Michael Van Zant
Game Design
Level - Mechanics - Narrative
ExploreNation
High Concept:
A 3D Platformer where the player moves around a large area, getting past a number of different types of challenges.
Development: 09/2016 - 12/2016
Team Size: Solo
Engine: Unreal 4
A recorded companion guides you along and is a target for the player to try to keep up with.
2 upgrades make the player run faster and jump higher. The colour of the player and the region change as a visual identifier.
Platforming challenges increase in difficulty throughout the level, paying attention to difficulty and engagement curves.
This game is an exercise in level design, platforming, and exploration. The player navigates a large area with increasing platforming challenges. Additional upgrades allow the player to jump higher and further in order to reach the end.
Blog:
ExploreNation - A Level Design Project
What went right?
I was able to create an aesthetic and mechanics that didn't require a lot of work on my end, allowing for more time focusing on level design.
What went wrong?
Much of the original concept had to get thrown out to meet the demands of the class this was made for. It was originally intended to be a few square blocks of a city where the player could roam and find power ups on their own time, but the need for a more formal structure forced me to abandon that and throw in a terrible ending.
What did I learn?
This may seem obvious, but player skill levels are dramatically different. A large amount of playtesters were able to get through the game with no issues and were complaining it was too easy. Others could barely make it through the tutorial, and had a hard time turning the camera while jumping. The severity of differences here came as a surprise.