Francisco Santos | Dev Jorney
Poppy NOT
the Popcorn
1 PLAYER ~3 to 5 MIN
2D Platform Adventure
ROLE:
Project Manager; Animator; Game Designer; Writer
TOOLS USED:
Unity; Aseprite; Trello
DURATION:
June 2021 - July 2021
GENRE:
Platformer, Adventure, Survival
GAME TRAILER
Pursuing My Dream in Game Design
An Educational Journey
I decided to take this course for several reasons. Most importantly, I wanted to prove to myself that this path is truly what I want in life. Additionally, I sought a mentor who could provide the guidance I need to succeed in the field of game design
The Program Overview: Lisbon School of Design - Game Design Course
During my three months at the Lisbon School of Design, I delved into the world of game design through an intensive program structured around three key modules:
1. Fundamentals of Game Design
This module provided a comprehensive introduction to the essential concepts and terminology of game design.
Key areas of focus included:
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Understanding game design methodologies and game atoms.
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Gaining insights into player behavior and preferences.
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Conducting game analysis and criticism.
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Engaging in prototyping and testing to refine game ideas.
Image from AI
2. Digital Games
In this module, I explored the digital landscape of game design, learning about:
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Core concepts and challenges in the digital environment.
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Utilizing Unity and Playmaker for game development.
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Creating and developing digital games from scratch.
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Iterative prototyping and testing to ensure robust game mechanics.
Image from AI
3. Project
The final module was dedicated to applying all the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the course:
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Development of a complete game, progressing from an alpha to a beta version.
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Final delivery and presentation of the project, showcasing the culmination of my learning and creativity.
Image from AI
"Poppy NOT The Popcorn!"
Project
Idea
In this course we had to come up with an idea for a game that would be doable in the short time we had for this course so I came up with Poppy, a platform survival adventure 2D pixel game, it takes a Popcorn kernel through 9 levels of hell.
If you were popcorn, what would your hell would be like? With that in mind, I came up with some delicious and challenging levels where taking risks are encouraged, go through the levels as if it were a race because the map is being burnt to a crisp, and you are heating up! Heat up to mush and you will pop!
Project Development
In this Project, I devolve the GDD, character design; concept art; 2D animations; organize and lead/managed a small team so we could make sure we developed and delivered it on schedule. We would have 2 weakly small meetings to make sure we were achieving our goals, the game engine was Unity, and the art and animations were made by me and my colleague on Aseprite.
Delivery
What we delivered was 2 tutorial levels to showcase the basic mechanics and introduce the heating system, and the First Level of Hell “The Limbo”
Conclusion
My journey through the game design course at the Lisbon School of Design has been transformative. From grasping the fundamentals of game design to diving into the intricacies of digital game development and culminating in the creation of "Poppy NOT the Popcorn," I have gained invaluable skills and insights. This experience has solidified my passion for game design and provided me with the tools and confidence to pursue this career path wholeheartedly.
I am excited to continue exploring the limitless possibilities within the world of game design, always striving to create engaging, innovative, and memorable gaming experiences. Thank you for visiting my portfolio, and I look forward to sharing more of my creative journey with you.
I've also included the Game Design Document (GDD). Although it’s a bit dated now, creating it was an incredibly fun experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Lisbon School of Design and cherished the connections I made with both classmates and instructors.
Click to dive into the exhilarating world of 'Poppy NOT the Popcorn,' where every level brings new challenges.
Are you ready to race against time and navigate the perils of popcorn hell?