Have you ever wished your console controllers were more immersive? Imagine controlling your game with a custom-built seesaw, relying on a friend to achieve victory. That’s exactly what a team of 13 University of Utah students from the Division of Games created with “Back Off Me Booty.”
Developed by Scallywag Studios, the game’s blend of competitive and cooperative gameplay caught the attention of IndieCade. Invited to the Night Games category at IndieCade 2024 in Los Angeles, the team won the prestigious Audience Choice Award for their creativity.
The game requires two players to trust each other and tilt the seesaw shooter to aim their cannons at enemies appearing behind their matey’s back. This chaotic, fast-paced adventure has uniquely interactive gameplay that never gets boring.
As part of the Division of Games’ Alt Controller class, students were challenged to design a game without conventional controls, showcasing their artistic and technical skills. Their nomination for IndieCade allowed them to secure funding to upgrade their controller. “The new controller is more polished and accessible for people who couldn’t ride it or felt uncomfortable before. It was a comfort, height, and recoil issue,” said producer Steven Pasinsky.
“This has been one of the best parts of the game for me, seeing people enjoy it after so many months of non-stop hard work,” Pasinsky said. “That was the single greatest moment at IndieCade. When I saw there was a line, people were waiting for around an hour, that was one of the most gratifying experiences.”
More articles like this in ‘Student Innovation @ the U!’
Find this article and a lot more in the 2025 “Student Innovation @ the U” report. The publication is presented by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute to celebrate student innovators, change-makers, and entrepreneurs.
