Panda Pop is a mobile game created at Jam City
Task: Improve the visual quality of Panda Pop
First, I worked with my team to do a consistency pass on the icons and UI. Second, I optimized the characters, adding personality and unique qualities. Lastly, I worked with all disciplines to make sure gameplay elements read well, and in the correct order. Below are some before/after images, a sample from the model sheets, and a final gameplay image. The fourth image showcases a before/after of the in game reskin. Notice the simplified and slightly blurred background shows the puzzle elements clearly. The puzzle pieces are more graphic and easier to read. The characters have clear personality with a call to action.
First, I worked with my team to do a consistency pass on the icons and UI. Second, I optimized the characters, adding personality and unique qualities. Lastly, I worked with all disciplines to make sure gameplay elements read well, and in the correct order. Below are some before/after images, a sample from the model sheets, and a final gameplay image. The fourth image showcases a before/after of the in game reskin. Notice the simplified and slightly blurred background shows the puzzle elements clearly. The puzzle pieces are more graphic and easier to read. The characters have clear personality with a call to action.
Task: Add narrative
When tasked with adding narrative, I worked with game design to storyboard and test feature ideas with players. As a result, we created a feature called "Panda World", in which you can gather tokens through normal gameplay, to unlock sequential rooms with characters. We begin in a large home built into a tree, that houses all rescued babies, then progress on an adventurous journey through the magical world these pandas live in. Each new room progresses the story. Here are a few of the more diverse examples.
When tasked with adding narrative, I worked with game design to storyboard and test feature ideas with players. As a result, we created a feature called "Panda World", in which you can gather tokens through normal gameplay, to unlock sequential rooms with characters. We begin in a large home built into a tree, that houses all rescued babies, then progress on an adventurous journey through the magical world these pandas live in. Each new room progresses the story. Here are a few of the more diverse examples.
Task: Work with popular IP's, to re-theme timed events, blending our style with theirs
We worked with a number of IP's over the years. Some styles were very different from out own. Integrating them was a fun challenge. Below are a few quick examples of us bridging the style gap.
We worked with a number of IP's over the years. Some styles were very different from out own. Integrating them was a fun challenge. Below are a few quick examples of us bridging the style gap.
Following, is a more detailed look into the process of working with an IP, using the Grinch as a case study.
In this case, we only had the rights to use the book version, though the 3D movie was about to be released, and the cartoon was off limits. Because the book characters were inconsistent from one page to the next, I made a style guide for our pitch to get approval on our interpretation. This helped us to stay aligned with the IP holder, and set the standard for all approvals moving forward. Notice image references from the book are boxed in grey, for reference.
In this case, we only had the rights to use the book version, though the 3D movie was about to be released, and the cartoon was off limits. Because the book characters were inconsistent from one page to the next, I made a style guide for our pitch to get approval on our interpretation. This helped us to stay aligned with the IP holder, and set the standard for all approvals moving forward. Notice image references from the book are boxed in grey, for reference.
With the style guide approved, we moved on to re-theming portions of the game, touching base with the IP holder each week. Though it's common knowledge that working with some IP holders can be a challenge, incorporating a lot of back and forth with revisions, this process proved to keep things smooth with each one we tackled. Here are a few of the images from that process with the Grinch:
