Featured Project

Trial by Rotation

Very serious "Spin to Win" action!

Trial by Rotation is a fast-paced arena brawler where the courtroom never stops turning. Spin, slam, and survive unpredictable hazards and rival attorneys in a test of timing, positioning, and chaos.

1. About the Game

Step into a courtroom where the floor rotates, hazards interrupt the case, and every hit can send someone flying. Last person standing wins! This game was made for The Very Serious Juniper Dev Game Jam, which challenged participants to create a game in 1 week with a tounge in cheek emphasis on 🍭"seriousness"🍭 and the theme "Spin to Win.".

2. Gameplay Highlights

Spin

The arena constantly rotates, forcing players to adapt.

Knockback

The faster you spin the harder you are to displace and the harder you hit.

Arena Hazards

Spinning hazards attached to the Wheel of Justice and stationary blades create dynamic challenges.

Serious Accusations

Voiced testimonies add depth to the narrative and create immersive moments in every trial

3. How It Was Made

UnityC#GIMPCanvaAudacityItch.ioGitHub

Built in Unity using C#. Developed around fast iteration, readable feedback, simple controls, and game-jam scope control.

4. Development Process

  1. Concept

    Spinning courtroom arena, movement, knockback and core loop.

  2. Prototype

    Basic AI, win/lose conditions, hazards, sounds.

  3. Core Mechanics

    Weapons, defenses, incremental difficulty, accusations, testimonies.

  4. Polish

    Particle effects, motion blur, weapon spinners, UI, audio, and balance passes.

  5. Release

    Playtesting, final fixes, and jam submission.

5. Screenshots / GIFs

6. Trailer / YouTube Ad

7. Challenges and Lessons

Challenges

Smooth rotation, camera behavior, and knockback balance required repeated testing so the chaos still felt fair.

Lessons Learned

Fast iteration, visible player feedback, and strict scope control made the game easier to finish on time.

© 2026 John Bieniek. Built for portfolio review and project demos.