Rust Dust Goose !!

Description

Rust Dust Goose is a fast-paced, darkly absurd action-survival game where you play as a goose on the brink of madness. Armed with an arsenal of brutal weapons, you’re dropped into a decaying world overrun by corrupted, bloodthirsty geese. Your hunger drains constantly—only killing can keep you alive. Slaughter enemies to restore your hunger and sanity, or spiral into chaos as the world around you glitches and distorts. Featuring three surreal, nightmarish levels and a relentless metal soundtrack, Rust Dust Goose asks: How long can you hold onto your mind?

Evan Koutsogiannis helped produce music for us, all music copyrights belong to him.

Controls

WASD - Movement Controls
Shift - Sprint
Esc - Pause Menu
Left Click/Right Click - Attack
Mouse - Camera Controls

How To Play

1. Start the level and immediately move, your hunger begins to drain the second you spawn.
2. Use your equipped weapon to kill nearby enemy geese and collect the hunger scraps they drop. 
3.  Keep an eye on your hunger bar; if it hits zero, your sanity starts to break, and reality will distort. 
4.  Avoid enemy attacks to preserve hunger. Keep moving, dodging, and attacking to survive.
5. Progress through each level by completing objectives: reach a kill quota in Level 1, find keys in Level 2, and hit the final kill quota in Level 3 to finish the game.

Post-Mortem

What went right?

Throughout the two-month project, teamwork developed naturally as roles were clearly defined and responsibilities well-managed. Support from the professor and assistant helped the team stay focused, while technical issues were quickly handled. Open communication created a collaborative and trusting environment, forming a bond that extended beyond the classroom setting.

What went wrong?

Despite the team’s passion, external workloads and scheduling conflicts affected individual contributions. The project’s early stages lacked content and structure, with uneven role distribution and early decisions that hindered a smooth start. Combined with some version control issues, these factors led to slower progress and limited initial growth.

What changes were made?

While the original goal was to mirror classic Run and Gun gameplay, the scope proved too ambitious. The team pivoted toward creating a narrative experience, incorporating subliminal elements and meaningful environmental design. What began as lighthearted ideas turned into intentional features, and although some smaller elements couldn’t be fully implemented, the team found pride in the game’s evolved direction and core identity.

What did we learn?

Game Development II proved to be a standout experience, offering valuable collaboration across different academic backgrounds. The team explored various tools like Unity, GitHub, and Blender, gaining practical knowledge in real-world game creation. External collaboration—such as working with a former student for an original soundtrack—further enriched the project. Rust Dust Goose became more than just a class assignment; it served as a gateway to understanding the gaming industry on a deeper level.

Concept Art

Team Contribution

1. Alejandro Lopez - Player Programmer, Project Organizer
2. Ananya Basarkar - Enemy AI Programmer, Concept Artist
3. Arabelle Friedman - Lead Artist, Level Designer, Animator, Asset Creation/Sourcing 
4. Martin Ramirez Posadas - Player Programmer, UI/UX Designer
5. Spraha Gupta - Player Programmer, Documentation
6. Trevor Tychsen -  UI/UX Design, Sound Design, Systems Engineer
7. Evan Koutsogiannis - Music Producer