Embark on a chilling journey in Nightlight, a heart-pounding thriller where you guide a young child through the treacherous shadows to reach the safety of their bed. Beware of lurking monsters as you navigate the inky abyss, relying on your wits and courage to survive the night.
Led the project as the main game designer.
Created the game's concept and mechanics.
Designed the grid-based gameplay and unique flashlight mechanics.
Collaborated with the team on game expansion and adjustments.
My Contributions:
Utilized a level design tool to enhance game levels.
Conducted playtests and incorporated feedback.
Worked effectively within the team and overcame challenges.
Contributed to the successful final game.
My Process:
In my role as the lead game designer for this project, I embarked on a creative journey that began with our team's collective decision on the game's core concept. My initial inspiration was drawn from "Into the Breach," a puzzle game that had left an impact on me. This led me to adapt the turn-based movement and grid system, initially established in that game, for our project.
Our game was initially set on a 5x5 grid, with the player starting in one corner and the goal in the opposite corner, with an enemy in each remaining corner. This simplistic setup allowed us to get started, and the unique shape of the flashlight, influenced by Pathfinder's fireball AOE, emitted from the player's facing direction.
As the project evolved, so did our game's mechanics. We expanded the grid to 8x8, as the smaller space was deemed too restrictive. This extension prompted us to increase the flashlight's range from 3 to 5 spaces in front of the player. It was during this phase that the idea of the flashlight degrading over distance, thereby stunning enemies for longer when closer to the source, and the concept of light wrapping around obstacles were introduced.
Once the core mechanics were established, our team developed a level design tool, created by Kai. This tool significantly enhanced our level design process. It was here that I began experimenting more with level designs, utilizing Excel to map out various ideas and then implementing them into the game using Kai's tool.
After these developments, our game was nearly complete, requiring only a few additional playtests with classmates and friends. The feedback received during these tests informed the final tweaks to our game's design.
In summary, the design of this game provided valuable insights into effective team communication and collaborative utilization of each team member's skills. It also involved solving challenges associated with working within the constraints of Kai's programming abilities. The experience of merging diverse ideas within our team into a cohesive game was both rewarding and illuminating. In the end, it's evident that our teamwork and dedication to the project led to a successful final game.
