Meet Rachel Farzan (B.F.A ’25) , a Communication Arts student recipient of the VCUarts Undergraduate Research Grant. Rachel created her game Closing at 2 alongside three of her peers, Natalie Reyes, Olivia McCabe, and Cameron Krainock, for her Intro to Game Dev class in 2023. With the support of Professor Jason Bennett, they were accepted to showcase their game at MAGFest (Music and and Gaming Festival) earlier this year.
In Closing at 2, players play as a bartender, having to make drinks for customers. However, throughout the night, things become eerie as the characters begin to change. The game is intended for mature audiences, as it tackles themes of alcoholism and mental health. Prior to MAGFest, the demo of the game had already gained popularity with over 1,800 downloads on Itch. The team received a Undergraduate Research Grant to help fund their booth at MAGFest and promote their business. Read more about the project here.
Play and Support Closing at 2 here.