Tinsel Topple 2: Hours of holiday fun
Cakes, cookies, candy – NAIT’s annual holiday online video game has it all! Tinsel Topple 2: Cookie Crumble is the sweetest way to take a break during the busy season.
The free game, created by the polytechnic’s marketing and communications department, has become a tradition for staff, students and alumni. It’s an opportunity to tap into some festive competitiveness and break from the December chaos.
“Around Christmastime, there are a lot of exams and final projects due for students, and deadlines for staff. We create this game to give a break and promote the fun side of NAIT,” says web designer Lara Alameddine.
Don't forget to share your scores on social media with #OokTinselTopple!
Alameddine worked on the project with web developer Kàren Vaganyan (Computer Engineering Technology ’13, Bachelor of Applied Information Systems Technology '18) and graphic designer Rory Lee. Vaganyan and Alameddine collaborated on the previous two versions of the game, but this was Lee’s first crack at the project.
“I had an opportunity to get a bit more wacky with the artwork,” says Lee. “The process showed the diverse range of talents we have on the team.”
An award-winning tradition
Last year’s game, the original Tinsel Topple, earned the team several industry awards, including two Ember Awards, which recognize digital excellence in Alberta, and beat out international competition for a gold AVA Digital Award.
The team hopes to reach even more people this year, and made some improvements so the gaming experience is better for all. Players can use their computer spacebar or phone touchscreen to navigate more easily and Vaganyan made changes to the code so the game runs more smoothly.
With those improvements, the team expects higher scores than ever. Those who struggled last year (ahem, like the author of this article) should get further into the game and hopefully be inspired to share their scores on social media.
As in years past, the game features a nod to Edmonton. During gameplay, you may spot NAIT’s Centre for Applied Technology and logo, the city skyline and other local gems.