DigitalPrint

This is the start of the wireframe of the game
First brainstorming session
Gameplay - Day 3 Screen
Gameplay - Profile (OSINT Example)
Gameplay - Computer Home
Gameplay - Inbox
Gameplay - Successful Identification of phish
Gameplay - So...you're bankrupt

DigitalPrint

Tracks: 1. Educational 2. Cyber Security

What was the Inspiration?

The inspiration for DigitalPrint came from the need to evolve phishing awareness training beyond the usual click-based email simulations.

Phishing has been around for decades, and while training has improved, it often feels repetitive and fails to capture the emotional and practical impact of cyber threats.

We wanted to create something immersive that puts players in the shoes of a CEO dealing with threats firsthand, showing them the consequences of their decisions and helping them apply these lessons to real life.

Our goal was to reimagine phishing awareness training as an engaging, impactful experience.

What it does

DigitalPrint is a first-person, choose-your-own-adventure game where players take on the role of a CEO at a multi-million-dollar company.

The game simulates a day in the life of a CEO, constantly bombarded with potential cyber threats like phishing scams, social engineering attempts, and more.

With guidance from a character named Waddles, players navigate these challenges, facing different scenarios and outcomes based on their decisions.

Poor choices deplete their corporate wallet, and if they make too many mistakes, the company files for bankruptcy, ending the game.

The game’s purpose is to teach phishing awareness and cybersecurity skills through interactive, real-world-like scenarios.

How we built it

We developed DigitalPrint using the Godot game engine, which allowed us to create a 16-bit, first-person experience with hand-drawn graphics.

Our team focused on an "if-then-else" logic structure to drive the narrative and outcomes, creating a branching storyline that mirrors real-life decision-making in cybersecurity.

The game’s graphics, all hand-drawn in a retro 16-bit style, initially appear playful but take on a more serious tone as the challenges intensify.

With no previous experience in complex game development, our team collaborated to build the mechanics, write the storyline, and integrate logic in ways that immerse players in realistic scenarios.

Challenges we ran into

Our biggest challenge was creating a complex game in a short time frame, especially given that most of the team had limited game development experience.

Designing a branching storyline with meaningful consequences proved challenging, as did balancing the educational aspect with engaging gameplay.

Another hurdle was in using Godot effectively, as it was new to most of us, so we had to learn the engine’s functions and limitations while building the game.

Creating a smooth experience without bugs and ensuring that the game would effectively communicate cybersecurity principles were also constant concerns.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re incredibly proud of stepping out of our comfort zones and creating a working game within the hackathon period.

Our team managed to transform a high-level concept into an interactive, playable experience that showcases phishing scenarios in a realistic, engaging way.

We’re also proud of our hand-drawn 16-bit graphics, which add a unique style and tone to the game.

Despite our limited experience, we built a game that’s both fun and educational, pushing the boundaries of what phishing awareness training can look like.

What we learned

This project taught us a lot about game development, especially in terms of managing branching narratives and applying conditional logic to guide player choices.

We also gained valuable insights into phishing and cybersecurity threats, as we had to think critically about how to represent these issues in-game.

Working with Godot was a major learning experience, and we became more comfortable with the engine's capabilities and limitations.

The project reinforced the importance of collaboration and adaptability, especially when building something entirely new in a time-constrained environment.

What's next for DigitalPrint?

We’d love to expand DigitalPrint by adding more advanced phishing scenarios, including advanced social engineering tactics like romance scams, deepfakes, and voice cloning.

Future versions could incorporate elements of corporate espionage and the personal consequences of poor cybersecurity decisions.

We’d also like to polish the game, add more levels, and enhance the educational guidance from Waddles.

Long-term, our vision is for DigitalPrint to be a comprehensive cybersecurity awareness tool, offering a fun yet impactful learning experience that can be used in corporate training programs to raise awareness about digital threats.

HOW TO PLAY:

In the Try it out links you will see two separate links.

To play you have to install the engine, it is GoDot and reputable
This is the published files for out game, the three are needed to run. Install these three files (They are .exe you will get prompted but they ARE NOT malicious)...After they are all installed, locate them and run "HackathonExport.eve"

A full video playthrough is in the google doc linked in the "Try it out" links.