Design Statement
The title theme is the jam track by Jason Grace. It subtly evoked a creepy atmosphere for me, which was a great segue into my first horror game.

To me, the track made me imagine a group of mundane street workers contrasted against this eerie tune, just trying to get their jobs done. It also has an uplifting feel, which made me think of achieving something, even if it's ultimately pointless and endless.

Game Instructions (launch steps, controls, and gameplay overview)
How to play
As a friendslop game, I designed this around a bit of discovery and tried to minimise dependence on UI elements where possible; however, below is some extra guidance and controls, as, due to the nature of a game jam, I didn’t have time to work these into the game clearly.

Download the game and run The Street.exe to play. Right now, this build only runs on Windows.

The first time you click Play, you’ll start in Easy St, ready to get to work. Replace the globes and repair the roads to earn a bonus; your ute's clipboard shows your progress.

Mouse to look around.
WASD to walk and to drive. Hold Shift to sprint.
E or left-click to pick up, use, buy, and get in the ute.
Right-click to drop what you are holding or exit the ute while driving.
Esc or Tab opens the menu.
Once you’ve completed at least one job, drive to the end of the street to clock off and return to the office to collect your reward. But be careful - players or gear left behind will cost you to recover, materials will be lost, and you can end up in debt.

Back in the office, you can buy materials from the requisition desk - make sure to pick up at least 3-4 globes and tar so you can repair the street before heading out.

You can then start two different contracts from the monitors on the desk. You’ll need to unlock South St, which comes with a new graffiti cleanup job - you’ll need to buy the graffiti cleanup set - but also a few new ghosts to keep you on your toes!

The game includes loading-screen hints with extra details, and a few other hidden surprises for those who get far enough into the game.

Playing with a friend
You can play with a friend as long as you’re both on the same local network. This is my first multiplayer game, and the features are not as well tested as other aspects of the game, so you may run into some weird issues - please let me know of any bugs you find, and I’ll fix them after the jam.

On the title screen, choose Local Multiplayer.
One machine chooses Host.
The other chooses Join and types the host's IP address. The hosting player can see their IP address in the menu when pressing Escape or Tab.
Both machines need to be on the same local network.
Windows may block the first launch
The build is not signed. If Windows says the publisher is unknown, choose More info, then Run anyway.

FAQ
How do I fix a lamp?

A dead lamp needs a ladder and a spare globe. Plant the ladder, climb, and fit the globe.

How do I repair the road?

A hole needs a cone first. Shovel out the debris, pour the tar, tamp it with the shovel, then pick the cone back up.

How do I work on jobs away from the lights?

Use your flashlight to create safe areas of light, but watch out cause it eats batteries. You can recharge it back on the ute, or throw a cell into it for an instant recharge.

For solo players, you can also turn it on and set it on the ground so a far job stays lit until the cell dies.

My tools and items aren't where I left them?

The ghost loves to move things you left lying around too long. Try to keep an eye on things and move fast, put them back on the ute when you're done, and explore around the street if something goes missing to see if you can find it again.

Help, my truck light has gone out!

Try giving it a few firm whacks till it turns back on.

How do I end the shift?

Drive to the end of any road once you’ve completed at least one job. And left-click to end the shift.

How do I clean graffiti?

First, spray the graffiti with soap, then click and hold the brush until the meter fills to clear it. Use the torch to keep yourself alive while you clean.

How do I unlock South St?

Unlock the second contract, South St, using the second monitor on the desk. It costs $800 to unlock.

How do I defeat the stalker (white ghost)?

It’s easily scared; just look at it as it sneaks up on you, and it’ll run away. Pay extra attention to it in solo, as once it catches you, you can’t escape. In multiplayer, a second player can rescue you by scaring the ghost away. You’ll hear yourself breathing if he’s stalking you.

Help, I can't afford to buy new supplies!

Don't worry, the council will always front you the cash for at least 1 globe and 1 tar, though you'll have to repay the cost later.

I am so crazily in debt I can't come back (or you have hit a game-breaking bug)!

The game automatically saves your progress, but in the menu, you can choose "Restart" to reset the game to the state when you first started playing.

I've found a different bug, or I need more help!

Leave a comment here, and I'll do my best to help. If you find a new bug, I'll release a fix after the game jam judging.

Gameplay walkthrough video
https://www.loom.com/share/3b1d11aac5fd45d8aac8fdb428e72c16

Did your project use any AI tools or assets? If yes, please specify.
This game includes a mix of open-source (CC0) and some purchased assets, all of which I have the rights to use.

This game contains no AI-generated art, audio, or text.

Not sure if it counts as AI tools, but I've pulled some code snippets from around the internet and Google search results.