Jungle Swing

Team: Team 13

Role : Game Designer & Art Lead

Genre: Alt. Ctrl Game

Project Summary

This is an Alt. Ctrl game, where players use a custom-built controller to embark on a jungle adventure.

This was my first Game Jam project and also my first experience as an Art Lead, where I was responsible for overseeing and providing all the art assets for the game. Looking back, I can see many areas for improvement in the art direction and execution, but this project was an invaluable learning experience that helped me grow as a game artist.

Tool

Unity
Photoshop
Miro
Jira
Discord

Procees Work

Pre-production:

Based on the confirmed theme, I used a flowchart to further refine and design the gameplay mechanics. Given that we only had five days to develop the game, I aimed to keep my design ideas simple and manageable, ensuring that they were feasible within the time constraint while still delivering a compelling experience.

I created a flowchart to further refine and solidify the gameplay mechanics. Considering that we only had five days to develop the game, I aimed to keep my design ideas concise and executable, ensuring they were achievable within the limited timeframe while still providing an engaging player experience.

Design Process:

After our group discussion, I quickly sketched out a character concept along with a basic backstory.

For the design, I took inspiration from jungle tribes, incorporating light and practical clothing as the character needs to navigate and survive in the forest. This approach ensures that the outfit is both functional and visually fitting for an adventurous setting

Next, our team worked together to further refine the character design. Due to the time constraints, I decided to finalize the character's appearance while simultaneously working on the main menu illustration to streamline the process.

Following feedback from our professor, we removed certain tribal-inspired clothing elements to avoid potential cultural sensitivity issues. This adjustment ensured that the character design remained respectful, inclusive, and fitting for our game's overall theme while still maintaining its adventurous feel.

When designing the main menu, I created an illustration of our protagonist, Jane, exploring the jungle, based on the game's primary setting and character design.

For the composition, I aimed to evoke curiosity in players by depicting Jane discovering a cave, while keeping what lies beyond it unknown. This mystery serves to intrigue players and encourage them to explore the game further.

To reinforce the sense of discovery, I rendered the jungle outside the cave using simple, expressive brushstrokes, subtly suggesting that it is part of a larger forest waiting to be explored.

Additionally, Jane's gaze is directed towards the left, naturally guiding the player's attention toward the game title, making it a focal point on the screen.

I provided all the art assets for the game, and this was my first time creating pixel art assets. Looking back, I can see many areas for improvement, but this experience marked my first step into exploring a different art style, which was a valuable learning opportunity for me.

Final Showcase:

On the final day of the showcase, our game’s unique art style and gameplay mechanics won over the players, receiving enthusiastic appreciation from those who tried it.