Joseph Andaloro, MSC

This game design document outlines the narrative and mechanical systems behind Chasing Rabbits, a 2D side-scrolling beat-em-up centered on addiction, consequence, and personal redemption. The project combines branching narrative design with risk-reward gameplay mechanics, allowing player decisions to alter both story progression and character development. Systems such as the Bathroom Lair hub and Toolkit mechanic reinforce the relationship between substance use, supernatural abilities, and long-term consequences. The design emphasizes player agency while using gameplay systems to support the game's psychological themes.

This project management analysis examines the production of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy as a large-scale example of integrated planning and execution. Applying project management methodologies including Earned Value Management and Critical Path Analysis, the paper evaluates how production teams coordinated schedules, budgets, technology development, and stakeholder expectations across three films simultaneously. Particular attention is given to the challenges of managing interdependent workstreams and balancing creative objectives with operational constraints. The analysis highlights how structured planning and risk management enabled one of the most ambitious film productions in modern cinema.