2.5D Co-op Rescue Game Vertical Slice

We Are Looking for a 3-Person Development Team for a Playable Vertical Slice

Engine: Unity
Platform: Android and PC (final target is Android, with PC demo first and potential future expansion)
Genre: 2.5D side-scrolling action and rescue game
Style Direction: Family-friendly, stylized, arcade-inspired

Project Overview
We are developing a playable vertical slice for an original indie game concept.
The project is a stylized 2.5D side-scrolling experience focused on environmental interaction, character abilities, objective-driven gameplay, and accessible co-op-friendly design suitable for a young audience.
At this stage, the goal is not to build a full game. The objective is to create a focused, playable demo that clearly demonstrates the core gameplay loop, visual direction, and technical feasibility of the concept.

Team Roles
Unity Gameplay Developer
Responsible for:
- Core prototype development
- Player movement and camera systems
- Character state switching or transformation mechanics
- Context-sensitive interaction system
- Basic mission and objective logic
- Integration of placeholder UI, animation, and audio
- Delivery of a playable build and source project

Required experience:
- Unity C# development
- 2D or 2.5D gameplay systems
- Character controllers, triggers, UI prompts, simple state machines, and scene management
- Ability to work with placeholder assets and later integrate final assets

Character / Environment Artist
Responsible for:
- Stylized concept and production-ready game assets
- Establishing a consistent visual style
- Character and environment creation for a 2.5D side-scrolling demo
- Preparing assets for Unity or Godot integration
- Working from provided references and art direction

Required experience:
- Stylized game art production
- Strong understanding of readability, silhouette, and family-friendly design
- Experience with 2D sprites, 2.5D assets, or simple 3D models depending on final direction
- Bonus: animation-ready asset design experience

Technical Artist / Animator / Level Builder
Responsible for:
- Animation setup and state management
- Simple VFX and gameplay feedback
- Level construction and environment dressing
- Ensuring visual cohesion inside the engine
- Supporting UI clarity and overall game feel
- Bridging programming and art implementation

Required experience:
- Unity integration experience
- Animation, VFX, or level building expertise
- Strong understanding of readability, scale, and player feedback
- Ability to collaborate across art and engineering disciplines

Desired Deliverable
A playable vertical slice demo including:
- One short side-scrolling level
- At least one playable character system with room for expansion
- Basic environmental interaction
- Simple objective tracking
- Basic HUD and UI prompts
- Win condition or mission completion state
- Placeholder or simple sound effects
- Full source project files upon delivery

Art Style
The game should feel colorful, readable, stylized, and family-friendly, with inspiration from classic arcade games and animated action series.

Important Notes
- This is a collaboration-focused project, not one-off asset delivery
- Please include a proposed milestone plan, timeline, and total cost estimate
- Strong communication and reliability are essential
- Ability to follow direction and iterate quickly is important
- Include examples of relevant work such as prototypes, side-scrollers, stylized games, or animation systems

Milestones
Milestone 1: Technical Prototype
- Basic movement system
- Camera setup
- Placeholder character
- One interaction system
- One simple objective
- Basic test scene

Milestone 2: Core Gameplay Demo
- Core gameplay loop implementation
- Expanded interaction system
- Objective flow
- Draft UI
- Placeholder or early art integration

Milestone 3: Visual and Gameplay Polish
- Improved character and environment assets
- Animation and VFX pass
- UI refinement
- Bug fixing
- Final playable demo build
- Source project delivery

Application Question
Please include:
- Estimated cost and timeline for a focused vertical slice demo
- Relevant links to previous work or playable prototypes

We are aiming to build a small but high-quality playable demo first. If successful, there is potential for further paid work to expand the project.