See CC is an interactive Java-based campus exploration game developed for my Software Design course, created in collaboration with Tori Zhu, Oliver Moscow, and Evelyn Needham. The goal of the assignment was to address a real issue facing the Colorado College community using an application that implemented core software design principles—including the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, factory design patterns, and SQL database integration. Our team chose to design a virtual game that encourages students to explore their campus, combat isolation, and learn more about their surroundings in a fun and engaging way.

The game begins with a user signup screen where players input their name, username, major, and choose a character icon to represent them on the map. Once created, their data is saved to a MySQL database hosted on Colorado College’s MathCS server. When returning, players can log in with their existing profile and continue where they left off. Using arrow keys, players move their character around a simplified map of campus. When approaching a building, a prompt appears allowing them to enter. Inside, they can talk to building-specific NPCs, learn fun facts about the college, or play minigames associated with that building.

Each minigame offers three levels of difficulty (except for the slot machine game at Rasties, which is locked until the player earns points elsewhere). Players gain or lose points depending on how well they perform, and their score is saved between sessions. A leaderboard can be accessed from the main map to view the top-scoring players in descending order. Points are retrieved from the database and displayed in real time, offering a competitive and social dimension to the game. Characters like squirrels and surprise NPCs also occasionally appear on the map to add spontaneity and charm.

The architecture of See CC is highly modular. Each major component—such as Player, Map, Building, NPC, Minigame, Save, and Leaderboard—has its own Model, View, and Controller. The GameController oversees game flow, rendering views based on player state and coordinating communication between components. This structure allows for easy scalability and separation of logic. Factory design patterns were also used to streamline the creation of repeated objects like NPCs and buildings.

Unfortunately, because See CC was hosted entirely on an internal Colorado College server, no video demo or images are currently available. Server access expired following course completion, and the SQL database it relied on is no longer live. However, the game’s codebase remains fully functional and could be redeployed with a valid MySQL backend.

See CC was more than just a game—it was an effort to build community through software. By combining interactive design, storytelling, and gamification, the project offered a novel solution to help students connect with their environment and peers. It served as an important milestone in my development as a programmer, allowing me to apply real-world software design concepts to a creative and meaningful problem.

If you want to see the GitHub repository click here.