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Game Designer | Project Manager
Fount
Towards the Source
Genre:
Casual Game with impact
Game Engine:
Unity 3D
The Project
“Fount: Towards the Source” was a semester project focused on creating an impact game to help users relax during uncertain situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.
In “Fount: Towards the Source,” the gamer plays as a nanobot named “Nanite” in a fluid stream to support the environment and induce positive emotions. The player can explore and interact with the elements in the stream and guide them to finish tasks. Adaptive sound and visualization help induce positivity while generating the flow state through gameplay to reduce anxiety and improve mood. The game intends to relax people during uncertain situations like – Corona Pandemic using User-Centric Design Framework.
Time:
2020
Team:
Keivan Akbari – Game Artist
Janina Janer – Game Programmer
Tapesh Chakraborty – Music
My Contributions
- User-Centric Design & Research:
- Conducted user research (surveys, literature reviews) to define pandemic-related problems
- Created user personas and established project direction (target audience, genre).
- Gameplay & System Design:
- Designed simple, flow-inducing gameplay mechanics (gyroscope, tap input) and context-sensitive avatar functionalities.
- Defined the game world, providing information about the immune system and breathing mechanism for impact.
- Developed a Dynamic Difficulty System and
- Created handcrafted prototype levels.
- Narrative Design:
- Designed a gameplay-expressed narrative explaining some functionalities of the immune system and a breathing mechanic for stress management.
- Project Management:
- Set up online collaboration tools (Discord, Trello, Google Drive).
- Implemented Scrum for task management and team well-being.
- Created a full development plan for production and impact measurement.
Learnings
My involvement with provided significant learning experiences:
- User-Centric Approach: Gained practical understanding of applying a User-Centric Design Framework from a project’s inception, from problem definition through user persona creation and literature review.
- Gameplay Design Principles: Learned the importance of designing simple, intuitive gameplay mechanics that avoid triggering anxiety and maintain player flow, particularly for casual games. I also understood the value of context-sensitive functionalities for simplified player input.
- System & Level Design Realities: Learned the intricacies of designing a Dynamic Difficulty System and the practical challenges of implementing a full progressive level system within tight time and scope constraints, leading to the necessity of handcrafted levels for prototyping.
- Project Management in Remote Contexts: Developed an understanding of the critical role of setting up online communication and project management tools (Discord, Trello) for effective team collaboration, especially in a remote environment. I also learned proactive strategies to prevent team burnout in challenging situations.
