in the spaceship to complete them. Some times tasks depend on previously done tasks, so the player must concentrate on what is most important. Due to the game's simplicity of design, there aren't many more mechanics to consider.

Technology

The game is designed in 2D space and was created with C++ and Unity. In terms of networking technology, "Among Us" relies on a client-server architecture to facilitate multiplayer gameplay. Players connect to servers hosted by InnerSloth or other players, allowing them to join or create games with friends or random players from around the world. The game's relatively lightweight networking requirements enable seamless cross-platform play, allowing users on different devices to join the same game session effortlessly.

Pros

- Available on nearly any platform you can imagine and it is fully cross platform.\\

- Incites paranoia and suspense during the gameplay, making it extremely addictive.

- It is simple to pick up so it is always a go-to game when in a group of friends. This is due to its simple gameplay.

Cons

- Cheating and exploiting bugs is a common occurrence in Among Us. Perhaps due to the small developing team behind the game, there are still some gaps to cheat.\\

- Server stability has been a problem in times of peak usage.\\

- Lack of new content. The game's simplicity can also be a disadvantage. Since the game doesn't have much variety, after some time it gets boring.

Conclusion

Among Us serves as a prime example of the impact that unique gameplay can have in the gaming industry. Its simple mechanics, coupled with its engaging social dynamics, have attracted a massive player base from around the world. The game's ability to bring people together, regardless of platform or skill level, highlights its broad appeal and lasting influence in modern gaming culture.