Frogmented
Summary
Project
2D Physics-based platformer, Game jam game
Team size: 7
Release: itch.io, Fall 2020
Work environment: Remote
Engine: Unity
My role: Lead Level Designer
Planned out and wrote down basic structure of level
Sketched out level design on paper
Implemented assets created by art team to build level in-engine
Refined level after testing for best play experience
Level Design Steps & Thought Process
Below is a walkthrough of the main steps seen in Frogmented's Level Design and my thought process behind them.
One of my main focuses for creating the level was embracing the game's beauty in its simplicity, so I set a goal of naturally and unobtrusively guiding the player through the game's mechanics. I felt after watching people play the game that I was fairly successful in this effort; it was a joy to watch people naturally get accustomed to the game through the way I laid it out.
Documentation
Although the game had to be completed in a very limited time, I still believed it important to have solid and understandable documentation for it. This mainly came in the form of a centralized design document that summarized the main premise and essential components of the game.
Project Success
The entire team ended up being quite proud of what we accomplished with Frogmented. In the end, the game felt like it had realized the ideas we had for it going in, and the positive reception to it was incredibly encouraging. I believe our shared excitement and passion for what we were creating translated into the final product, which resulted in it getting the "Best in Show" award and surrounding conversation that it did.
Team
Weston Wright - Scripting
Jordan Pak - Environment and UI Art
Kathleen Haklar - Environment Art
Miranda West - Character and UI Art
Lexie Rodriguez - Music & Sound
Casey Donnellan - Mentor