Veridian Game
Overview
This is a third-person open-world exploration and adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players embody the protagonist, who awakens in a world devastated by the consequences of modern technology and human greed. Through exploration, puzzle-solving, and restoration, players journey to regain their memories, figure out what has happened to their world, and restore the natural world.
Amidst their journey of discovery, players forge unexpected bonds, even encountering a loyal companion whose fate becomes intertwined with their own. Alongside this newfound ally, players encounter resilient communities that have adapted to coexist harmoniously with the natural world. Through these interactions, players learn the value of unity, family, and the profound significance of restoring the environment and nurturing a sense of community amidst the desolation.
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TIME SPAN
April 2023 -
March 2023
TOOLS
ROLE
UX/UI Designer
UX Researcher
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Figma
Photoshop
Key Design Features
Open-World Exploration
This game features an extensive open-world map that allows players to explore in a third-person perspective. The semi-abandoned post-apocalyptic nature-ridden world includes various locations such as cities, forests, poisoned areas, and in-between areas overrun by nature for the player to explore and discover remnants of human civilization. Initially, players see a smaller map available to them, but as the narrative progresses and they venture out to explore more, the map gradually expands and reveals itself.
Purification Mechanics
When they encounter mutated or poisoned enemies, players have to "purify" them by solving puzzles or helping them by completing certain tasks and gaining rewards. The rewards are memory pieces of the old world. The goal of players is to collect all the memory fragments, then learn the truth about the old world and find a way to survive.
Puzzle Mechanics
Players can uncover the lost memories and progress through areas by solving puzzles. The mutated or poisoned enemies can give an assortment of tasks that include puzzles. These puzzles may require players to find certain items from the surrounding environment to solve them. Players also need to solve puzzles to open doors or make old machinery work to access more clues to learn the truth of the old world.
Process Overview
1. Research
GAME RESEARCH
INITIAL DATA COLLECTION
For our initial data collection, we released a preference survey to gauge what players prefer when it comes to gameplay mechanics (e.g. logic-based puzzles, exploration, etc.) and visual aesthetics (e.g. game color palette). The survey garnered 16 responses and the results are shown below.
2. Define
PERSONA
Based on the survey results, we created a user person for our potential game.
3. Ideate
STRUCTURING OUR GAME & DESIGN
Our team created a user flow map to sketch out how a user would navigate through the new product made to help personalize the flight experience. This user map connects an app to the in-flight screen.
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Inspiration Board
We curated an inspiration board to guide our game's design, focusing on both aesthetics and UI. Our visual direction drew from rich environmental designs seen in Studio Ghibli films and Avatar: The Last Airbender. For UI design, we analyzed games like Genshin Impact and Sky: Children of the Light to refine our approach.
STYLE GUIDE
Our team created a style guide that is based on the game themes. We have rugged looking text to represent the rugged feel of the environment that the main character traverses through. The colors also represent this environmental feel of the game. The characters take inspiration from games like
4. Prototype
HI-FI PROTOTYPE
Due to time constraints, our team was only able to make a single prototype for the game, presented below.
Opening Screen
Our opening screen presents the user with our Veridian logo and environment that is reminiscent of our environmental aesthetic that we curated through our mood boards.
Open World Gaming
Players can freely explore multiple areas of the game, uncovering clues as they navigate the world. The intuitive UI allows for seamless movement on the left side of the screen, with touch-friendly controls optimized for mobile devices.
Key features include open-world exploration and puzzle-solving, where players recover lost memories, purify mutated creatures, and restore affected areas. Along the way, they encounter self-sustaining communities in a post-apocalyptic world. Even after completing the main storyline, players can continue exploring and engaging with the game’s dynamic world.
Puzzle Mechanics
Players can uncover the lost memories and progress through areas by solving puzzles. The mutated or poisoned enemies can give an assortment of tasks that include puzzles. These puzzles may require players to find certain items from the surrounding environment to solve them. Players also need to solve puzzles to open doors or make old machinery work to access more clues to learn the truth of the old world.
Presented below is the Color Conversion Puzzle: Players can pick up certain items that can view the world in certain colors, activating mechanisms or unlocking pathways that match the same color.
Purification Mechanics
When players encounter mutated or poisoned enemies, they must "purify" them by solving puzzles or completing specific tasks. Successfully doing so grants rewards in the form of memory fragments from the old world. The ultimate goal is to collect all these fragments, uncover the truth about the past, and find a way to survive. In this scene, the player has purified an enemy, and the recovered memories now surround their character.
Menu Bar
The menu bar provides access to the inventory, shop, and settings. The inventory stores items collected throughout the game, including rewards from puzzles, which players can use to purify enemies or solve other challenges.
The shop and skins system encourages continued engagement even after completing the main storyline. Players can roll dice to obtain companion skins, with rare ones adding an extra layer of challenge. Additionally, they have the option to purchase coins to acquire more character skins, keeping gameplay rewarding and dynamic.
