Save Summer

The drone of cicadas, the tickle of sweat. The streets shimmering in the oppressive heat. These eternal signs of summer call all the kids of Gladden to the community pool, to pack themselves into its chlorinated waters. Since time immemorial, the pool has been the escape from summer heat and summer boredom.

Until this year.

The Swiftwater Sports Complex popped up across the street. It’s a fancy private health club owned by some rich entrepreneur from out of state. It boasts an olympic-length lap pool, a diving tank, and, worst of all, a water slide.

Most folks in Gladden can’t afford a membership to Swiftwater but the mayor seems to have lost faith in his aging municipal facility. Swiftwater made an offer on your community pool’s lot. They want to turn it into a parking lot. The papers will be signed tomorrow and the pool will close for good.

Your boss, Mrs. C.J. Peffercorn, has been a fixture at the pool since you were in swim diapers but, today, she left early. She’s ready to throw in the towel.

But you’re not ready to quit. You’re a lifeguard and this is your pool!

Maybe you can host an event and rally the people of Gladden. Maybe you can dig up some dirt on Swiftwater and change the mayor’s mind. Maybe you can do something and save the pool!

Save Summer was created for Indie Game Reading Club's "On Ramp Jam", a game jam for games that teach new players what an RPG is in 30 minutes or less.

This game features super simple mechanics and a straightforward built-in scenario that takes inspiration from Empire Records.