WORD GAME
Setting the Scene:
The benefits of playing video games on improving problem-solving abilities have been well documented by this point, but not much has been said about the experienced effects while making them.
About the Project:
Interactive Media is around us, and Games enjoy a majority share in this segment. Numerous clients are embracing the usage of Interactive Media, and Games by extension, to spruce up and make their events or marketing campaigns much more memorable, so I got the task of creating a game using a simple shuffle algorithm as a base for a college project to showcase my skills in coming up with inventive ways to make it engaging and rewarding.
Challenges Faced:
Making a game requires the maker to do more than solve complex programming issues. It requires a person to think about how people interact and gain from experiences, which is near, if not entirely impossible. Everyone is different, and a mechanically sound game that doesn't engage anyone will not be very successful.
Thinking it Out:
Knowing that I couldn't cast a wide net without prior research meant I had to narrow my scope, so I
had the idea to "market" to my fellow student designers. One incident in particular instantly sparked
my interest in this topic involved watching someone struggle to communicate a simple HTML-based
instruction to someone else because they didn't have all the jargon memorised yet.
That is when I
had the idea to take this shuffle algorithm and make a game which helps people remember all that
terminology, as many would agree that concepts and materials learnt in a low-stress and fun
environment always get committed to memory.
Getting to Work:
Colours and Typography mimic an educational aesthetic. Yellow Background with Brown and Reddish Brown Characters invoke a sense of nostalgia, alertness and playfulness. The font used is the bold, charismatic and versatile "Mr Eaves OT Sans". I chose it because it is incredibly reminiscent of the typeface from a textbook I had growing up.
Lessons Learnt:
This project has taught me the importance of taking note of my surroundings and looking for potential problems to solve. You may never know when inspiration might strike.
Skills Exercised:
I used Adobe Illustrator for prototyping, brainstorming & asset creation, and HTML, CSS, and GSAP for the game.